How to Get Pancake Syrup Out of Carpet

Remove syrup from carpet before it becomes a stain.

The first week new carpet is installed in our homes, we ban children from eating on it, tell ourselves the wine stays in the kitchen and leave our shoes at the front door. Eventually, we stop being so careful and accidents happen. Carpet spills are always followed by an "Oh, no!" reaction, whether they happen in your own home, or worse, at a friend's house. Dirt can quickly be eliminated with the help of a vacuum, but when the mess is a sticky and sugary substance like syrup, the spill requires more specific attention. However, syrup can be lifted out of carpet rather quickly when the right cleaning method is used and prompt action is taken.

Things You'll Need

• Spoon
• White terry towels or white paper towels
• Water
• Brick or heavy book

Instructions

1. Scrape gently and lift as much syrup as possible onto a spoon until all the excess syrup is off the carpet.

2. Press down firmly until the remainder of the excess syrup appears on a dry paper towel or rag.

3. Wet a clean rag and gently blot the area once you have removed the sticky liquid and the spot looks more like a stain than a spill. Work from the edges toward the center of the spot. Using a clean area of the rag each time, continue until the spot is removed completely.

4. Lay a brick or other weight on a stack of towels, keeping the stack directly on the spot. This allows any stain coming through the backing to absorb into the towels.

5. Remove the brick and towels after the spot is dry. Gently brush up the rug piles using your fingers.

Tips & Warnings

• If the first treatment fails, let the area dry before trying something else.

• A carpet-cleaning detergent may be used after first trying to eliminate the spot with water.

• If you're using a wet/dry vacuum, repeatedly flush the spot with water.

• Rubbing and brushing in a circular motion can harm fibers and cause staining.

• Over-wetting the area can cause carpet damage.

References

• How to Remove Carpet Stains: How to Get Out Carpet Stains of All Types
• Carpet Cleaning Tips: Cleaning Carpet Stain and Removal Tips Using Household Products