How to Get a Syrup Stain Out of a Couch

There's nothing quite like a cozy breakfast enjoyed as a family in the living room. The risk is the danger of spilling syrup from waffles or pancakes onto the couch. If that happens, you have a sticky brown mess to handle. Getting a syrup stain out of a couch isn't particularly tricky, and there are a few different methods you can use. Removing syrup requires a different process depending on whether the stain is in upholstery, leather or another fabric.

For this method of stain removal, you'll need plain dishwashing soap, cold water and a plain cleaning cloth. Before you begin, use a spoon to scoop away any excess syrup. You can scrape the surface of the couch to get as much as possible.

Mix 1 tablespoon of the soap with 2 cups of water. Dampen the cloth in this mixture and then sponge it onto the stain. Blot repeatedly until the stain fades. Do not rub or scrub. Use plain, cold water to sponge off the excess soap.

It may be challenging to determine if a stain has faded because the fabric is wet. If that's the case, allow it to dry and repeat these steps as needed.

It's even simpler to remove a syrup stain from leather. Leather is nonabsorbent, so the stain should not have soaked into the material. You can use the spoon method to remove any excess syrup or absorb any excess with paper towels. Next, mix some dishwashing soap with warm water. You don't need to be precise; you just want to have some good suds.

Wet a gentle cloth in the mixture and wash away the syrup from the leather. You shouldn't have to scrub hard, but you can use more pressure on the leather than the fabric. Wet another cloth in plain water and use it to wipe away any suds. Dry with a third cloth or paper towels, repeating these steps if any stickiness remains on the leather.

If you spilled syrup on regular fabric whether it's clothing, a blanket or even the pillowcase of a throw pillow, there's another home remedy you can use for its removal. This one utilizes laundry detergent, white vinegar and warm water before running the item through the laundry cycle.

First, rinse the stain in warm water, working from the back. Tamp the stain using laundry detergent, let it sit in the fabric for a few minutes and then rinse well. Next, gently sponge the white vinegar (undiluted) onto the stain. Rinse well, repeating these steps until you have mostly removed the stain and it is no longer sticky to the touch. Once that's complete, launder according to the instructions. If the item comes out of the washing machine with the stain intact, you can repeat these steps or try soaking in water and laundry detergent for 30 minutes.

If repeating those steps doesn't work, you may want to try using ammonia. Before using this method, though, try the one for upholstery. If that process doesn't work, mix a tablespoon of ammonia with 1/2 cup of warm water. Use this mixture to blot the stain until it is completely absorbed. Blot with cold water to remove any ammonia from the carpet.