How to Remove Honey and Syrup Stains

Get Rid of Sticky Stains on Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery

How to Remove Honey and Syrup Stains from Clothing

The Spruce / Joules Garcia

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins - 12 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0-10

Removing honey and syrup stains is a sticky process, but it's possible by using household cleaners you likely already have at home. These tannin-based stains are made from plant sugars, and while they're typically easy to remove, added dye in the honey or syrup can make them more stubborn. Thankfully, most fresh tannin stains can be cleaned by washing clothing with laundry detergent at the hottest water temperature recommended on the garment's care label.

Honey and syrup stains can also be removed from carpets and upholstery with a mixture of liquid dish detergent and warm water, then an application of rubbing alcohol or oxygen-based bleach. Before beginning the treatment process, resist the urge to rub the stain. This will push it deeper into the fabric fibers and make it more difficult to remove. Never put a still-stained garment in a machine dryer, which can set the stain and make it permanent.

Tips

Always check your garment's care label before washing. Different fabrics call for different washing protocols. Test any detergent or cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area first to ensure that it does not discolor the fabric.

Stain type Dye-based, tannin-based
Detergent type Heavy-duty
Water temperature Varies depending on type of fabric
Cycle type Varies depending on type of fabric

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Eye dropper
  • Sponge
  • Washer
  • Dull knife
  • White cloth
  • Vacuum

Materials

  • Heavy duty detergent
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Oxygen bleach
  • Dishwashing detergent
  • Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

honey stain on a shirt

The Spruce / Michele Lee

How to Remove Honey and Syrup Stains From Clothes

Whether a drop of honey missed your cup of tea or a drizzle of maple syrup made its way from the table to your lap, the occasional spill on an article of clothing makes a sticky mess. Fortunately, you can remove these stains using everyday household items.

  1. Scrape Away Residue

    • Use a dull knife, spoon, or the edge of a credit card to lift as much residue from the fabric as possible.
    • Do not rub the untreated stain, which will force the spill deeper into the fabric's fibers. 
    using a dull knife to scrape off excess honey
    The Spruce / Michele Lee
  2. Blot the Stain

    Dip a clean white cloth or paper towel in tepid water and blot the stained area to prepare for washing the garment.

  3. Use Bleach on Whites

    If the honey or syrup stain is old and has set, or if an artificial color is in the spilled product, the garment may need additional treatment. 

    • Use chlorine bleach to remove honey and syrup stains on white cotton garments and linens. Always check the care label and test for colorfastness before using bleach on a garment.
    • Mix bleach with water according to product label directions. Submerge the entire garment in the bleach solution to avoid spotting.
    • Soak for several hours, checking periodically.
    • Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
    • If the stain is gone, launder as usual. If the stain persists, repeat the process.
  4. Mix an Oxygen Bleach Solution

    • For synthetic fabrics and colored or printed clothes, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and tepid water. Follow the package directions for dilution (recommended brands include OxiClean, Nellie's All Natural Oxygen Brightener, or OXO Brite).
    • Mix enough solution to submerge the stained garment completely.
    • Allow the stained item to soak for at least four hours or overnight, then launder as usual.

Tip

Natural soaps like Fels Naptha are great for removing oily stains, but you should never use natural soap in a bar or soap flakes to treat syrup stains. Soap can make the tannins more challenging to remove.

blotting honey stain on a carpet
The Spruce / Michele Lee

How to Remove Honey and Syrup Stains From Carpet and Upholstery

Honey and syrup stains can be removed from carpet and upholstery by using a mixture of dishwashing detergent liquid and water, then following up with rubbing alcohol or oxygen-based bleach. Be mindful of the color of your stained fabric before applying specific products.

To remove honey or syrup from upholstery, you can use the same cleaning solutions and techniques as you would for removal from carpet. Avoid over-wetting cushions because excess moisture can cause mold and mildew.

  1. Mix and Apply a Cleaning Solution

    • Mix a solution of 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and 2 cups of warm water.
    • Dip a clean white cloth or paper towel in the solution and blot the honey or syrup stain.
    • Repeat until the color no longer transfers onto the cloth. 
  2. Blot the Stained Area

    Dip a cloth in plain cool water to blot the cleaned area. Removing all the detergent residue is essential, as lingering detergent can attract soil.

  3. Apply Rubbing Alcohol

    • For white or light carpets, treat the stain with a clean cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide if there is a dye in the honey or syrup. Do not use peroxide on colored carpets, as discoloration can occur.
    • For dye stains on colored carpet, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach in cool water following the package directions for dilution. 
  4. Sponge the Solution

    • Dip a clean sponge into the solution or use an eye dropper and apply it to the stain.
    • Working from the outside edge of the stain toward the center, dab the solution into the carpet.
    • Allow the solution to remain on the stain for at least 30 minutes before blotting away.
  5. Air Dry

    Allow the cleaned area to air dry away from direct heat and vacuum to lift carpet fibers.

Additional Tips for Handling Honey and Syrup Stains

  • As always, treating a stain as soon as possible is best. Hardened honey and syrup stains are much more difficult to remove than fresh stains. Even if you can't perform the entire stain removal process immediately, try to keep the stain wet until you can treat it thoroughly. You may repeat your cleaning method of choice as many times as you see fit.
  • If your stained garment is labeled as dry-clean-only, lift away as much of the drip as possible with a dull knife and head to the dry cleaner. Point out and identify the stain.
  • If you use a home dry cleaning kit, treat the stain with the provided remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.
  • Remove the solids if the stained upholstery is vintage or silk, and consult a cleaning professional.
honey dripping onto a sofa arm
The Spruce / Michele Lee
FAQ
  • Do honey stains come out?

    Honey stains can be removed using the right cleaners, but they may not come out if the garment has been dried in a machine dryer. Use oxygen-based bleach on colored items or chlorine bleach on white cotton items to remove stubborn stains.

  • Will honey come out in the wash?

    Standard laundry detergent can be used to remove some honey stains, but often, it's best to pre-treat the stains with liquid dish detergent mixed with water before washing.

  • How do you get maple syrup out of fabric?

    Maple syrup can be removed from fabric using chlorine bleach on white cotton items or oxygen-based bleach on colored items. After soaking and rinsing the item, wash it in the washer using standard laundry detergent.