Maple syrup makes your pancakes taste better, but you or someone else could accidentally drop some on the carpet. Since maple syrup is sticky, it can be challenging to clean. However, you don't have to rip out the carpet or  your hair in frustration. The key to cleaning syrup is to clean it immediately. Follow these steps to remove the syrup from carpet.

Prepare to Clean the Syrup

To remove the syrup, gather:

• dull knife or spoon
• white cloths or white sponges 
• white paper towels 
• white bath towel 
• liquid soap
• white vinegar 
• heavy object
• ammonia
• spray bottle

For fresh spills, use the spoon or knife to gently scrape the syrup, then lay a white paper towel over the spot to absorb more moisture. Avoid using colored or patterned paper towels or cloths, since they may contain dyes. To dissolve hardened syrup, mist it with warm water, and let it sit 

Blot the Stain

Don't clean wool carpets with anything but plain water to prevent fiber damage. Dampen a clean rag or sponge in warm water, but not hot, and blot the spot from the edge to the center. Avoid rubbing or boiling water, which may spread the stain, and push it into fibers.

Keep blotting, and change sponges or rags as needed until the stain has been removed. Lay a bath towel across the stain, and place a heavy object on it to help the area dry faster and remove lingering stains. You may use steam heat to dry large areas, but don't use steam heat until the stain has been completely removed, or it will set in the fibers.

Sometimes a sugar stain appears after the carpet dries. Try to remove the stain normally, but you may have to dye permanent stain spots.

Apply Ammonia, Vinegar, or Dish Soap

Test all solutions on a hidden part of the carpet. Mix a quarter teaspoon of dish soap in a cup of warm water in a spray bottle. For larger areas, increase the ingredients to two cups of water and a tablespoon of dish soap.

Spray the stain, blot it as usual, and rinse the spot with cold water. Lay a towel and heavy object over the spot.

If the dish soap doesn't help, try four parts of warm water with one part of vinegar in a spray bottle or bucket. Blot the stain, then rinse and dry.

For stubborn syrup stains on synthetic carpets, mix a tablespoon of ammonia in a cup of warm water, and keep the room ventilated to avoid breathing fumes. It can also remove stickiness that remains after synthetic carpets dry. Contact a carpet cleaning service for more help.