Candy can stick to carpets like glue, leaving stains and damaging them permanently if left untreated. However, through swift remedial action, you can remove any candy stains and prevent damage to your carpet.
No matter what type of candy you are dealing with, whether it’s hard or sticky candy, we’ll be able to guide you through the process. The best way to remove candy from your carpet is to gently loosen it, dab leftover stains, clean it, and let it dry naturally.
Here’s what our guide will cover:
It should go without saying that removing melted candy is going to be a lot tougher, yet manageable if you spring into action immediately and begin the cleaning process to reverse any seemingly permanent effects.
Removing Hard or Sticky Candy From You Carpet
Candy can get sticky if the sugar comes into contact with water – that’s why you’ll notice that candies aren’t as sticky when you’ve just opened the packet. Moreover, certain manufacturers use corn syrup, which in itself is a rather sticky substance that clings onto carpets, making them a nightmare to remove.
Once the candy comes into contact with a carpet, it will quickly start sticking to the fibers and become thoroughly embedded in the fabric, making it difficult to get out. It can also release food coloring and stains the material, resulting in a tainted appearance that is far from ideal.
Some carpet fibers are particularly susceptible to this candy-carpet bonding effect, namely wool, polyester, and olefin, making it necessary to follow the correct cleaning procedures to remove the stains promptly and separate the candy from the fabric without ruining your carpet.
One of the worst things you can do is to try and forcibly remove it from the carpet fibers, which can rip them out and damage your carpet beyond repair. When seeking to separate the candy from carpet fibers, you should approach it with caution, especially when dealing with high-pile carpets.
You Will Need:
- A glass of cold water
- Clean and dry cloths
- Distilled white vinegar or carpet-friendly stain remover
1. Loosen the Hard or Sticky Candy
The first step involves using water to moisten the candy, making it easier to remove since it lightly dissolves the candy and reduces the bonding effect to the carpet, allowing it to be detached from the fibers.
Gently apply a moderate amount of cold water to the candy, and when it starts to loosen, remove the large pieces using your hand or use a spoon to lightly scrape it off. Ensure that you do not damage the carpet fibers by using too much force.
2. Dab Away Leftover Stains
Once the candy is removed from the carpet fibers, use vinegar or a stain remover to dab away at any stains left behind from the candy dyes. Apply the vinegar or the stain remover to the spot and use a clean and dry cloth to blot the area to remove the stain.
It’s important to use a blotting motion instead of a rubbing motion as the latter may spread the stain instead. Then, inspect the stain and repeat the process if any stubborn stains are remaining.
With each blot, switch to a clean portion of the cloth to prevent the used portion of the cloth from staining the carpet.
3. Rinse the Stain & Allow It To Dry
After removing the stain from the carpet, use a clean damp cloth to blot the area to remove any traces of vinegar or stain remover left on the carpet. Run your fingers through the area to check if there is any residue remaining, and repeat the process until it feels clean.
Lastly, use a dry cloth to dab away any excess moisture from the carpet and allow it to dry. Depending on how much water you’ve used in this process, you may need to let it dry overnight.
Removing Soft or Melted Candy From Your Carpet
Candy typically melts due to heat exposure when the sugars from the candy are mixed with water or saliva. This makes candy extremely tough to get out of carpets, as it easily spreads and sticks to the affected carpet fibers.
While it may seem like an impossible task, you’ll still be able to remove soft and melted candy from carpets using the right process. The key is to start the process as soon as possible to avoid it from spreading to other areas of the carpet.
To avoid damaging your carpet, we’ve broken the cleaning process down into three actionable steps you should follow to achieve the best results.
You Will Need:
- Ice
- Butter knife
- Clean & dry cloths
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle for quicker cleaning
- White vinegar
1. Harden the Melted Candy & Remove It
The first step is to remove as much of the solid part of the candy as possible. To solidify the melted candy, we recommend applying ice to the stain. This will freeze most of the liquid parts and become hard enough to be chipped off or scooped up.
Using a butter knife, gently scrape away any remnants of the candy that you weren’t able to chip away. Be careful not to tug and pull out the fibers of the carpet, especially if you have high-pile carpets, as you may accidentally rip them out.
Don’t worry if you can’t remove all the candy, the next step will deal with removing any tougher stains that you weren’t able to remove.
2. Clean the Carpet & Remove Any Stains or Remaining Candy
In this step, we’ll create a cleaning solution that should lift the remaining parts of the candy out of your rug. Start by adding 1 teaspoon of dish soap to 1 cup of water, mix well and pour it into a spray bottle.
Then, spray a small amount of the solution onto the stain on the carpet and blot it away using a clean towel. This cleaning solution is designed to break down and dissolve the leftover candy. During this process, try to keep the affected areas of your carpet clean.
It’s also important that you remember not to rub the stain with a towel since it may spread the dyes found in candy all over your rug. Instead, it’s best to use a blotting motion. Repeat this process until nothing remains.
If you’re dealing with a larger candy stain, make sure that you use a clean portion of the cloth with each blot to prevent the used portion from staining the carpet.
3. Rinse the Stain & Allow It To Dry
Mix equal parts of warm water and white vinegar, wet the cloth with this solution, and blot the area to remove any stubborn stains, and to rinse the carpet of any stickiness from the melted candy. Repeat the process until the carpet feels clean to your touch.
Using a dry cloth, dab the area to soak up as much of the leftover water and vinegar solution. Allow the carpet to completely dry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Since cleaning carpets is a delicate process and candy stains are typically hard to remove, we’ve had several readers send in questions they would like to have answered. We’ve compiled the most frequently asked ones and answered them below for your reference.
What Else Can I Use to Remove Candy from My Carpet?
Although distilled white vinegar works exceptionally well to remove all types of candy stains and food dyes from carpets, it is worth investing in the right carpet cleaner to maximize the effects.
The Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is a dedicated carpet cleaning product that is water-based, odor free, and doesn’t contain any solvents or petroleum. It is also safe to use around children and pets.
Carpet cleaners are formulated with ingredients that do not damage carpet fibers in any way, making them safe to use for eradicating any stains, especially from sticky substances like candy.
Moreover, using carpet cleaners in conjunction with vinegar is even more effective and can remove almost any type of dye or stains that seep into the carpet. Using the right carpet cleaner can also extend your carpet’s life since it protects the fibers and maintains the quality of your carpet.
Why Should I Use Cold Water Instead of Warm or Hot Water When Removing Candy From Carpets?
Although it may seem like using hot water is ideal for quickly removing any fresh candy stains and dyes from your carpet, hot water can set the stain instead. Using cold water is optimal because it effectively dissolves the candy without increasing the stain.
This is a common misconception because warm or hot water is likely to loosen up the candy quicker compared to cold water but hot water dissolves the candy and worsens the stain on the carpet.
What Can I Do if There Is Still a Residual Stain from the Candy?
Even if you follow the cleaning process properly, there may still be a chance that your carpet shows residual candy stains. There are a few actionable steps you can take if this is the case. These include going through the cleaning process once again but using a stronger cleaning solution.
Besides vinegar and carpet cleaners, you can achieve excellent carpet cleaning results using baking soda which also effectively tackles lingering odor. Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain and place a slightly damp cloth on top, leave for at least 3 hours to allow the baking soda to absorb any stain or odor from the candy.
Lift the cloth to check the spot and when you are satisfied with the results, remove the cloth. Use a clean damp cloth to blot the area to remove the remnants of baking soda and allow your carpet to completely dry.
What if I Don’t Have Time for the Carpet to Dry Naturally?
If you’re looking for quick results and don’t have time for the carpet to dry naturally, you can use a hair dryer to accelerate the drying process. However, you should avoid using a heated setting, as this can damage the carpet’s fibers.
The most optimal drying method is to keep the hair dryer on a low-medium setting and hold it at least 2-3 inches away from the carpet while you use your fingers to fluff the carpet fibers, similar to how you would dry your hair.
A hands-free method is to use a pedestal fan, directing it towards the carpet. This accelerates the drying process without damaging the carpet fibers. Otherwise, you can also leave the ceiling fan on to quicken the drying process.
About Sirinan
Sirinan is a self-proclaimed cleanaholic and the editor-in-chief of Cleaney. Apart from coming with up creative ways to keep her living spaces clean and tidy, she loves to read on rainy days.