Cleaning Syrup Stains From Cabinets

It's an unfortunately common scenario: you get up on a Saturday morning and want to make pancakes, but you realize when you reach into the cabinet to grab the syrup that the bottle is stuck to the shelf! Syrup, being the very sticky substance that it is, will stick to anything it touches, becoming difficult to remove. If any syrup has spilled and ended up on the bottle, you can bet it will turn up in your kitchen cabinets as well.

So what can you do about this sticky situation in your kitchen cabinet? It can be quite annoying to find that a mess like dried maple syrup won't wipe away easily, and even with effort won't come off the surface. But to remove the mess, it might take a little bit of work.

To remove syrup from your cabinets, try these ideas:

• Soap and Water. This is not necessarily the easiest method, but with enough scrubbing it might work. Get a rag wet with some soapy water and scrub away. If the spill is fresh, it should come off. For older stains, leave the wet rag on the spill for several minutes to loosen the dried syrup. Try scrubbing again. Dry off the area when you are done.
• Putty Knife. Using a putty knife or a dill kitchen knife, scrape and pry the syrup away. This is a good method if the stain is especially hard and thick. Wash away any residue with soap and water and dry off. Be careful, though: a knife can possibly scratch the wood of the cabinet and damage it.
• All-Purpose Cleaners. All-purpose cleaners can tackle many types of stains and spills, and it may be useful when you are trying to get rid of syrup. It will probably work best once the majority of the mess has been removed by other methods, and the cleaner can pick up whatever is left. Try using it on your cabinet to remove syrup, but make sure the cleaner is safe to use on the surface. Spray and wipe off as directed on the cleaner's packaging.
• Steam Clean. For a chemical-free and effective way to clean, try using a steam cleaner. The moisture and heat can make the syrup come off quite easily. Don't leave the steam on the surface for too long, though: you want to make sure it doesn't get damaged. Wipe dry when done.

Removing syrup from your cabinet may be difficult, but with a little work you should be able to remove the mess.