How To Remove Jelly And Jam Stains

By Matt Oden | Comments | Food and Drink Stains → Jelly

If you know how to remove jelly and jam stains, you’ll be able to fearlessly hand your toddler a piece of toast smothered in sticky grape jelly. These types of stains can certainly leave a sticky mess in their wake but they can also often stain the carpet an unsightly purple, red, or even orange, if you do not know the best stain removal methods.

Remove Jelly and Jam Stains

Sticky stains, like those caused by jams and jellies, can be a daunting thing to handle. However, with just a few household tools on your side, and knowing the best methods of how to remove jelly and jam stains, you’ll soon be claiming victory over the formerly sticky situation.

How To Remove Jelly And Jam Stains From Clothing

What You Will Need Before You Start

  • Butter knife
  • Stain pretreating solution
  • Oxygen bleach

Murphy’s Law will have jelly or jam splatting all over your shirt when you are on the way out to work in the morning. With swift action, you’ll be able to get out of the sticky situation and remove the stain before it becomes a permanent fixture on your favorite shirt.

  1. Use the butter knife, or a spoon, to remove any excess jam from the stained area.
  2. Apply a liberal coating of your preferred stain pretreating solution to the stain.
  3. Allow to set for up to fifteen minutes.
  4. Fill the sink or a bucket up with hot water and a scoop of oxygen bleach.
  5. Submerge the stained garment in the sink or bucket, and allow it to soak for up to thirty minutes.
  6. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and observe the stain. If it is still proving to be a bit persistent then you can try using a bit of hydrogen peroxide dabbed onto a clean sponge. Just be sure to do a colorfast test so that you don’t accidentally damage your clothing.

If you do not have time to treat the stain right away then sprinkle a liberal coating of salt or cornstarch onto the stain. This will help to draw the liquids out of the garment, which may make it a lot easier for you to treat later on.

How To Remove Jelly And Jam Stains From Furniture

What You Will Need Before You Start

  • Butter knife
  • White vinegar
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Clean white towel
  • Clean sponge

Your upholstered furniture can often fall victim to a sticky jam stain, especially if you have small children who love to run around brandishing jam toast or just plain sticky fingers. The good news is that these types of sticky stains are easily combatted with just a few simple ingredients. If only it were that simple to keep your children clean!

  1. Use the butter knife or a spoon to carefully scrape off any excess jam from the furniture.
  2. In a small bowl, mix a teaspoon of white vinegar with two thirds of a cup of rubbing alcohol.
  3. Using a clean sponge, dab the cleaning solution onto the stain until completely saturated.
  4. Blot at the stain with a clean towel until the liquid has been absorbed. The stain will also lift out of the furniture with each blot.
  5. Observe the stain; you may need to repeat the third and fourth steps several times before the stain has completely been removed from your furniture.
  6. Sponge the area with cold water and then blot dry with another clean white towel.

If you know how to remove jelly and jam stains from your furniture, you’ll soon be able to fearlessly tackle any sticky situation in your home. Be sure to always do a quick colorfast test on your furniture, in an inconspicuous spot.

How To Remove Jelly And Jam Stains From Carpet

What You Will Need Before You Start

  • Butter knife or spoon
  • Liquid dish detergent
  • Clean sponge
  • Clean white towels or rags
  • Ammonia

It is true that if you drop a piece of toast with your favorite jam or jelly on it that it is going to fall upside down on your carpet; especially if you have pale or lovely white colored carpets and are fond of bright purple jam or jelly. The good news is that if you know how to remove jelly and jam stains effectively, you’ll soon be able to make short work of any sticky situation on your carpets.

  1. Remove any excess jam or jelly using the butter knife or a spoon.
  2. In a bowl mix a tablespoon of liquid dish detergent and two cups of hot water.
  3. Sponge the cleaning solution onto the stain, taking care not to rub it into the carpet fibers. Remember to always blot, not rub.
  4. Place a white towel or rag on top of the damp stain and press down firmly to absorb the liquid.
  5. Lift the towel and observe the stain, a fair amount of it should have lifted up.
  6. Repeat the process until you have effectively and thoroughly removed all of the stain from the carpet.
  7. Sponge with warm water to remove all traces of the dish detergent, and use another clean towel to lift up the moisture from the carpet.

If the stain is proving to be very difficult to remove then use a bit of ammonia on the stain, using your sponge to apply it directly to the stained area. Be sure that you never combine ammonia and bleach when cleaning; the resulting fumes can prove to be toxic.

How To Remove Jelly And Jam Stains From Wood

What You Will Need Before You Start

  • White vinegar
  • Clean sponge
  • Liquid dish detergent
  • Paper towels

Any stain on wood can be alarming, especially if you are concerned about accidentally stripping the finish from the wood while you are cleaning up the stain. The good news is that the wood surfaces in your home can swiftly be cleaned of their sticky stains, without much risk to the finish and the stain of the wood.

  1. Mix a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent with a cup of white vinegar and mix well.
  2. Using your clean sponge, dab the cleaning solution onto the stain and gently rub at it. You won’t need to scrub very hard for the stain to start to come loose from the wood floors or wood furniture.
  3. Wipe down with paper towels or another clean sponge.

If the stain proves to be very challenging, and is very stuck onto the wooden surface, then you can try using a bit of wood furniture polish spray, like Pledge. These sprays contain a fair amount of oils that are good for the wood but will also help to lift the sticky stain loose from the wood surface. Be sure to clean thoroughly before walking on the floor, otherwise you could just find yourself with a well-oiled wooden floor that is very much on the slippery side.

When you have the knowledge of how to remove jelly and jam stains from your clothing or furniture, you’ll find that your breakfast scones or toast are just that much sweeter in the morning.

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