How to Clean Ham Glaze from Carpet or Upholstery

A stain from ham glaze is a combination of a protein stain and caramelized sugar (tannin) stain. Since the stain is an organic combination stain, the easiest way to remove it is with the help of an enzyme digester.

• Cold water
• Glycerin
• An enzyme-digestant cleaner
• Meat tenderizer

1. Soak the stain with cold water and blot away as much of the stain as possible. Cold water can often easily remove fresh protein stains.¹
2. Dab glycerin onto old or dry glaze to soften the stains. Allow the glycerin to sit for thirty minutes, then wipe the stains with cool or cold water and continue with the steps below.²
3. Select an enzyme-digestant stain remover that is safe for your carpet or upholstery fabric. Some examples include Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover or Simple Solutions Extreme Stain and Odor Remover.
4. Follow the instructions on the bottle of your selected cleaner. The usual process is to soak the stain with the cleaner and allow the cleaner to air dry. The enzymes in the cleaner will eat away at the stain until there is no organic residue remaining.
5. If you don’t have an enzyme cleaner, you can use meat tenderizer instead. However, there may be an adverse reaction from other ingredients in the meat tenderizer, so consider testing this on a small, hidden area first.²

• Heat will quickly set a protein stain.³If the ham glaze spilled in the car, treat the stain quickly to prevent the daytime heat from setting the stain or consider leaving the car windows down until you can treat the stain.
• Do not use an acid cleaner to treat the stain, as acids can alter the chemistry of a protein stain and make it more difficult to remove.¹
• Do not use an enzyme-digestant on silk or wool.¹

1. Natural Stain Removal Secrets by Deborah L. Martin
2. Don Aslett’s Stainbuster’s Bible
3. Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia