Helpful tips to get rid of Chocolate stains

If you’ve ever dealt with chocolate stains, then you know removing them isn’t easy.  In fact, chocolate’s various ingredients and low melting point make it one of the toughest stains to remove.  Make your life easier and use these tried-and-true techniques to get rid of those chocolate stains for good.

Fabric

1. Gently scrape off as much of the excess chocolate as possible, being careful not to push the stain deeper into the fibers.
2. Run cold water through the back of the stain to flush out as much chocolate as you can.
3. Gently rub liquid detergent into the stain and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
4. Soak the fabric in a mixture of detergent and cold water for at least a half hour, rubbing the stain between your fingers and thumb every 3-5 minutes.
5. Continue doing this until no more of the stain can be removed, then rinse thoroughly.
6. Apply a stain remover stick, gel, or spray, and then launder as usual.
7. If the stain is still there, run it through the wash again, this time with bleach if it’s safe for the fabric.

Unwashable fabric

1. Wait until the chocolate dries and then gently lift it from the fabric.
2. Blot the stain with a damp sponge, taking care not to wet the area too much.
3. If any of the stain remains, put a little dry-cleaning liquid on a sponge and gently dab at it until the stain is gone.
4. Blot dry with a clean, dry cloth.

Upholstery

1. Scrape off any excess chocolate.
2. You can either mix 1 tablespoon of liquid hand dish-washing detergent with 2 cups of cool water, or you can use a dry-cleaning solvent.
3. Use a clean white cloth to sponge the stain with either the detergent or the dry-cleaning solvent.
4. Blot until the liquid has been absorbed.
5. Repeat the previous 2 steps until the stain has been removed.
6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Carpet

1. Scrape off excess chocolate.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid hand dish-washing detergent with 2 cups of warm water and sponge the solution onto the stain with a clean white cloth.
3. Blot until the liquid has been absorbed.
4. Continue to sponge and blot the stain until it’s either gone, or no longer being absorbed into the cloth.
5. If any of the stain remains, mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia with 2 cups of warm water and sponge it onto the stain, blotting until the liquid is absorbed.
6. Sponge with cold water to rinse, and then blot dry.

Other helpful tips:

1. If you deal with the stain as soon as possible, you have a much better chance of removing it.
2. Test cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous section of clothing or furniture to make sure it won’t ruin the fabric.
3. Certain cleaning solutions, such as chlorine bleach and ammonia, are dangerous to mix. Always thoroughly rinse off one solution before trying another.
4. Check the label on clothing before attempting to remove the stain. Certain delicates are better off taken straight to the dry cleaners.
5. Don’t scrub fabric too harshly, as this can cause fading.