To remove chocolate stains, break down oils and milk solids and wash the item carefully. Remove excess solids before treating the stain with a gentle touch. Use liquid dishwashing detergent or a solution of ammonia and water for carpets. Use a stain remover bar or liquid for clothes and be careful with dry clean only items.
The best way to remove a chocolate stain is by using techniques that break down oils and milk solids, and washing the item carefully so the stain doesn’t set. How you do it will depend on whether the stain is on upholstery or clothing, and what type of fabric is involved. Immediate treatment will help prevent the chocolate from permanently marring the item.
If the chocolate stain is the result of solids like candy or ice cream, you should first gently remove any excess. Be careful not to spread it out or you will have a much larger spot. Using a spoon is usually the easiest way to scrape it up, and the blunt edge won’t tear clothing or upholstery. A sofa or cushion cover can be thick enough for the stain to stay on top instead of soaking through.
Allow any stain remover to activate for a short time; you can rub the chocolate stain with a clean white cloth, until you have removed as much of the fabric as possible. Most cleaning experts recommend a gentle touch. It’s best to do this from the wrong side if the stain has been absorbed, so you’re not pushing it into the fabric.
A chocolate stain on your carpet can be especially problematic if it compresses into the fibers. Liquid dishwashing detergent in warm water can usually remove a fresh stain if it gets there before someone steps on it. If that doesn’t work, a solution of 1 part household ammonia to 16 parts water can be used. Be very careful not to mix ammonia with bleach or dangerous chlorine gas will result.
You can use a stain remover bar or liquid to loosen a chocolate stain on most clothes before washing. Repeat the pre-treatment steps you took if it persists. Once the stain is gone, it should be safe to dry the item. If you take your garment in for a professional cleaning, point out the chocolate stain so the cleaners can remove it, or the solvent’s interaction with the sugars in the stain can make it worse.
Dry clean only clothing can often be successfully treated at home by being carefully dried with a little water or products formulated for them. Specialty dry cleaning solvents are sold at discount and hardware stores, but many people don’t like to use them because they are toxic. Home dry cleaning kits contain a water-based stain remover and special pads to place under the stain. If you do get a chocolate stain on a dry-clean item, be sure to test the remover on an inconspicuous spot first.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
