We all know chocolate is a beautiful aspect of life, from ice cream to candy bars. Unfortunately, with so many chocolate-flavored foods to choose from, there's a greater chance of getting chocolate stains on your clothes and furniture. To understand how to remove chocolate stains from clothing, car seats, and everything in between, follow a few simple tips illustrated below.
How to Remove Chocolate Stains out of Clothing
The sooner you remove chocolate stains, the better. With these simple methods, most stains that haven't been set yet may be completely removed. Details of how to get chocolate stains out of your clothes using a stain removal method:
1. Get Rid of the Excess Chocolate
Remove any excess chocolate first. It reduces the chances of the stain spreading and becoming worse, and you'll have less chocolate to clean up from the start. Then, with a butter knife, scrape off the extra chocolate using the smooth side of the blade. To avoid harming the fabric, take your time removing it.
2. Make a Cold Bath for the Chocolate Stain
Run cold water for 30 seconds over the chocolate stain in the kitchen sink. Then, flip the fabric over and repeat the process on the other side. Treat both sides of the fabric to help dislodge the chocolate and make it simpler to rinse out through the fibers.
Warm or hot water is better for releasing the oils. However, hot or warm water may further set the stain. We're only concerned with getting as much of the stain out as possible for now; after that, we'll concentrate on the oily component.
3. Use a Liquid Laundry Detergent
Regular liquid laundry soap is powerful against grease, oil, grime, and other contaminants, making it an excellent stain pre-treater and remover. Carefully rub liquid detergent into the chocolate stain from both sides of the garment.
Allow for a five-minute rest period. Then, soak the clothing in cold water for 15 minutes without rinsing. Next, scrub the stained area with your thumb and fingers on different sides of the fabric every five minutes to gently loosen more of the oils and tannins.
4. Use a Different Stain Remover
If an oily or brown stain remains, apply a small amount of baking soda. Baking soda is a minimally abrasive whitener and deodorizer that is gentle enough to use on almost any cloth. Wet the chocolate stain with cold water and rub the baking soda on both sides of the garment with your fingers. Scrub continuously until the stain is completely gone. After that, wash the clothes as usual.
Please don't put the clothes in the dryer after washing them. Because heat might cause a stain to set permanently, it's best to hang the stained cloth to dry. That way, if the stain is still visible, you can treat it again.
How to Get Chocolate Stains out of Dry Clean Only Clothes
Using the edge of a credit card or a dull knife, scrape away as much chocolate as possible. If you rub or add water, you risk making things worse, especially if you're working with silk. Act fast and identify the stain to your professional dry cleaners.
If you're using a home dry cleaning kit, treat the chocolate stain with the stain remover that comes in the package before putting the item in the dryer bag.
How to Get Rid of Set-in Chocolate Stains on Clothes
Don't worry if you don't notice a chocolate stain on your furniture or clothing until it's dried. Remember that an old chocolate stain is more difficult to remove than a newer one. That's because, like other stains, chocolate will worsen over time, especially if it's been in the dryer.
Scrape away any extra chocolate with a gentle scraper, then grab your liquid detergent. From both sides of the garment, rub the detergent into the stain. After that, soak the clothes for an hour in cold water.
Then, wash the clothes according to the label's instructions and avoid using the dryer. The first tip of removing chocolate stains is to remember that the heat from your dryer causes many stains to solidify, making them much more difficult to remove.
Instead, hang your clothes to dry in the sun. The sun's rays act as a natural bleaching agent, which may aid in the stain's removal. If any chocolate stain remains after the garment has dried, it's time to step up your game.
Distilled white vinegar is a safe and effective natural cleaner, disinfectant, and stain remover. Soak the stained garments for 30 minutes in a sink full of cold water and one cup of white vinegar. Then, carefully scrub the stained area with a soft-bristled brush. Throw the item in the washer and air dry it once the stain is gone.
Chocolate Stain Removal from a Sofa
If you like chocolate, you've probably eaten it while relaxing in your favorite recliner or watching TV. Treat it right away if you detect a chocolate stain on your upholstery. Call a professional upholstery cleaner like Molly Maid to take care of it if you can afford the budget. To get chocolate out of a couch or other fabric furniture at home, use these steps:
1. Get Rid of Any Excess Chocolate
Scrape the chocolate stain from the outside inwards using the blunt edge of a butter knife to prevent it from spreading. Scrape away until you've removed as much chocolate as you can.
2. Freeze the Chocolate Stain
Ice can solidify the discolored area, similar to chewing gum, making it easier to remove a chocolate stain. Freeze the stained area with a chunk of ice or an ice pack. Make sure the upholstery doesn't get too wet from the melting ice. Carefully remove the chocolate once it has hardened with a light brush and scrape away as much as you can with your butter knife.
3. Remove the Stain with Liquid Dish Detergent
A DIY upholstery cleaning and stain remover made with liquid dish soap and water is safe for most upholstery. Using a damp sponge, rub a few drops of dishwashing liquid into the stain. Blot the chocolate stain from the outside inwards to remove as much as possible. Next, rinse the sponge and wipe down the affected area to eliminate the soap residue.
4. Allow the Chocolate Stain to Dry
Pat the area dry with a white microfiber cloth, careful not to rub the fabric. Sprinkle a little cornstarch on the damp area after the upholstery is slightly damp. Vacuum up the corn starch once it has dried.
How to Remove Chocolate Stains Out of Carpets
While any drop of chocolate that does not wind up in your stomach is a tragic waste of sweetness, it is not the end of the world. A professional carpet cleaner is most suited to take care of it if you can afford the budget. Alternatively, follow the procedures below to have your carpet chocolate-free in no time:
1. Remove Chocolate Flakes
If the stain is due to solid chocolate, carefully hoover up any loose flakes with the hose of the vacuum cleaner without the attachment. If there's still some excess chocolate on your carpet, place an ice cube on it for a minute.
Then carefully scrape it away with a clean white cloth or paper towel in the case of hard chocolate. Finally, blot it away with a clean cloth or paper towel in the event of liquid chocolate.
2. Use a Stain Remover
Using a clean toothbrush, gently dab stain remover over the chocolate stain. Do not rub the chocolate into the carpet's fabric any further. To prevent the chocolate from spreading further, rinse the toothbrush between dabs. Allow for five to ten minutes for the stain remover to work its magic.
- Directions: Product Usage: Resolve Upholstery Cleaner Is Safe To Use...
- Concentrated formula use only 2 3 ounce Per gallon of water Cleans up...
3. Rinse Thoroughly and Blot Dry
Using a clean towel, blot the soapy stain without touching it, or stack a few sheets of paper towel on top of it. Because most carpets are woven and deep, the chocolate stain may not come out the first time.
In that instance, continue the procedure until the stain is no longer visible. Then, blot the area with a clean, dry cloth or stacked paper towels until you're sure the soap is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
1. Why is Removing a Chocolate Stain Hard?
To understand why chocolate stains are so difficult to get rid of, consider the two basic chocolate ingredients, cocoa powder and cocoa butter. It's a problem because cocoa powder contains dark-colored tannins, and cocoa butter is the oil component that gives the resulting stains their oily feel.
But don't worry; if you follow the procedures outlined above for removing chocolate stains on various items, you'll be able to clean those dark stains out of almost anything!
2. Can I Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Get Rid of Chocolate Stains?
For white or light-colored materials, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent stain remover. However, avoid using peroxide on dark materials since it is not a color-safe bleach. Instead, apply a cleaning solution of two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dish soap on the stain. Remove any excess stain with blotting paper, flush with cold water and wash as usual.
