As with most stains, act as soon as possible when you notice a chocolate stain on clothing, carpet, or upholstery. Start by gently scraping up loose or excess chocolate with a knife or spoon. You can also use the hose of your vacuum, especially on carpet or furniture. Doing this first helps prevent spreading the stain or grinding the chocolate further into the fibers. From there, your course of action will depend on the item.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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1Step 1Scrape off excess chocolate
For clothing: After scraping off excess chocolate, turn the clothing item inside out and rinse the stain with cold water from the opposite side of the garment. In effect, this will help push the chocolate out of the fibers.
For carpet or upholstery: After scraping or vacuuming away any loose chocolate, mix together 2 cups of lukewarm water and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.
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2Step 2Apply cleaner
For clothing: Spot-treat the stain with laundry detergent, stain remover, or even liquid dish soap. Gently work into a lather. Soak the clothing item in cold water for 30 minutes or longer. Inspect the garment to see if the stain persists and, if so, lather and soak again. Once the stain is no longer visible, launder as usual.
For carpet or upholstery: Use a soft-bristle brush or soft cloth to gently apply the soapy mixture to the stain. Be sure to dab rather than rub to prevent spreading the chocolate.
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3Step 3Dry
For Clothing: You may want to air-dry the first time to ensure the stain is gone. Heat from the dryer will make any remaining residue harder to remove.
For carpet or upholstery: Blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel.Continue applying the soapy water and blotting it dry until the drying cloth no longer picks up chocolate and the stain is no longer visible.
