How To Remove Chocolate Stains - Good Housekeeping

From Halloween treats to an autumnal cup of hot chocolate or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, in the UK we really are loco for cocoa. In fact, the average Brit consumes around 7,500 chocolate bars in their lifetime, according to the British Heart Foundation. Fond as you many be of chocolate, though, we imagine you'll be less appreciative of chocolate stains on your clothes or furniture.

The combination of fat and sugar is what makes chocolate so tasty, but it's also what makes it such a tricky stain to remove. However, we've been removing stains for 100 years, so we know a thing of two about removing chocolate stains. Here's what you need to know.

Related Story

• Stop sheets tangling in the dryer

General directions

Act as fast as you can on chocolate by blotting liquid stains with white paper towels or gently scraping deposits using a blunt knife.

Only use blunt utensils as you run the risk of damaging the fabric if you use anything sharp.

Avoid peeling dried chocolate off, too, as this can pull at the fibres, which may cause further damage.

How do I remove chocolate on washable fabrics?

Chocolate is an oil-based stain, so it needs to be treated as such. Treat the stain with Stain Devils Fat & Sauces which is suitable for all washable fabrics and works on the greasy part of the stain. Follow the instructions for use on the bottle, then for cotton and synthetic items wash at 40°C using a biological washing detergent. For machine washable wool and silk, wash on a delicates cycle using a detergent for delicates.

Alternatively, for handwash-only silk and wool items, pre-soak the garment in a solution of soda crystals and water. Only use cold water to pre-soak the garment — this may seem counter-intuitive, but hot/warm water will remelt, spread, and set the chocolate stain, whereas cold water will hold the stain firmly in place.

GHI Tip: To remove chocolate from clothing, pop the item in a sealed bag in the fridge for a few hours. This will harden the chocolate and make it easier to gently scrape off deposits.

Related Story

• How to get rid of spiders

How do I remove chocolate on carpet and upholstery?

Once you’ve removed as much of the chocolate deposit as possible, spot-treat the affected area with Dr Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover. We recommend testing for colour fastness in an inconspicuous area before use. Leave the treatment to work for the recommended time, then gently soak up the stain with white paper towels. Make sure to dab rather than rub. Repeat this process as necessary, then finish by lightly rinsing with water and blotting again to remove as much moisture as possible.

Chocolate stain removal products

Dr Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover

£4 at dr-beckmann.co.uk

Dri Pak DriPak Soda Crystals, 1kg x 6 bags

Now 14% Off£12 at Amazon

Dr Beckmann Stain Devils Pre-Wash

£7 at Amazon

Dr. Beckmann Dr Beckmann Stain Devils Fat & Sauces

£4 at Amazon