Chocolate stains can take the fun out of your favorite sweet treats. These unsightly combination stains can be difficult to remove and make a real mess of clothing, table linens, furniture, and carpeting.
Luckily, a stain pretreatment product can easily remove most chocolate stains from clothing, upholstery, and carpet. However, there are times when a more intensive stain-removal process is required. This guide will explain how to remove chocolate stains and when to use a stain treatment product versus a deeper cleaning method.
Before Getting Started: General Chocolate Stain Removal Tips
Chocolate has a reputation as a tough-to-get-out stain, and it's a well-earned one: Chocolate is a "combination stain," meaning it's made up of more than one type of stain. In the case of chocolate, a combination of three things; tannins from the cocoa, proteins from the milk, and oil from the butter. Yikes!
While there are many good stain removers on the market, one, in particular, is excellent at treating chocolate stains. Shout Stain Remover is the best choice for chocolate messes. However, there are plenty of other good options for how to remove chocolate stains, including diluted dish soap, which effectively breaks down combination stains, and other commercially available stain removal products.
As with most stains, it is best to remove stains from fabrics as soon as possible—the longer a chocolate stain is left untreated, the more set-in it will become and the more difficult it will be to remove. If you can't make time to do a whole load of laundry, apply a laundry pretreatment product to a chocolate-stained item before tossing it in the hamper. If the stains are small, applying a small amount of Shout, massaging it into the fabric using your thumb and forefinger, and flushing with cool running water may eliminate the stain without requiring you to do a load of laundry.
How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Clothes and Linens
Pretreat chocolate stains on clothing, table linens, and bed linens prior to laundering as usual.
- Remove Solids If there are pieces of chocolate stuck to the fabric, gently scrape them away using the edge of a spoon or a butter knife before applying a stain treatment product.
Remove Solids
If there are pieces of chocolate stuck to the fabric, gently scrape them away using the edge of a spoon or a butter knife before applying a stain treatment product.
- Apply Stain Pretreatment ProductSpray Shout Stain Remover or a similar stain treatment onto the chocolate stains.
Apply Stain Pretreatment Product
Spray Shout Stain Remover or a similar stain treatment onto the chocolate stains.
- Agitate Stain Pretreatment ProductUse your fingers or a damp light-colored cloth to gently work the stain remover into the chocolate to help penetrate and break down the stain. Smaller stains are likely to disappear without requiring further action; larger stains can be coaxed out by alternating between applying the stain treatment, rubbing it into the fabric, and flushing it with cool running water, repeating as necessary.How to Get Grass Stains out of Clothes, Blankets, and More
Agitate Stain Pretreatment Product
Use your fingers or a damp light-colored cloth to gently work the stain remover into the chocolate to help penetrate and break down the stain. Smaller stains are likely to disappear without requiring further action; larger stains can be coaxed out by alternating between applying the stain treatment, rubbing it into the fabric, and flushing it with cool running water, repeating as necessary.
- Launder as UsualWash the item as usual. Check the care tag for any special instructions regarding water temperature and cycle speed, and follow those.
Launder as Usual
Wash the item as usual. Check the care tag for any special instructions regarding water temperature and cycle speed, and follow those.
- Check Stain Prior to DryingAfter laundering a chocolate-stained item, check that the stain was eliminated in the wash. If there is still staining, repeat the stain treatment. Don't put the item in the dryer, as heat will set the stain.
Check Stain Prior to Drying
After laundering a chocolate-stained item, check that the stain was eliminated in the wash. If there is still staining, repeat the stain treatment. Don't put the item in the dryer, as heat will set the stain.
How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Upholstery
When it comes to cleaning upholstered furniture, check the care tag, usually located on the underside of the seat, for the code that indicates how the fabric can safely be cleaned. The code is as follows:
- W = Wet/water cleaning only
- S = Dry solvent cleaning only
- SW = Dry solvent and/or wet cleaning
- X = Professional cleaning or vacuuming only
These instructions are for W and SW upholstery only.
- Remove Solids If there are pieces of chocolate stuck to the upholstery, gently scrape them away using the edge of a spoon or a butter knife before applying a stain treatment product.
Remove Solids
If there are pieces of chocolate stuck to the upholstery, gently scrape them away using the edge of a spoon or a butter knife before applying a stain treatment product.
- Apply Stain Pretreatment ProductSpray Shout Stain Remover or a similar stain treatment onto the chocolate stains. A light mist is fine; you don't need to saturate the fabric. Doing so will make removing residue from the stain treatment difficult and can leave a dark ring.How to Remove Coffee Stains on Clothing with Household Products
Apply Stain Pretreatment Product
Spray Shout Stain Remover or a similar stain treatment onto the chocolate stains. A light mist is fine; you don't need to saturate the fabric. Doing so will make removing residue from the stain treatment difficult and can leave a dark ring.
- Blot at the StainUse a damp white or light-colored cloth to blot the stain, being careful not to scrub, which can irritate the fabric. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
Blot at the Stain
Use a damp white or light-colored cloth to blot the stain, being careful not to scrub, which can irritate the fabric. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
- Remove Residual Stain TreatmentOnce the stain is gone, rinse the white or light-colored cloth with clean water and go over the area several times to remove stain treatment product residue from the fabric.
Remove Residual Stain Treatment
Once the stain is gone, rinse the white or light-colored cloth with clean water and go over the area several times to remove stain treatment product residue from the fabric.
How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Carpet
The process for removing chocolate stains from carpet is similar to that of upholstered furniture. If a very large chocolate stain has soiled carpet or furniture, consider the use of a carpet and upholstery cleaning machine, which can be rented or purchased. It will make shorter work of stain remediation than the method that follows.
- Remove Solids If there are pieces of chocolate stuck to the carpet, gently scrape them away using the edge of a spoon or a butter knife before applying a stain treatment product.
Remove Solids
If there are pieces of chocolate stuck to the carpet, gently scrape them away using the edge of a spoon or a butter knife before applying a stain treatment product.
- Apply Stain Pretreatment ProductSpray Shout Stain Remover or a similar stain treatment to the chocolate stains, being careful not to flood the stain and soak the carpet.
Apply Stain Pretreatment Product
Spray Shout Stain Remover or a similar stain treatment to the chocolate stains, being careful not to flood the stain and soak the carpet.
- Blot the StainUse a damp white or light-colored cloth to blot the stain, being careful not to scrub, which can abrade the carpet's fibers. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
Blot the Stain
Use a damp white or light-colored cloth to blot the stain, being careful not to scrub, which can abrade the carpet's fibers. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
- Remove Residual Stain TreatmentOnce the stain is gone, rinse the white or light-colored cloth with clean water and go over the area several times to remove stain treatment product residue from the carpet. When the area has dried, you may want to run a vacuum over it to lift the fibers and restore the carpet's nap.
Remove Residual Stain Treatment
Once the stain is gone, rinse the white or light-colored cloth with clean water and go over the area several times to remove stain treatment product residue from the carpet. When the area has dried, you may want to run a vacuum over it to lift the fibers and restore the carpet's nap.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there any specific temperature recommended to treat stains?For chocolate stains in clothes, you should always use cold water. For carpets and upholstery, try and use room-temperature water or even cold water from the sink or the fridge, as this will help lift the stain more easily. If you use hot or warm water, the chocolate stain may “melt” and spread or set into other areas of the fabric.
For chocolate stains in clothes, you should always use cold water. For carpets and upholstery, try and use room-temperature water or even cold water from the sink or the fridge, as this will help lift the stain more easily. If you use hot or warm water, the chocolate stain may “melt” and spread or set into other areas of the fabric.
- Can I use natural or homemade treatments?As chocolate stains are tough, you may be better off by using commercial-grade stain removers. However, if the stains are minimal, a solution made out of vinegar and dish soap diluted in water can partially lift the stain and get it read for a regular wash. You can spray it directly into the stains or soak the garment before using the washing machine.
As chocolate stains are tough, you may be better off by using commercial-grade stain removers. However, if the stains are minimal, a solution made out of vinegar and dish soap diluted in water can partially lift the stain and get it read for a regular wash. You can spray it directly into the stains or soak the garment before using the washing machine.
- When should I take my garments to the dry cleaner?Chocolate or wine stains are hard to treat, especially when it comes to delicate fabrics like satin, silk, chenille, wool, or cashmere. If that’s the case, it’s better to leave it to the experts.
Chocolate or wine stains are hard to treat, especially when it comes to delicate fabrics like satin, silk, chenille, wool, or cashmere. If that’s the case, it’s better to leave it to the experts.