HOW TO WASH CHOCOLATE STAINS WHEREVER THEY HAPPEN (BECAUSE THEY WILL)
From homemade banana chocolate ice cream to avocado brownies, I always turn to something sweet and chocolatey when I want to bring smiles all around. But, as every parent knows, that same gooey goodness can become a not-so-sweet mess before we know it. Children are notorious for getting chocolate in places it doesn’t belong their clothes, couches, carpet where doesn’t it end up?
I’ve covered plenty of stain removal methods, like how to get slime out of clothes and how to remove permanent marker from walls. Chocolate stains, on the other hand, are sneaky and some of the most frustrating to deal with. The oils, cocoa butter, sugar, oh my! These ingredients make chocolate a tricky mess to clean, especially if you don’t catch it quickly.
If you’re dealing with stubborn chocolate stains, don’t worry. I’ve been there, tried all the cleaning hacks, and decided to make a post dedicated to solutions that work. Today, I’m sharing simple, stress-free ways to wash chocolate stains from wherever they may end up.
How To Wash Chocolate Stains
No matter where your little one’s chocolate-covered fingers wander, the stains feel equally intimidating. Sometimes, it’s a small smudge on a soft cotton onesie; other times, it’s a dried-on mystery stain on your brand-new living room rug (we’ve all been there, right?).
These tried-and-true methods worked best for me, and now I’m passing them along to all of you! You don’t need fancy cleaners or impossible-to-follow steps just a few household products and a little patience.
Are Chocolate Stains Permanent?
Good news! Chocolate stains generally are not permanent… just extremely aggravating. Chocolate is a mix of oils, tannins, and (sometimes) dairy all things that cling to fabrics and surfaces. And unfortunately, the longer they sit, the harder they are to remove. So, like with every tough stain and tricky spot, you want to act quickly.
Don’t lose hope just yet, though! Whether the stain just happened or you spotted it from who-knows-when, it’s not a lost cause. With the right techniques and products, you can remove chocolate stains entirely.
So, if you’re struggling to find the holy grail of chocolate stain removal hacks, you’re in the right place. Whether it’s clothing, leather, upholstery, or carpet you name it, I’ve got a trick for it. Let’s dive into some of my go-to products for tackling chocolate stains!
What Removes Chocolate Stains?
Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treat Spray (the BEST for everything!)
Laundry Detergent
Hydrogen Peroxide
Cold Water / Warm Water
Rubbing Alcohol
Lemon Juice
Baby Wipes
How To Remove Chocolate Stains
From Clothes
Removing chocolate out of clothing is surprisingly easy! Most of the time, if the stain doesn’t come out the first time, you can just repeat the steps until you see improvement. And, chances are, the washing machine will remove anything you couldn’t! But first things first follow these steps:
Step 1: Use a butter knife to gently scrape any excess chocolate. This helps you avoid scrubbing in what can easily be lifted off first.
Step 2: Rinse the stain with cold water and blot the area with a clean cloth. If you’re dealing with an extra tough stain, apply a stain remover before moving on.
Step 3: Pour a little bit of liquid detergent onto the stain and gently rub it into the clothing from both sides.
Step 4: Once it’s sudsy, soak the clothing in cold water for 30 minutes to an hour.
Step 5: After the clothing has been sitting for enough time, toss it into the washing machine and let it finish the job!
Here’s another trick I learned for getting chocolate stains out of clothes: if you don’t have any detergent on hand, dish soap will do just as good of a job!
From Carpet
When you’re working with a chocolate stain on a carpet, you want to avoid two things: rubbing it into the fibers and using super hot water. Both can set the stain and make it much harder to remove! Instead, follow these steps:
Step 1: If the stain is fresh, blot it with a cloth. If it is old or solid, use a butter knife to gently scrape the excess.
Step 2: Vacuum up the residue so you aren’t rubbing it back into the carpet!
Step 3: Combine a couple of drops of dish soap with cool or lukewarm water. Dip a cloth into the solution and blot the stain. Work from the outside in!
Step 4: After you’ve blotted as much as you can, wait 15 minutes for the soap to really get into the fibers, and then use a dry cloth to remove excess moisture.
Step 5: Follow up with a vinegar solution. To do this, mix water with a few drops of vinegar, then dip a cloth into the mixture and press it onto the stain for about a minute. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then blot the area with lukewarm water and allow it to air dry.
The vinegar mixture isn’t always necessary, but it’s a great way to guarantee that you’re removing any leftover chocolate. Plus, it helps prevent dirt from clinging to the spot later on!
From Upholstery
Dropped a little bit of chocolate onto your couch? Been there, done that. Fortunately, this is another surface that is much easier to clean than you may have anticipated. Always test any cleaning method for upholstery in an inconspicuous area!
Step 1: Scrape off any of the larger chunks with a spoon or butter knife. For stubborn spots, try placing an ice pack on top of the stain to solidify and freeze off the remaining chocolate.
Step 2: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and put it into a spray bottle.
Step 3: Spray the solution onto the stained area and let it sit for 30-45 minutes. You want to give it enough time to work!
Step 4: Once time has passed, blot the area with a clean cloth. If you notice that the area is still moist, sprinkle baking soda over it to absorb the rest of the solution.
Upholstery is one of those materials that you can gently rub if you notice the stain isn’t lifting. In this case, use a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush) to gently rub the stain in circular motions. This ensures you don’t damage the fabric as you clean it!
From Jeans
Jeans are such a common victim of chocolate stains, which is why there are hundreds of ways to clean them! If you haven’t found your go-to method just yet, check out the simple way I effortlessly get chocolate stains out of all of my jeans:
Step 1: For dry stains, scrape off any excess chocolate. If the stain is still wet, gently blot the area and get up as much as possible.
Step 2: Rinse the spot with cold water, gently rubbing the stain in circular motions with your fingers. This helps lift the chocolate out of the clothing fibers.
Step 3: Apply a stain remover to the spot, then follow up with a mixture of equal parts dish soap and water.
Step 4: Let the solution set for about 30 minutes, and then rinse the stain. If you notice the chocolate hasn’t entirely disappeared, sprinkle a little baking soda on top and let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 5: Once you’ve removed the baking soda, throw the jeans into the wash, and voila!
From Mattress
Even though you are most likely covering your mattress with sheets, you don’t want to see a huge chocolate stain every time you do laundry! With a little bit of dish soap, water, and maybe a little vinegar, you can forget the stain was ever there.
Step 1: Use a butter knife to scrape away dry chocolate or a clean cloth to blot wet chocolate.
Step 2: Dampen a cloth with cold water and gently blot the area. Make sure you’re not rubbing!
Step 3: Combine a few drops of dish soap with water. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and blot the stain. You want to work from the outside in like you did with the carpet!
Step 4: Use another damp cloth with plain water to blot away any remaining soap. Don’t worry if this takes a few rounds!
Step 5: If the stain persists, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, apply it, and blot gently. Rinse away any remaining vinegar.
Step 6: Blot the area with a dry towel to absorb extra moisture, then let the mattress air dry!
Chocolate stains don’t stand a chance against these simple homemade hacks!
Wouldn’t it just be easier if we skipped out on giving our little ones anything that could stain? Of course it would be! But, it would also limit their opportunity to explore, try new things, and have fun. With these tips and tricks, chocolatey accidents don’t have to mean trips to the dry cleaner or constant replacements. Just grab your tools, follow these steps, and you’re good to go!
For more fun and imaginative independent play, pre-order our new book, Playful by Design! It’s a guide to transforming your home into a place of creativity and connection, igniting kids’ imagination, and fostering independence.
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