How to Get Chocolate Out of Clothes

Child in stained white shirt pouring chocolate syrup on his face and clothes — Learning how to wash chocolate stains from clothes may help you fret a little less when a certain someone gets access to as much chocolate as they want. jf / Getty Images/Image Source

Picture this: You're about to dig into a velvety chocolate cake, but as you bring your spoon to your mouth, you drop the dessert on your white shirt. The bad news is that's less cake for you; the good news is that knowing how to get chocolate out of clothes means this is not the end of the world.

When it comes to removing stains, you could do worse than chocolate. (Be grateful it's not a wine or blood or a lipstick stain.) Getting rid of a chocolate stain takes some know-how, but it's fully possible.

How Hard Is It to Remove Chocolate Stains?

Removing chocolate from your clothes is not an impossible task. "Cocoa butter is basically a plant-based oil — a fat," Pete He, cofounder of Dirty Labs, told Apartment Therapy. "That is pretty easy to remove when compared to other things."

You also can use everyday items like dish soap, laundry detergent, cold water and even a butter knife as a chocolate stain remover.

But you want to act fast. Ingredients in chocolate, like tannins, can make it more difficult or even impossible to remove the stain if you wait too long.

Does Vinegar Remove Chocolate Stains?

You can use vinegar to remove chocolate stains. According to Grove, which sells cleaning supplies, one part vinegar, mixed with one part water, serves as a natural stain remover. Simply mix the garment in the mixture before you wash it.

Removing Chocolate Stains From Clothes and Other Fabrics

Whether you're removing stains from clothes or a household surface, you must consider the affected materials. Here are a few tips to get stains out of different types of fabrics, carpet, leather and suede and more.

Non-washable Fabrics

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from non-washable fabrics such as acetate, burlap, fiberglass, rayon, rope, silk, triacetate and wool:

Blot up any excess, or scrape (the method of using a scraping tool to gently lift off excess solid or caked-on stains) any matter from the surface.
Flush (the method of applying stain remover to loosen staining materials and residue from stain removers) the stain with club soda to prevent setting.
Sponge (the method of using light strokes with a dampened pad working outward from the center of the stain) the stain with a spot lifter or cleaning fluid.
Then apply a dry spotter to the stain and cover with an absorbent pad dampened with the dry spotter.
Keep the stain and pad moist with the dry spotter. Let it stand as long as any stain is being removed.
Change the pad as it picks up the stain.
Flush with a dry-cleaning solvent.

If a stain remains:

Moisten it with an enzyme pre-soak, being sure to follow the directions on label.
Cover with a clean pad that you have dipped in the solution and wrung almost dry.
Let it stand at least 30 minutes.
Add more solution if needed to keep the stain warm and moist, but do not allow the wet area to spread.
When the stain is lifted, flush thoroughly with water and allow to dry.

Washable Fabrics

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from washable fabrics such as acrylic fabric, cotton, linen, nylon, modacrylic, olefin, polyester and spandex.

Wipe up as much excess as possible without driving the stain further into the fibers.
Flush the stain with club soda.
Sponge the area with a spot lifter or cleaning fluid.
Apply a dry spotter to the stain and cover with an absorbent pad dampened with the dry spotter.
Keep the stain moist with dry spotter.
Let it stand as long as any stain is being lifted.
Change the pad as it picks up the stain.
Flush with a dry-cleaning solvent.

If any stain remains:

Apply a few drops of dishwashing detergent and a few drops of ammonia to the stain, then scrape or tamp (the method of bringing a brush down with light strokes on stained durable fabrics and materials).
Keep the stain moist with the detergent and ammonia and blot occasionally with an absorbent pad.
Flush well with water to remove all traces of ammonia.
Allow to dry or launder as usual.

Removing Chocolate Stains From Household Surfaces

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from household surfaces such as acrylic plastic, aluminum, asphalt, bamboo, brass, bronze, cane, ceramic glass/tile, copper, cork, enamel, glass, gold, iron, ivory, jade, paint/flat, paint/gloss, pewter, plexiglas, polyurethane, porcelain, stainless steel, tin, vinyl clothing, vinyl tile, vinyl wall covering and zinc.

Scrape to remove excess.
Wipe the surface with a cloth dipped in warm sudsy water.
Rinse well and wipe dry.

Alabaster and Marble

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from alabaster and marble.

Carefully scrape excess.
Wipe with a clean cloth dipped in a solution of washing soda or detergent and water.
Rinse well and wipe dry.

If any stain remains:

Mix a few drops of ammonia with 1 cup (236 mL) of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide.
Soak a white blotter with the solution and place it over the stain.
Weigh it down with a heavy object.
Continue applying the solution until the oil has been drawn out and any remaining stain bleached out.

Stone Surfaces

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from stone surfaces such as bluestone, brick, concrete, flagstone, granite, limestone, masonry tile, sandstone, slate and terrazzo.

Scrape to remove excess, taking care not to gouge the surface.
Wash with a solution of washing soda or detergent (never use soap) and water.
Use a cloth or a gentle brush.
Rinse thoroughly with clear water and allow to dry.

Carpet

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from synthetic carpet and wool carpet.

Blot up or scrape as much of the excess as possible.
To prevent setting stain, flush with club soda.
Try an application of carpet stain remover or a concentrated solution of a non-alkali carpet shampoo.

After drying and vacuuming, if stain remains:

Mix 1 tablespoon (18 mL) ammonia to 1 cup water (236 mL) and carefully drop small amounts onto the stain. (On wool carpets, test in an inconspicuous corner first, as ammonia can harm wool.)
Blot with an absorbent pad.
Flush area rugs or sponge carpeting with clear water. It is important to remove all traces of ammonia.
Place a clean absorbent pad over the area and weigh it down.
When no more liquid is being absorbed, allow it to thoroughly air dry.

Felt and Fur

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from felt, natural fur and synthetic fur.

Gently scrape to remove excess.
Mix a mild soap in hot water and swish to make a great volume of suds.
Dip a cloth in only the foam and apply.
Rinse by wiping with a clean cloth dampened with clear water.

If a grease stain remains:

Powder the stain with an absorbent such as corn meal.
Give it plenty of time to work.
Gently brush (the method of using a stiff-bristled brush to gently remove dried stains and spots) it out.
Take care not to force the absorbent further into the hairs. Repeat if necessary.

Grout

There's one easy step to remove chocolate stains from grout:

Wipe excess with a cloth dipped in warm sudsy water.

If any stain remains:

Dip a wet toothbrush into baking soda or powdered cleanser.
Gently scrub the spot.
Rinse well and wipe dry.

Leather and Suede

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from leather and suede.

Gently scrape excess from the surface.
Mix a solution of mild soap in lukewarm water.
Swish to create a great volume of suds.
Apply only the foam with a sponge.
Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

If a stain remains:

Powder it with an absorbent such as corn meal.
Give it plenty of time to work.
Gently brush it off.
Repeat if necessary
On leather only, follow with a leather cleaner or saddle soap to condition the leather.

Silver

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from silver.

Wash silver in hot sudsy water.
Rinse thoroughly in hot water.
Wipe dry immediately with a clean soft cloth to prevent tarnish.

Wood

Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains from wood.

Mix dishwashing detergent in hot water and swish to make a great volume of suds.
Dip a cloth in only the foam and apply.
Rinse with a clean cloth dampened with clear water.
Polish or wax as usual.