How to Get Chocolate Out of Clothes Like a Pro

For real chocolate lovers, there’s nothing better than enjoying one of life’s simplest pleasures. However, at the same time, there is nothing worse than accidentally getting this melty treat on your clothing. But, let’s face it, we have all been in that situation, which is why it’s essential to know how to get chocolate out of clothes to continue enjoying our favorite desserts carefree. Keep reading to find out more.

Understanding Chocolate Stains

Getting chocolate out of fabric is much easier if you know what chocolate is made of. What makes chocolate stains so stubborn are tannins and oils.

• Tannins are a natural substance found in cocoa. This compound is also a part of numerous other plants, like red grapes, tea, and coffee. Due to tannins’ dark pigments, the stains are pretty hard to remove.
• Oils and a high quantity of fat are other parts of chocolate that leave tough-to-get-out oily spots. The fat can come from the natural cocoa butter or vegetable oil, giving the chocolate its smooth texture. 

This only means that getting chocolate out requires something that can handle both oil and pigments in tannin.

What You’ll Need to Remove Chocolate Stains

We are all aware that chocolate may cause addictive eating behavior. At the same time, it can also destroy our favorite clothing items if we are not careful enough or we drop our guard down around children eating their chocolatey treats. Still, we cannot help but indulge in its fantastic taste, even just occasionally. This is why we all need a stain removal plan that will teach us how to get chocolate out of clothes in no time.

Fortunately, whether you’re dealing with a new chocolate stain or an old, fixed one, we’ve got you covered. Note that these tips for chocolate stain removal apply solely to washable fabrics. So, while you might be able to save your favorite comforter set, shirt, or tablecloth, if you are dealing with silk, wool, or any other typically dry-clean-only fabric, you should take your stained clothes to a dry cleaner. Below is a checklist of items you’ll need for proper cleaning. 

• dull butter knife or spoon for scraping
• laundry detergent or dish soap 
• enzyme-based stain remover
• bleach
• vinegar
• soft brush

How to Get Melted Chocolate Out of Clothes

The thing with nearly all types of stains is that the sooner you take care of them, the better. This means that if you spot a chocolate stain early, you will be ahead of the game and will only need to follow these simple steps for removing Chocolate Stains.

• Start by inspecting the care label on the clothing item since it will inform you of the fabric type and the recommended wash cycle.
• Then, grab a spoon or a butter knife from a sturdy knife set to get rid of the extra chocolate. By doing this, you will help prevent the stain from spreading even more while trying to get chocolate out of clothes. If the chocolate is still pretty fresh and creamy, you can try putting the clothes in the freezer for several minutes to harden the chocolate and make it easier to scrape.
• The next step requires turning the garment inside out if possible and rinsing the stain spot under cold water. You should do this for about half a minute or until the water manages to loosen the stain from the fibers in the fabric. 
• The previous step will prepare the stain for the detergent, stain remover, or dish soap to pull the chocolate away from the clothes. You need to soak the spot in one of these agents, then carefully rub it into the stain from both sides of the material and let it sit for several minutes to clean the chocolate stain as much as possible.
• Skip the rinsing and soak the clothing in cold water for 15 to 30 minutes. 
• Finish the cleaning by washing the clothes carefully, following the care label, and then drying them on a clothesline or a rack. By putting the clothes in a dryer, you risk the eventual remains of the stain setting and becoming even more difficult to remove.

How to Get Set–in Chocolate Out of Clothes

Figuring out how to get rid of chocolate stains that have been sitting for quite some time isn’t so hard after all. You just need to accept the fact that you’re going to need a bit more time and patience.

• The first step in cleaning dried stains also requires scraping up as much chocolate as possible. In this case, you won’t need to put the clothes in the freezer since the chocolate is already dried.
• Be extra careful and pay close attention to how the fibers act. If you notice strands being torn off with the chocolate pieces, quit what you’re doing.
• Rub some liquid detergent into the stain from both outside and inside and soak the clothes in cold water mixed with some detergent or a similar anti-stain cleaning product. Since dry stains are more stubborn than fresh ones, you need to leave the clothes to soak for about an hour. You can scrub the stain a couple of times more every five minutes with your thumb and fingers on the opposite sides.
• Wash the clothes according to the care label and avoid drying them in a dryer.

If the stain remains and you are still left wondering how to get dried chocolate out of clothes, you should move on to the next step. Mix some cold water with one cup of distilled white vinegar and soak the clothing for half an hour. Grab a clean brush and scrub the stain gently. Once you remove the stain, wash the clothes as you usually would and let them dry. If you are curious about how to get chocolate out of white clothes, you can also use regular bleach and launder the clothes. 

FAQ

What removes chocolate from fabric?

The most effective cleaning solutions that reliably remove chocolate from fabric include laundry detergent, dish soap, and enzyme-based stain removers, while you could also use some white vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice. For white clothes, there is always bleach or ammonia.

Is chocolate hard to get out of clothes?

Some Chocolate Stains can be challenging to remove; however, most of them are not permanent if you know what you are doing. Once the accident happens and your favorite dessert ends up on your shirt or jeans, you should act quickly since the more time passes, the more the stain will set, becoming increasingly difficult to remove. 

But, as you can see above, we have included a section explaining how to get old chocolate stains out of clothes. So, if you enjoy this dessert, there’s no reason to deprive yourself of your favorite treat just because there is a chance of getting a big, ugly stain on your clothes.

Does vinegar remove chocolate stains?

Yes, white vinegar is known as a fantastic all-purpose cleaner, making it an excellent natural solution for removing chocolate stains. To get rid of a stain, you will need to mix some cold water and vinegar, soak the clothes in it for several minutes and then wash them as you usually would.

Will baking soda remove chocolate stains?

Since baking soda is a mildly abrasive whitener and deodorizer that’s safe to use on almost all fabrics, it will also help you deal with chocolate stains. To remove chocolate stains from clothes, you can mix some baking soda with a bit of vinegar or water to make a paste to be applied to the stain, or you can pour some cold water on the stain and rub in the baking soda using your fingers on both sides of the fabric. Once the stain is gone, rinse it out and wash the clothes as usual. Note that baking soda may not remove some of the more stubborn stains.

The Bottom Line

Even the neatest eaters out there could find themselves in a messy chocolaty situation, but they don’t have to worry, thanks to this guide. As you have seen, learning how to get chocolate out of clothes is undoubtedly much more manageable than sacrificing your favorite treat just for the sake of preserving your clothes.