Carpet cleaner shares how to clean chocolate stains ahead of Chocolate month

How to Clean Chocolate Stains

What is the biggest sin one could commit? You’re probably thinking about some biblical tale and probably trying to remember the seven deadly sins, or at least the ten commandments. Let us put your mind at ease. It’s none of them. The biggest sin of all is wasting chocolate. Why would you let a hot chocolate spill on your carpet or sofa? Why would you let it drop on your clothes or even melt on the floor? Are you a monster? Those are the difficult questions you ask yourself anytime you see a chocolate stain anywhere. But while we can’t help you with the excruciating guilt that’s eating you from the inside, we can certainly help clean the mess and at least cover the tracks of this shameful waste. So, if you are not too keen on sucking the chocolate out of the fabric, listen closely to our tips on how to deal with it. 

What type of stain is a chocolate stain?

While we are sure that chocolate is made out of love, mixed with angel smiles and a tiny hint of rainbow, many would argue that this heavenly delight is merely made out of protein, fat and tannin. In all honesty, they may have a point. That’s actually good news since we have no idea how to clean your carpet from angel smiles and rainbows. However, we have a solution when it comes to stains from butter, oils, and other less metaphysical ingredients. 

So, while milk is nothing to lose sleep over, the other two ingredients are pretty much the worst. We all know how hard cleaning up oily spots is. Well, getting rid of tannin is even worse. Unfortunately, cocoa is packed with this natural ingredient, which can also be found in many roots, plants, fruit, and tree bark. Along with its ability to stick to protein and the bitter taste which we love so much in dark chocolate, tannin is also known to be a pain in the rear when it comes to cleaning. The yellow-brownish pigment is truly a hassle to clean. No wonder some of the hardest ingredients to clean, like red wine and coffee, also have this component. 

So, basically, chocolate is a dream when in your mouth but a nightmare when it’s on your clothes or carpet. 

The best way to remove a chocolate stain

If by any chance you spill your hot cocoa or drop a piece of chocolate on your clothes, carpet or furniture, there is no need to throw them away. Instead, there is a much better and easier way to hide your shame. Just take steps to clean them up. 

Firstly, you will need a butter knife or a spoon to carefully scrape all the hard parts that are not yet infused in the fabric. This step is crucial, as it will prevent the stain from spreading while cleaning it. The next step is to make sure the chocolate stain gets a cold. Well, not literally, as it’s not a living being, but reducing the heat around the stained area will help you significantly remove the spot. You can do that by putting it under cold water if we are talking about clothes or placing an ice pack if you are cleaning upholstery. Chocolate stains are affected mainly by time and heat, so since you can’t turn back time (or can you?), the next best option is to influence the heat. 

The next step is to start rubbing. Use a mixture of water and liquid laundry detergent to massage the stain until it disappears from the fabric. Afterwards, rinse the cloth and dry it out. In most cases, this will be it. Of course, some chocolate stains are harder than others. For them, you will need some help. 

Equipment to remove a chocolate stain

If the stain is too stubborn, you might want to call a professional crew to clean it for you, as we have strong vacuums and steam cleaning machines. Yes, it will cost you a bit more, but it will save you time and effort. 

On the other hand, if you want to do it yourself, that’s fine. You will need, however, some equipment first. Most of it, you probably already have in your home, so there is no need to break your piggy bank just yet. However, before starting this unfair battle with the stain, ensure you have all the ammunition you need. This includes a butter knife for scraping the excess chocolate, dish soap, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, and laundry detergent. Don’t worry, you will not use all of them at the same time, but if you can’t determine how hard the stain is at first glance, it’s a good idea to have those close by. 

Now that you are ready, here is the battle plan

Steps to remove a fresh chocolate stain

Removing fresh chocolate stains is much easier than for those who’ve been there for some time. Still, don’t underestimate the opponent. Precisely because it’s fresh, it can spread easily if you don’t attack it right. So follow the battle plan precisely.

Step 1: Preliminary scrape 

This is the most crucial step to isolate the stain just where it is. If you don’t scrape the extra particles that are not yet infused with the fabric, you will spread the spot while trying to clean it, thus making your job double. So gently scrape the remove the extra chocolate on top. If the compound is gooey or liquid, you might want to freeze the fabric, making your job much easier. 

Step 2: Rinse

This step is only if you can lift the stained object. For example, if we are talking about clothes or curtains, you would want to put the back of the stain under a gush of cold water. This way, those particles of the chocolate that are still not entirely stuck to the fabric will rinse away. 

Step 3: Soak the stain 

That may sound a bit counterproductive at first glance, but when cleaning a chocolate stain, you would want to soak it with a stain remover for about 30 minutes before you start washing. This way, the oil protecting the tannin will clean away much easier. 

Step 4: Wash

It’s time to introduce hot water. Naturally, you shouldn’t exceed the maximum allowed by the care tag. Next, add some natural enzyme-based detergent, which will help you completely eliminate the stain. Ensure the detergent is all-natural, as your goal is to clean a stain, not poison the earth. 

Step 5: See the results 

When you’re done, it’s time to make sure the stain has disappeared. This is usually the case when we talk about fresh chocolate stains. However, if the stain is more stubborn, you will have to repeat steps 3 and 4. 

Step 6: Dry

Once you are satisfied with the result, just dry out the fabric, and you are done. 

Steps to remove dried chocolate stain 

Although we doubt you won’t notice dropping a piece of chocolate or spilling your hot chocolate, from time to time, our kids may hide their transgressions from us. Unfortunately, in such cases, the dried-on chocolate stains become a bit harder to remove. So, let’s go through the process of eliminating these hard-dried chocolate stains.

Step 1: Scrape

Unlike fresh chocolate stains, a butter knife won’t do the trick with old spots. Instead, go for an old toothbrush or another soft brush which you can use to scrape the dried chocolate bits away. 

Step 2: Apply stain remover

The next step is to soak the stain with some stain remover. Make sure you don’t dilute it too much with water, as it will lose its potency. Leave the stain to soak for about an hour or so. 

Step 3: Wash

Time to add some hot water. Don’t overdo it, though. Like with fresh chocolate stains, you shouldn’t go above what the care label allows. Also, you need to add some enzyme-based laundry detergent to help you with the task. 

Step 4: Quality control

With dried-up stains, cleaning might be a bit harder. So, if you haven’t managed to clean the stain on the first try, don’t despair. Before the second try, you might want to add some vinegar or lemon-based solution. Make sure the mix is relatively weak. Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water to create an acidic in-nature stain remover. Soak the stain in this compound for no more than a few minutes, as otherwise, you risk damaging the fabric. You can also mix using a 2:1 mix of Hydrogen Peroxide and mild dish soap. Remember to wear gloves when working with these solutions. Either way, after a few minutes of soaking, wash the stain as described in step 3, and this should be it.

Step 5: Dry 

When you are satisfied with the result, just dry the fabric and make sure to be more careful with your chocolate. Not because you can’t clean it up again, but because it’s a waste of chocolate. 

Natural cleaners for chocolate stain removal 

You might have noticed that we advocate natural cleaners. That’s mainly because we care about our planet and don’t want our water poisoned. Moreover, we plan on using the things we clean, so be it clothing, furniture or carpet, we will press our skin to it. I can’t imagine anyone alive that loves to rub themselves in dangerous chemicals. So, instead, make sure you use only natural ingredients. Hydrogen Peroxide is probably the best stain remover. Mixing one part dish soap with two parts H2O2 (3%) is enough to destroy any fat molecules, no matter how old they are. Applying the solution directly will remove even the toughest stains, but make sure to keep it no longer than 10-15 minutes. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide may bleach the fabric due to its nature, so you might want to test it out somewhere hidden before you go all out on the stain, just in case.

The other solution is vinegar. Once again, you need to dilute it with water, this time 1:1. Remember to keep it just for a while, as otherwise, you will damage the fabric. However, this solution can clean even the hardest of stains with ease. 

Not all stains are meant to be cleaned

Naturally, some stains would be so infused with the fabric that cleaning would be simply impossible. So you need to know when to quit. If we are talking about clothes, sometimes it might be much cheaper to buy something new, rather than try and try this losing battle again. Still, when push comes to shove, you can always ask a professional to take a crack at it. 

Yordan’s page: https://fantasticcleaners.com/carpet-cleaning/