How to Get Rid of Chocolate Stains

Knowing how to deal with chocolate stains quickly and efficiently can mean all the difference between a permanent stain or its complete removal. The sooner you attend to a chocolate stain, the easier it will be to remove.

Edit Steps

Edit Laundry detergent

Remove the chocolate residue using a butter knife or spoon. Be careful not to spread parts of the chocolate to clean clothing.
- Never rub or scrub a chocolate stain. This will embed it into the fibers of the fabric, making it harder to remove.

Rinse the back of the area that's stained with cold running water. Doing this releases some of the stain, preventing it from going through any more of the fabric.
- Never use hot water on a chocolate stain; this will set it permanently.

Rub laundry detergent into the stain. Let the clothing sit for up to 5 minutes and allow it to soak up to 15 minutes in cold water. Rub the stained area (between the thumb and all other fingers), which makes the stain looser. Rinse, and continue until the stain is totally gone.

Use a stain remover to remove any remaining stain. Do this if any stain remains after finishing the rubbing process, and the stain has set on the fabric.

Make sure that the stain has been thoroughly removed. Once you're certain it has been removed, dry the clothing as per your usual routine. Do not iron or heat dry until all traces of the stain have gone or the stain will set permanently.

Edit Diluted dish-washing solution

Martha Stewart^[1] suggests this method to remove the sugars.

Remove the chocolate residue using a butter (dull) knife or spoon. Take care not to rub any chocolate in or spread the chocolate across the fabric.

Dilute dish-washing soap solution with cold water. Spray this onto the chocolate stain. This will help to remove the sugars.

Spray the area with an enzyme detergent. This will lift off any residue. Allow to sit for up to half an hour, or as directed by the manufacturer.

Wash and dry the garment as per usual. Before drying, check that the stain has lifted; if not, repeat the above steps. Do not iron or heat dry until all traces of the stain have gone or the stain will set permanently.

Edit Oh no! It's really stuck!

This is a last resort measure for chocolate stains that won't shift.^[2] It can ruin some fabrics, so test a small spot first. For some dry cleanable clothing, it may be your only option (apart from taking to the dry cleaners). It is assumed you've already tried removing the stain, unsuccessfully, so no scraping is suggested.

Make a solution consisting of 3% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia. Wear gloves and do not use hydrogen peroxide any higher than 3 percent.
- It is also possible to use hydrogen peroxide alone, without adding any ammonia.

Allow just the stained area to soak. Do not soak for longer than 15 minutes.

Remove and wash. Check the stain again; hopefully it is gone.

Edit Video

Edit Tips

Chocolate consists of fats, protein and sugar.

If, when scraping, you do manage to shift some chocolate to another spot of the fabric, attend to fixing this immediately too. It's a really good idea to do this on a flat surface with very good lighting, so that you're able to see clearly.

If the stain has set due to hot-air drying or ironing, think of a cover-up solution as the stain will likely be set for good.

Edit Warnings

Chocolate stains oxidize and set with both age and heat. That means cleaning a chocolate stain as quickly as possible is your best option for removing it completely, and do not apply heat until you've removed the stain with the suggested solutions above.