How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Fabric

Shifrah Combiths
Shifrah Combiths
With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town life in Tallahassee, Florida, which she now calls home. She's been writing professionally for twenty years and she loves lifestyle photography, memory keeping, gardening, reading, and going to the beach with her husband and children.
published Oct 30, 2021
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Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Stylist Jesse Szewczyk

No matter how careful you are when baking with or eating chocolate (s’mores chocolate brownies! Gooey milk chocolate Bundt cake! Triple chocolate pancakes!), chances are, you’re going to end up with some on your shirt. It’s like the Murphy’s Law of dessert. We’re all willing to risk it, though, because chocolate is delicious, decadent, and perfect in every way. And because chocolate stains can be removed — if you have this handy guide.

We’ve put together step-by-step instructions to help you remove chocolate stains from fabric. Here’s how to remove those stubborn stains.

Credit: Sarah Crowley
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Scrape off any excess chocolate: The last thing you want to do with chocolate stains is spread it around. Use the smooth edge of a butter knife or a spoon to remove any and all excess chocolate. 

How To Remove Chocolate Stains on Fabric

What You’ll Need

  • Butter knife or spoon
  • Dish soap
  • Sink area and washing machine
  • Stain remover

Instructions

  1. Scrape off any excess chocolate: The last thing you want to do with chocolate stains is spread it around. Use the smooth edge of a butter knife or a spoon to remove any and all excess chocolate. 
  2. Turn the garment inside out and run cold water through the stain: Running water through the stain helps flush it through the fibers. Doing this from the back of the clothing helps push it out. Cold water ensures you aren’t inadvertently setting the stain, as could happen with hot water.
  3. Add soap: Lather dish soap or liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain. Rub it in gently.
  4. Soak the garment in cold water for 15 minutes: Check on your garment and gently rub the soap into the stain with your fingers every five minutes or so. If the stain persists, dab on more soap and repeat soaking. 
  5. Rinse completely: When the stain appears to be gone, rinse the garment thoroughly under cold water. This will help you see if the stain is truly gone.
  6. Pull out a stain remover if needed: If you can see a faint remnant of the stain, now would be a good time to use your favorite stain remover. Follow directions as instructed.
  7. Launder as usual with cold water: As always, try not to wait too long before you launder stained garments. Toss the clothing item into your washing machine, and wash with detergent and cold water.

Do you have any tricks for removing chocolate stains? Tell us in the comments below.

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