Chocolate. The word itself evokes images of decadence. Nothing softens a blow, curbs a bad mood, or allows a short indulgence like creamy, rich chocolate. Unfortunately, when chocolate melts—even just a little bit—it poses some ominous problems for us when it comes to housecleaning. Stains on upholstery, linens, and even our clothing are sometimes a challenge to remove.
Removing Chocolate from Upholstery
Supplies Needed:
- Plastic Spoon
- Cold Water
- Liquid Dish Soap
- Clean Cloth or Sponge
- Clean Towel
- Electric Fan
- Cornmeal
First off, there’s usually no reason to run to the store and purchase expensive upholstery cleaners when your creamy confection has spread itself over your couch, chairs, ottomans, etc. You likely have everything you need for this housecleaning task right inside your own home.
The first thing to do when removing chocolate is to rid the upholstery of any remaining solid substance. A plastic spoon is an excellent tool for this task, as it will remove the substance without disturbing the fabric itself. Rub the spoon gently across the mess until all that’s left is the stain.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to lifting this stain from your upholstery. The first requires liquid dish soap and a clean cloth or sponge. Mix a few drops of dish soap into a basin filled with two cups of cold water. Soak the cloth or sponge in the solution and then wring it out.
Start by blotting the area, moving on to scrubbing gently. Wring out the cloth as needed in the dish soap solution. Pour out the soapy water and refill the basin with clean, cold water. Repeat the aforementioned process until the stain is gone. Dry the area with a clean towel to absorb as much of the moisture as possible. Aim a fan at the upholstery to dry.
The second option for removing chocolate from your upholstery utilizes the aforementioned steps, but is an alternative if those steps didn’t result in complete removal of the stain. Repeating everything but the fan-drying step, shake some cornmeal onto any remaining stain. Allow it to sit on the stain for an hour or so. It should help absorb any remaining stain. Brush the cornmeal away with a whisk broom or clean brush and turn on the fan to dry. This should result in stain-free upholstery.
Removing Chocolate from Fabric
Supplies Needed:
- Plastic Spoon
- Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Cold Water
- Washing
- Washing Machine & Dryer
- Stain Remover Product
The key to removing chocolate from fabric is to catch the stain before it dries. You’ll need the plastic spoon as used for the upholstery stain, to scrape any solids from the clothing or linens.
Using a few drops of liquid laundry detergent, rub the affected area with your fingertips. Allow the detergent to remain on the stain for a few minutes. Do not rinse the detergent off.
Soak the fabric in a basin of cold water for about 15 minutes. Every five minutes or so, rub the stained area between your fingers. This should help loosen the stain.
Next, launder the fabric per manufacturer’s instructions. Check to make sure the stain is completely gone before drying the fabric, otherwise it will set the stain and make it even harder—if not impossible—to remove.
If this method doesn’t work, purchase a stain removal product, and treat per package instructions. Again, don’t dry the garment or linens until the stain is gone.
Removing Chocolate from Kitchen Surfaces
Supplies Needed:
- Spatula
- Clean Cloth or Sponge
- Cold Water
- Lemon cut in half
Even though most of today’s countertops and tabletops resist stains, sometimes chocolate can stain a light-colored countertop or surface. If this happens, remove the solids with a spatula. Wipe the stain with a cloth or sponge soaked in cold water. Using a lemon cut in half, rub the fruit over the stain for a few seconds. Squeeze some of the juice onto the stain and allow it to remain there for several minutes. Wash the area with a clean cloth or sponge. Repeat the process as necessary until the stain is gone.
Who doesn’t love chocolate? It’s found in almost every household and consumed daily at all three meals—not to mention many snacks and secret indulgences.
Learning to clean away the stains that can result from this passion is part of everyone’s housecleaning chores. It can save replacing clothing—and even more expensive items like upholstered furniture, favorite linens, and more.