People love chocolate. It’s the comfort food of millions of adults. It’s rare to find a child who can say no to this sweet treat. There’s a reason for this. People crave chocolate because it smells and tastes good. It also releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine.
There is a downside to chocolate though, and that is stains. It’s difficult to get this substance out of our clothes. The odds are high that you’ll get chocolate stains on your clothes, upholstery, and carpets. Professional cleaners like Helping Hands Cleaning Services have experience with these types of things. It’s in your best interest to learn how to get chocolate out of clothes. Because if there’s one rule you should follow when it comes to stains, it’s that you should get it out as soon as you can. This post will tell you how to go about it.
How to Clean Clothes with Chocolate Stains
Getting chocolate stains out of clothes isn’t rocket science. You can even do it using items you already have at home. You will need a butter knife, dish soap, and vinegar. You should also have laundry detergent and color-safe bleach at hand. The latter is optional though. It would also be good if you have an enzyme cleaner, a stain remover pen, and an oxygen whitener. The last three are also optional. Once you have what you need, it’s time to do the following steps:
- Blot out as much of the chocolate as you can. You can use a paper towel or sponge. Do this as soon as the chocolate hits your clothes.
- Scrape away the chocolate residue from the clothes. A butter knife will make it easier to get the remaining chocolate out. You can also place the clothing in the freezer for several minutes. Let the chocolate harden. It will be easier to scrape out.
- Rinse the back of the fabric with the stain with cold water. This will help remove more of the chocolate. The goal when dealing with this substance is to get it out before it sets in. It’s the same with a bloodstain. Once it sets, it’s nearly impossible to get out.
- Apply a few drops of dishwashing soap on the stain. This will cut away the fat and oil in the chocolate. A laundry detergent will also work well here. Leave the item alone for five to ten minutes. This will allow the soap to settle in the fabric.
- Rub the detergent in the stain afterward. You should then soak the item in cold water for anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes. You can try to loosen the stain further by rubbing it with your fingers. Rinse the stained area. You should have all the stains removed.
- Use an enzyme-based cleaner if you can still see some staining. Apply the cleaner on both sides of the stained area. This will allow the cleaner to penetrate through the fabric. Let the clothing sit for a few minutes. Rinse it out the same way you did with the detergent.
- You have to do things in a different way when working with jeans. Start by making a water and dish soap solution. Apply it to the fabric and scrub. Denim is a tougher fabric so don’t be afraid to put more force in the scrubbing. You can also apply a little baking soda to help lift the stain out. But try it on a small area first in case the denim reacts to it.
How to Deal with Old Stains
It’s better for you and the material if you can get the chocolate stain out fast. It’s harder to deal with stains once it has been set. It’s not an impossible task though.
- Apply white vinegar to the stain. It has to be wet, not damp.
- Blot the stain using paper towels.
- Mix a bit of baking soda with water. Apply it to the stained fabric and scrub away.
- Launder it using warm water and detergent. Hot water is also good.
How to Get Chocolate Stains Out of the Carpet
There’s nothing more horrendous than seeing chocolate fall on a carpet. You need a stain remover or dry cleaning solvent for this. Look for one designed for chocolate stains.
- Apply the solution straight on the stain. Blot it out with microfiber cloths or paper towels. Follow it up with a damp cloth.
- Apply cornstarch to the area. Let this absorbent sit on the stain for several minutes.
- Brush away the cornstarch.
- Repeat the process until the stain is gone.
Removing Chocolate Stains from Upholstery
Did your kids drop chocolate on the sofa? The first thing you need to do is to scrape off as much of the chocolate as you can. Use a butter knife or spoon for this.
- Mix one teaspoon of dishwashing soap with ½ cup of warm water.
- Apply the mixture on a microfiber cloth or sponge. Dab it on the chocolate stain. Make sure the upholstery doesn’t get too wet. Refrain from scrubbing the stain. Keep dabbing until the stain begins to lift.
- Absorb the excess with paper towels.
- Repeat the process until the stain disappears.
Cleaning Without Hassle
Keeping your home or office clean is not a problem with Helping Hands Cleaning Services. We are your one-stop cleaning solution. We are the best in business, as our happy clients will tell you. We have a dedicated team that’s well trained and reliable. We do house cleaning and office cleaning at your preferred schedule. We also offer move-in move-out cleaning and Covid 19 coronavirus sanitizing. Call us at (630) 530-1324 or drop us a line at info@Hhcleans.com.