One of the best parts of fall is the sweet flavors of the holidays. But, children and adults often forget about candy in their pockets when putting clothes in the laundry hamper. Or, they unknowingly wipe their hands on their clothes or accidentally spill on furniture and rugs while eating chocolatey, sticky treats. Unfortunately, this causes unsightly stains.
Our experience and science, however, tell us not to wash sugary or chocolatey stains at home. These stains may include protein, carbohydrates, food dyes, and additives. These ingredients require special stain removers to penetrate deep into the fibers and ensure the substance is removed completely. If done incorrectly, any cleaning method can cause these stains to set permanently.
For furniture or upholstery, you can try this method or have the item cleaned by a professional.
Removing Chocolate Stains from Upholstery
- Scrape any excess chocolate off gently with a knife or some card stock being sure not to tear or damage fabric fibers.
- Put some ice cubes into a small plastic zipper bag (like a small ice pack) and set the bag over the stain for about 10 minutes to harden any leftover chocolate residue.
- Remove the ice pack and scrape the remaining chocolate as in Step 1.
- Put dish soap on a damp sponge, and blot the stain until you’ve gotten as much out as possible. Do not rub.
- Rinse the sponge and blot again to remove any soap left on the stain.
- Pat dry with a clean, dry white towel (colorful towels might transfer dye). If any chocolate remains, sprinkle cornmeal over it and let it set for 30 minutes, then vacuum away.
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