How to remove chocolate stains from fabrics — expert tips on cleaning up clothes, carpets and couches

How To
By published

Chocolate tastes great, but it's a tough stain to remove

Jelly beans and chocolate
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If I were to ask you which food you crave the most, I’d be making a pretty sound guess if I said chocolate. And I really wouldn’t blame you, because this sweet delight contains the phenylethylamine, often referred to as the ‘love molecule’, which releases endorphins and dopamine that make us feel good.

And with Valentine’s Day just passed, you may have received a beautiful box of chocolates and savored the rich taste of cocoa. However, while indulging in any chocolate treat, it’s all too easy for a crumb or two to fall on your clothing, couch or carpet.

What makes chocolate stain?

A young woman eats chocolate before bed

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The reason why chocolate stains is down to the ingredients in the mix. “Chocolate is an oil-based food item,” explains Sofia Martinez, a professional cleaner and CEO at Sparkly Maid Austin. “So it will leave behind a fatty residue that binds to the fabric and fiber in the garment.”

What’s more, she adds, “When it comes into contact with fabric, it melts then solidifies, leaving a greasy base that traps the pigment in the chocolate.”

As a mom, I know how tough it can be to remove grease stains from clothing, and it’s always best to be prepared with knowing how to tackle them. I'd also always recommend checking the care label on your clothing, couches, and carpets before following any of these stain-removal tips.

Does the type of chocolate make a difference?

squares of dark, milk and white chocolate

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The type of chocolate also affects the type of stain. “Dark chocolate tends to leave a very dark, noticeable stain because it contains high amounts of cocoa solids. Milk and white chocolate contain higher amounts of fat and sugar, so they leave a tough, greasy stain,” says Emmy Clinton, chef, recipe developer and founder at Entirely Emmy.

Don’t make these mistakes when removing chocolate stains

If you treat chocolate stains improperly, the cocoa butter in the chocolate will set permanently, and if you melt it with heat, it goes even deeper into the fibers and becomes harder to remove

Sofia Martinez, Sparkly Maid Austin

It’s important to know how to remove chocolate stains correctly, if not, you’re in danger of making the mark worse.

“If you treat chocolate stains improperly, the cocoa butter in the chocolate will set permanently, and if you melt it with heat, it goes even deeper into the fibers and becomes harder to remove,” says Martinez.

For instance, Clinton says that hot water will melt the fats, and instead of helping to remove the stain, will cause it to spread. Martinez also adds that using hot water or drying your garments will make it worse and bond the oil to the fabric.

Aggressive scrubbing should also be avoided as it can grind the solids further into the fabric. And Clinton advises keeping clear of harsh cleaners and bleach as they can set into the fabric or cause discoloration.

How to remove chocolate stains

1. Removing chocolate from clothing

Chocolate stain on white t-shirt

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Apart from abstaining, which I'm not prepared to do, there’s bound to be a time when you get chocolate stains on your clothing. Simply brushing off crumbs can lead to a stain, especially if it is warm and the chocolate is soft.

However, how you remove the stain will depend on whether the stain is fresh or set.

Removing fresh stains
Step 1:
Martinez advises scraping off the chocolate solids with a spoon before rinsing the garment under cold running water, as this will prevent the grease from setting in. As an added tip, Clinton suggests rinsing the stain from the reverse side to push it out of the clothing.

Step 2:
Apply dish soap to the stain to cut through the oils. Here, Martinez suggests using Dawn dish soap for its grease-busting power.

Step 3:
Allow the garment to sit for 15 minutes.

Step 4:
Wash the garment in cold water using a color-safe bleach alternative.

Step 5:
Check that the stain has gone before drying the item. If not, repeat the steps above until needed.

Top tip
Clinton warns against using heat to dry the item before the stain has vanished, as it will cause the stain to set further.

Removing set-in stains
Life happens, and you can't always get to a stain in time before it dries. In this case, you'll need to follow a slightly different stain removal method.

Step 1:
Place your garment in a container filled with a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water, ensuring the garment is submerged.

Step 2:
Allow your garment to sit overnight in the solution.

Step 3:
Rewash the garment.

2. Removing chocolate from a couch

Women choosing from box of chocolates while sitting on a couch

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Who hasn’t indulged in a box of chocolates, sitting curled up on a couch watching a romantic film? But it’s only when you see the couch in daylight that you spot a few fallen chocolate flakes that have formed a stain. However, cleaning chocolate stains off a couch isn’t as easy as removing them from garments, as you can’t put them in the wash.

And Hilton warns against reaching for your steam cleaner at the first sign of a chocolate stain on your couch, as this method could set the stain even deeper.

Step 1:
Martinez recommends removing the excess chocolate with a cold spoon, or a similar blunt implement will work.

Step 2:
Mix one teaspoon of dish soap in two cups of cold water, and dab the solution onto the stain, working from the outside in.

Step 3:
Then, once all of the soap has been blotted out of the stain, rinse the area with cold water, and blot dry with a cloth.

Step 4:
If any oils remain, Martinez recommends sprinkling the area with baking soda and allowing it to sit overnight.

Step 5:
Remove the baking soda with a vacuum cleaner.

Top tip
Before attempting this method on the stain, test part of the upholstery that is out of sight to ensure it won’t damage the fabric.

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3. Removing chocolate from carpet

Chocolate stain on carpet

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Removing chocolate from carpet can be tricky because, unlike clothing and most sofa fabrics, you’re working with a pile, which depth can vary depending on your carpet.

Step 1:
Start by scraping away as much of the chocolate as you can, without making the stain worse. A blunt instrument like a spoon can be used.

Step 2:
Blot the stain with a cold, damp cloth.

Step 3:
Then apply a solution of 1 tablespoon of dish soap to two cups of cold water, and dab at the stain, working from the outside in.

Step 4:
Once the stain has gone, rinse the area with a clean, damp cloth and keep working until all the soap has been removed. Then allow the carpet to air-dry.

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Camilla Sharman
Camilla Sharman
Staff Writer, Homes

Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides. 


Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.


Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.

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