How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Clothes, Carpet, Upholstery and More

No need to swear off chocolate after a spill or smudge. We've got expert advice on how to remove chocolate stains from just about every surface.

Nothing’s better than biting into a decadent ice-cream bar coated in a sweet chocolate shell. That delightful crunch. The creamy cold center. Then you look down to discover a piece of chocolate has dropped right onto your crisp white shirt. (It can’t be just me this happens to, right?) If this scenario sounds familiar, we’ve created a once-and-for-all cleaning guide on how to remove chocolate stains from any textile.

“Chocolate is difficult, because it’s a protein-, grease- and sugar-based stain, which makes it a combination stain,” says professional dry cleaner Zachary Pozniak. And while rescuing that pristine shirt, sofa or brand-new rug sounds daunting, there is hope. After 15 years as an editor covering cleaning content, I have quizzed my fair share of cleaning professionals about how to remove stains. To get their know-how, we spoke to five laundry-care and cleaning experts for their chocolate-removal advice—so you can be confident you won’t worsen the smudge.

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About the experts

  • Linda Cobb is known as the Queen of Clean. She is a cleaning expert and New York Times bestselling author of seven books on cleaning problems and solutions, including Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean.
  • Morgan Eberhard is a senior scientist and science educator at Dawn. She has 12 years of experience as a dish cleaning scientist at Proctor & Gamble.
  • Brandon Pleshek is a cleaning professional with 20 years of experience. He is a third-generation janitor who shares cleaning tips on his YouTube channel, Clean That Up.
  • Zachary Pozniak is a fourth-generation professional dry cleaner and laundry-care expert at Jeeves New York.
  • Becky Rapinchuk is a natural-cleaning expert, four-time author and owner of Clean Mama, which offers cleaning courses, free guides and home-keeping products.

Reviewed for accuracy by: Mary Marlowe Leverette, a highly regarded fabric-care, stain-removal and housekeeping expert with more than 40 years of experience.

How to get chocolate out of clothes

a chocolate stain on a white shirt on purple backgroundTMB Studio

Before tackling any stain, you’ll first want to read the care label on your clothing items. Knowing the fabric content is vital to choosing the best stain-removal process. For instance, cotton and poly blends tend to be the easiest to treat, according to natural-cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk, while fabrics with textures may be more difficult. If the garment is made of a delicate fabric like silk, that’s best left to a pro—take it straight to the dry cleaner.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Butter knife
  • Soft-bristle brush (like a toothbrush)
  • Water
  • Dish soap
  • Enzymatic stain remover
  • Oxygen bleach

Step 1: Remove excess chocolate

Whether you’re dealing with a dried-on stain or a fresh stain, you’ll first want to gently scrape off any hardened solids from the surface of the fabric. You can use a dull butter knife or a soft-bristle brush, like a toothbrush. Then treat the remaining discoloration as you would a fresh stain, says Pozniak.

Step 2: Pre-treat the grease

Mix 1 cup of warm water with 2 drops of dish soap. Use a clean soft-bristle brush to apply this solution to the stain and gently scrub. According to Pozniak, the dish soap will help break down the grease, while the soapy water will help disperse the enzymatic stain remover in the next step.

Step 3: Pre-treat the protein and sugar

No need to wash away the dish soap. Immediately follow Step 2 with another pre-treatment using an enzymatic stain remover to tackle the protein and sugar in the stain. Enzyme cleaners, including Puracy, OxiClean Max Force, Shout and Tide Rescue, work to eliminate stains and odors by breaking down organic molecules. Let the treatment sit for at least one hour, though Pozniak says that overnight would be ideal.

Step 4: Wash and assess

Place in the washing machine in a cold cycle, or launder as directed on the garment’s care label. Once the cycle is complete, do not dry. Assess first, and if any discoloration remains, treat the garment with oxygen bleach (safe for colored fabrics) and wash again.

Expert laundry tip
Wash with cold water. “It might seem counterintuitive, but cold water will actually be more effective at removing protein-based stains, like many food and beverage stains, including chocolate,” says Morgan Eberhard, senior scientist and science educator at Dawn.

How to remove chocolate stains from carpet

melted chocolate bar creating a chocolate stain on a yellow carpetTMB Studio

Not all chocolate stains can be tossed in the wash. (Ask me how I know.) If you’re dealing with chocolate stains on a carpet, the Queen of Clean, Linda Cobb, suggests one unconventional but effective carpet-cleaning method: Use an iron. “The idea is that you lift the chocolate out of the carpet, rather than pushing it deeper,” Cobb says. Then you can focus your stain-treating efforts on whatever discoloration remains.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Butter knife
  • Vacuum
  • Paper towels
  • Iron
  • Carpet stain remover (like Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain Remover)
  • White cloths

Step 1: Remove excess chocolate

Use a dull butter knife (or even the edge of an old credit card) to scrape off or break up as much dried chocolate as you can from the carpet fibers. Then vacuum to remove those flakes.

Step 2: Cover with paper towels

Cover the affected area with a stack of a few paper towels.

Step 3: Iron

hand using an iron over a paper towel on the chocolate stain to remove it from the yellow carpetTMB Studio

On the lowest, non-steam setting, iron over the paper towels (do not iron the carpet directly). This method can remove excess debris that is lodged in the carpet fibers. As the chocolate melts, the heat draws it up, where it’s soaked up by the paper towels, making spot treatment easier.

A vital step, according to Cobb, is to reposition the towels so that a clean area is being used to soak up the chocolate as you go. By keeping the temperature low and steady, there’s no risk of setting the stain like you might in a dryer on high heat. Repeat and replace with fresh paper towels each time.

Step 4: Spot treat

If any discoloration remains, treat the carpet with a store-bought carpet cleaner (Cobb recommends Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain Remover) and gently agitate with a white cloth. If you don’t have a carpet cleaner handy, dish soap can also work in a pinch. Rub it into the stain with your fingers or a soft-bristle brush, and let it sit for at least five minutes. Flush with a damp cloth and follow with a dry cloth to remove as much moisture from the carpet as possible. Let dry.

Expert laundry tip
Rinse away residue. It’s vital that you rinse or blot away cleaners used to remove stains on carpet. Any remaining cleaning residue can actually attract more dirt and grime.

How to remove chocolate stains from upholstery

a chocolate stain on an upholstered stool with the fallen chocolate cupcake on the floor nearbyTMB Studio

Upholstered furniture comes in a variety of fabrics with a range of durability, which means how you clean a couch is dependent entirely upon its material. The first stain-removal step you’ll want to take is to check the clean code on the item’s tag, says cleaning expert Brandon Pleshek. Depending on the instructions, follow with the expert-approved steps below.

No matter your method, you’ll want to first test it on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it doesn’t discolor the fabric, says Rapinchuk. “Vinegar is acidic and does a good job at lifting stains, but might be too harsh for some materials,” she warns. Avoid using it on velvet or highly textured fabrics. And pro tip: If your cushion covers are removable, treat them and wash according to the item’s care label. Avoid the dryer, as this could shrink the covers and make it difficult to get back onto the cushions.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Butter knife
  • Vacuum
  • Water
  • White vinegar
  • White cloths
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Dish soap
  • Spray bottle

Step 1: Vacuum up solids

As with carpet, scrape away any solid chocolate from the fabric with a dull butter knife and remove the debris with a vacuum. Use the hose attachment to avoid spreading the debris with the vacuum’s roller head.

Step 2: Clean with vinegar

Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a bowl. White vinegar is a natural acid that can help break down the fat in chocolate stains. Dip a white cloth into the vinegar mixture and blot the stain gently, continuing until the stain disappears. Let dry.

Step 3: If that doesn’t work, try this mixture

If the above solution doesn’t cut it, Pleshek says to gently rinse the stained area with cold water. Then combine a solution of 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol, 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle. Mist the spot with the solution, then dab with a white cloth to absorb the stain. Let dry.

Expert laundry tip
Use a portable cleaner. If an at-home carpet and upholstery cleaner, such as the Hoover CleanSlate or Bissell Little Green, is part of your cleaning schedule, you can use it here. After treating the stain, the spot-removal machine will help you rinse and then draw out as much of the moisture and discoloration from the upholstery as possible.

How do you remove dried chocolate stains?

According to Pozniak, the first step in removing dried chocolate stains is to gently scrape off any hardened chocolate solids from the fabric. You can do this using a dull butter knife or toothbrush. Depending on the surface, you can vacuum up the excess debris. Then, you’ll treat the remaining discoloration as you would any fresh stain, following the directions above.

How To Remove Chocolate Stains InfographicRD.com

FAQs

Does Dawn remove chocolate stains?

Known for cleaning dirty dishes, Dawn is also a great pre-treat solution for chocolate stains on clothing, carpet or upholstery. Eberhard suggests Dawn Powerwash in particular. Simply apply one to two sprays of the formula onto your stain, rub it in gently with a soft-bristle brush, and either launder on cold or apply cold water with a clean white cloth to rinse clean. Let air-dry to ensure the stain has disappeared.

Does vinegar remove chocolate stains?

Yes, and Rapinchuk prefers this method to remove chocolate stains from upholstery. To use this natural solution, Cobb suggests combining one part vinegar with one part water. If you’re treating a stained garment, soak it for 10 minutes, followed by laundering per fabric-care instructions. If you’re treating upholstery, dip a white cloth in the mixture and blot until the stain is removed.

Can baking soda remove chocolate stains?

Baking soda is another alternative method for removing a chocolate stain on clothing. Cobb says to make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply it to the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water, then repeat as needed until the discoloration is removed. Then launder on cold and air-dry.

Does chocolate permanently stain?

Although it can be a challenge to remove, chocolate is not likely to permanently stain your textiles. The age of the stain influences how long it will take you to remove it, so your best bet for success is to act quickly.

Do you use hot or cold water to remove chocolate stains?

Cold water is more effective at removing protein-based stains, says Eberhard. Hotter water temperatures could set the stain for good. No matter what, “It’s important to follow the fabric-care usage guidelines and never clean a garment with hotter water than is recommended on the care label,” she says.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field, in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece, Stephanie Sisco tapped her experience as a longtime home and cleaning editor. Then fabric-care and stain-removal expert Mary Marlowe Leverette gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. For this piece, we relied on reputable primary sources, including cleaning and health experts and reputable organizations. We verified all facts and data and backed them with credible sourcing, and we will revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Linda Cobb, author of Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean; email interview, Jan. 10, 2024
  • Morgan Eberhard, Senior Scientist & Science Educator at Dawn; email interview, Jan. 11, 2024
  • Brandon Pleshek, cleaning professional and creator of Clean That Up; email interview, Jan. 18, 2024
  • Zachary Pozniak, professional dry cleaner and laundry care expert at Jeeves New York; email interview, Jan. 11, 2024
  • Becky Rapinchuk, natural-cleaning expert and owner of Clean Mama; email interview, Jan. 10, 2024

Stephanie Sisco
Stephanie is a lifestyle expert and former home director at Real Simple magazine. As a mother of two young boys, she sincerely recognizes the need for quality cleaning and organizing advice, and that's where she lends her expertise for Readers Digest. She is also writing a decorating book, which will be on shelves in 2024.