How to remove chocolate stains

When it comes to chocolate stains, people with a sweet tooth are an especially "at risk" species. However, these stains can be tackled quite effectively with a few simple household products.

Miro Fur Blog

It's easy for a piece of chocolate biscuit to crumble onto a T-shirt or top, or into the creases of the car seat. And by the time you notice it, the chocolate has usually been absorbed by the fabric. But the situation isn't as bad as it seems, because with these household products you can soon get rid of the stain.

Whatever the textile, the first step is always the same: first of all, carefully scrape off the remains of the chocolate with the back of a butter knife. Usually a greasy stain will be left which is the really stubborn problem.

We've found a number of ways of removing it, with the first two miracle products being suitable for nearly all fabrics: washing up liquid and ox gall soap.

What's really important is that under no circumstances should you treat the stain with hot water! Instead, gently dab it and rub it with a few drops of washing up liquid and lukewarm water. If you can still see the stain, rub it with a little (stain-removing) gall soap, leave to work for 10-20 minutes and then wash the garment according to the care instructions.

If you don't have those two products to hand, perhaps one of the following substances will help:

Soak the stain for 30 minutes in lukewarm milk. Then rinse in cold water and put the garment in the washing machine.

Salt and flour are also effective and to be found in every home. First apply the salt to the stain and leave to work for a while. Brush it off and then put flour on the stain and leave again for a short time. Then wash the garment as normal.

On older, stubborn chocolate stains, glycerine may help. Simply brush it on to the stain, leave to work and then rinse off again with water.

Stains on delicate fabrics like silk or velvet are best tackled with alcohol (e.g. from the pharmacy). Rub it into the stain and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

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Tips for if you're in a hurry 

A little bit of chocolate has got on to your clothing while you're out and you don't have a change of clothes with you? A bottle of carbonated mineral water can help in an emergency: stretch the stained part of the fabric and gradually pour on the mineral water while rubbing the stain with your finger.

Do you have any more tricks up your sleeve for dealing with chocolate stains? We'd love it if you shared them with us here on the blog.

29. June 2016