How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Clothes

Co-authored by Ayad Mirjan

Last Updated: September 29, 2021

Chocolate is meant for eating, not wearing. So the next time you get it on your clothes, try removing the chocolate stain by treating it with an acid, like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice, before applying dish soap and washing the clothing. For chocolate stains on delicate fabrics, if you can't get to the dry cleaners right away, use a mixture of dry cleaning solvent and mineral oil.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Vinegar and Dish Detergent

1
Dab vinegar onto the stain and let it sit for 5 minutes. Apply enough vinegar to the stained area so that it's completely saturated. Use white vinegar, which is colorless and won't affect the color of your clothing.^{[1]
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- For tougher stains, like ones that are darker or older, for instance, let the vinegar sit on the stain for 10 to 15 minutes.
Tip: If you don't have vinegar, you can use lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, or baking soda instead. To use baking soda, mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part water to form a paste. Then, apply the paste to the stain.
2
Rinse the stain with water to remove the vinegar. After 5 minutes, run the clothing under cold or lukewarm water in the sink. Avoid using hot water as it can set the stain. Scrub the fabric between your hands as you wash it to help get the stain and the vinegar out.^{[2]
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- Don't worry if you can still smell the vinegar. You'll be washing the clothing later on to get rid of the scent.
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3
Apply dish detergent and water to the reverse side of the stained fabric. After you've pretreated the stain, combine 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dish detergent and 3 cups (710 ml) of warm water. Saturate the reverse side of the entire stained area with the mixture, which pushes the stain back to the surface of the clothing.^{[3]
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- Pick a dish detergent that's labeled “grease-dissolving” to more effectively break up the stain.
4
Wash the clothing as usual in the washing machine or by hand. Look at the tag on the inside of your clothing for the specific care instructions. Read the directions to find whether the garment can be machine washed, along with the temperature and type of cycle, like normal or permanent press.^{[4]
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- If you aren't sure how to wash your clothing, or if there aren't any instructions, hand wash it with warm water and laundry detergent to be safe.
5
Check that the stain is completely gone before drying the clothing. If you dry the clothing while it is still stained, the heat from the dryer will set the stain even further, making it harder to get out. Examine the clothing thoroughly to make sure the stain is no longer there, then dry the garment.^{[5]
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- If some of the stain is still visible, repeat the process of applying dish detergent and water before rinsing the clothing again.
- If the stain still sticks around, add baby powder to the dry fabric and let it sit overnight.^{[6]
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  Ayad Mirjan
  Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist
  Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.}
- You can also dab on a stain remover if the stain persists.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Getting Stains out of Dry Clean Only Clothing

1
Apply dry cleaning solvent to the stained area. Work enough dry cleaning solvent into the stain so that the fabric is completely saturated. Pour the solvent directly onto the clothing or use a cloth to apply it.^{[7]
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- You can buy dry cleaning solvent from any store that sells laundry products or from an online retailer.
2
Dab a mixture of 1 part mineral oil and 8 parts dry cleaning solvent on the stain. Combine the mineral oil and dry cleaning solvent in a bowl, then dip a clean cloth in the solution. Use the cloth to firmly press the liquid onto the stained area. Continue blotting the stain until you've removed as much of the chocolate as possible.^{[8]
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- As the cloth soaks up the chocolate, use the clean sections of the cloth to dab the liquid so you aren't just pressing the chocolate back into the fabric.
Tip: If you don't have mineral oil, you can use coconut oil instead.
3
Remove any excess mineral oil by blotting the stain with solvent again. Take a clean cloth and saturate it with dry cleaning solvent. Use this to dab the stain again, which will pick up any leftover oil.
- Never rub a stain or you could press it deeper into the fabric.
4
Take the stained clothing to the dry cleaners as soon as possible. Now that you've removed the stain, have the entire garment professionally cleaned. The sooner you take it to the dry cleaners, the more likely they'll be able to remove any leftover marks.^{[9]
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- Let the dry cleaners know about the stain and that you spot treated it already. It may affect how they clean the clothing.

Expert Q&A

Question

Does stain remover remove chocolate?

Ayad Mirjan
Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist
Ayad Mirjan is a Dry Cleaner and Laundry Specialist and the Founder of OrangeBag®, a toxin-free, sustainable, Los Angeles-based laundry and dry cleaning delivery service. Ayad has over four years of experience in the industry and he specializes in providing easy laundry and dry-cleaning solutions to professionals, families, and businesses. Ayad received his Bachelor's degree from The University of California, San Diego, and an MBA from Henley Business School. He is also a board member of the Entrepreneur's Organization Accelerator (EOA).

Ayad Mirjan

Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist

Expert Answer

Absolutely! Start by spraying over the stain with pretreatment laundry stain remover and waiting 1-3 minutes for the product to soak into the fabric. Then, rinse off the stain with warm water, rubbing gently as you go. If the stain remains, wash the fabric with regular laundry detergent and 1/2 cup (118.3 mL) of chlorine-free, oxygen-based cleaner.