- 1. Gently scrape away any excess chocolate
- 2. Rinse the stain with cold water from the inside out
- 3. Pre-treat the stain with liquid dish soap
- 4. Machine-wash as usual
- 5. Check the stained area before drying
We love a piece of milky chocolate or a scoop of chocolate ice cream as much as the next person. But if that sweet stuff finds its way onto your outfit, it can turn dessert into a disaster.
You know the scenario all too well: one minute, you're indulging in a blissful moment of cocoa-fueled euphoria; the next, you're staring in horror at the dark smear on your once-pristine shirt.
Chocolate’s dark pigmentation and high oil content make it tricky to remove from fabric. But if you act fast, you can get rid of those chocolate stains and make your clothes look as good as new.
In this article, we’ll show you a tried-and-true technique for getting chocolate out of clothes. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A spoon
- Cold water
- Liquid dish soap
- Laundry pod
- Washing machine
Pro tip: Always check the care label on your garment before trying these tips.
1. Remove Any Excess Chocolate
Scrape off as much chocolate as you can from the item using a spoon or another dull item. Just make sure you don’t use anything sharp that could cut or fray the fabric. The less chocolate that’s left on your clothes, the easier it will be to remove.
Work carefully so you don’t smear the chocolate into other parts of the clothing. Also make sure you don’t rub the stain, which can embed it deeper into the fibers.
If the chocolate has already dried onto the fabric, it can be tricky to scrape it off without damaging the fibers. Use your best judgment, but if it seems like you’re harming the fabric, skip this step.
2. Rinse the Stain with Cold Water
Using cold water, rinse the stained area from the back—not the front. This flushes the stain through the least amount of fabric possible.
You might be tempted to rinse the stain with hot water, but heat can set the stain into the fabric, making it harder to remove.
Don’t have access to a faucet? Gently dab the stain with a sponge or a clean towel soaked in cool water.
3. Pre-Treat the Stain with Liquid Dish Soap
Gently rub a small amount of liquid dish soap into the stained area using a soft towel or toothbrush. The enzymes in dish soap will break down the chocolate’s natural oils so they come out easier.
Once you work the dish soap into the fabric, let it sit for five minutes. After that time is up, soak the garment in cold water for 15 minutes. Every few minutes, gently rub the stained area between your fingers to loosen up the particles.
Give it one last rinse with—you guessed it—cold water until the water runs clear.
4. Launder as Usual
Once the evidence of your chocolate stain has been erased, toss your clothes in the washing machine with an enzyme-based laundry pod and launder as usual with cool water.
Make sure you wash your items with like colors and adjust your cycle based on the type of fabric you’re washing. Here’s a cheat sheet:
- Delicate - Linen, wool, silk, activewear, lingerie
- Normal/Regular - Cotton, denim, towels, bedsheets
- Perm Press - Synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon, etc.)
5. Check the Stained Area Before Drying
Before you put your clean clothes in the dryer, check to make sure the stain is 100% gone. The heat from the dryer can “bake” any remnants of the chocolate stain into the fabric, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you still see some brown smudges, repeat the process until they’re gone.
Common Questions About Chocolate Stains on Clothes
Now that you know the basics of getting chocolate out of clothes, let’s cover some common questions.
How Do You Remove Chocolate Stains Without Washing?
If a chocolate stain strikes when you’re away from home, try these steps to remove it without a full-blown washing routine:
- Use a credit card or your fingernail to scrape away any loose chocolate.
- Run cold water through the back side of the stain.
- Soak a paper towel or napkin in cold water and blot the stain from the front.
- If you have it handy, apply a small amount of hand sanitizer to the stained area.
- Rinse the stain again from the back side until the water runs clear.
Does Chocolate Stain Clothes Permanently?
Chocolate can technically stain clothes permanently—but only if you don’t treat them promptly. The key is to act quickly, be gentle, and use cold water to prevent permanent staining.
Is Hot or Cold Water Better for Chocolate Stains?
Always use cold water when you’re dealing with chocolate stains as it prevents the stain from setting. That goes for pre-treatment as well as your wash cycle. Hot water can make the stain harder to remove.
Can Chocolate Stains Be Removed After Drying?
Chocolate stains are more difficult to remove after drying but not impossible. Pre-treat the stain with a stain remover and wash it again. Persistence and the right methods can often still remove the stain.
Does Baking Soda Remove Chocolate Stains?
Baking soda can be a great natural remedy for chocolate stains. Make a paste with water, apply to the stain, and let it sit for about 15 minutes before washing. Baking soda is effective for its gentle abrasive and deodorizing properties.
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Chocolate Stains Don’t Stand a Chance Against Laundry Sauce
It’s always a bummer when your dessert ends up on your clothes instead of in your mouth. But this cocoa catastrophe doesn’t mean your outfit is ruined permanently. That’s where Laundry Sauce comes in.
Our laundry pods are enriched with powerful bio-enzymes that break down the oils and pigments in chocolate, leaving your fabrics fresher than you found them. Better yet, our pods are infused with premium fragrances like Australian Sandalwood and Italian Bergamot to ensure your outfits smell as amazing as they look.
Can’t decide which fragrance fits your vibe? Take our 2-minute scent quiz and we’ll tell you!
