A person in a pair of jeans stained with chocolate cake

Simple Steps to Remove Chocolate Stains

Everyone loves chocolate — it's one of life's greatest comfort foods and a timeless way to show affection. But figuring out how to get chocolate out of clothes is definitely not something everyone loves.

The sweet stuff can be enjoyed in many different, delicious forms, and they all have the potential to leave messy stains. Chocolate stain removal might seem dark and difficult, but they don't have to leave their mark on your clothes permanently. Follow Tide’s handy stain removal tips and learn how to remove chocolate stains out of a white shirt, your carpet, or from your furniture.

15 minutes to read

How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Different Types of Fabric

Removing chocolate stains from fabric can be a sticky proposition, especially if the stain has had time to dry and become firmly attached to the fibers. This dark, oily substance may be a delicious delicacy, but due to its low melting point, it’s very easy to be so distracted by its taste that you don’t even notice it staining your favorite shirt or pants. The way in which you go about removing chocolate stains will depend on the type of fabric you’re removing it from, the strength and composition of its fibers, and whether or not the chocolate stained garment can easily be thrown into the washer for cleaning with your favorite Tide Detergent.

How to remove stains from jeans

Denim jeans are, by nature, more rugged and durable fabrics, so you have more flexibility in the aggressiveness with which you attack a chocolate stain on jeans. As with any item that has a stain, you should start by removing as much of the excess chocolate as possible, preferably right after the stain occurs and is fresh. Using cold water and a clean paper towel or cloth, gently apply to the chocolate stain to remove excess, being careful not to rub it further into your jeans. Apply your favorite Tide Liquid Detergent, gently scrubbing with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Once satisfied, rinse the area thoroughly with cold water, then launder the jeans as you normally would.

How to remove chocolate stains from white shirts

When it comes to white shirts, it’s imperative to get to the chocolate stain quickly to avoid it setting. Start by removing any excess chocolate from the area, then using cold water and a clean white cloth or paper towel, gently press at the stain to get as much additional chocolate out of the fibers as possible. Be careful during this process that you’re not pushing the stain further into the fibers. Before attempting to clean with any solvents, be sure to read the garment’s care label and spot test your cleaner in an inconspicuous area to ensure no damage will occur. Once satisfied, apply some Tide Free & Gentle to the stain and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to work at the stain and spread detergent into the fibers. Allow the shirt to sit with the detergent on it for at least 5 minutes, then machine wash as you normally would.

How to get chocolate out of white clothes

For white clothing, it’s imperative to get to any chocolate stains quickly to avoid it setting deeper into the fabric. Start by removing any excess chocolate from the area, then using cold water and a clean white cloth or paper towel, gently press at the stain to get as much additional chocolate out of the fibers as possible. Be careful that you’re not pushing the stain further into the fibers. Before attempting to clean with any solvents, be sure to read the garment’s care label and spot test your cleaner in an inconspicuous area to ensure no damage will occur. Once satisfied, apply some Tide Free & Gentle to the stain and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to work at the stain and spread detergent into the fibers. Allow the shirt to sit with the detergent on it for at least 5 minutes, then machine wash as you normally would.

How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Carpets

Although any drop of chocolate that ends up on your carpet and not in your tummy is a tragic waste of deliciousness, it’s not the end of the world. Just act fast and follow the below steps, and your carpet will be chocolate-free in no time!

  1. Remove Any Chocolate Flakes. If the stain was caused by solid chocolate, use the hose of the vacuum cleaner (with no attachment) to carefully hoover up any loose flakes without rubbing the stain. If you find there’s still some excess left on your carpet, hold an ice cube on it for a minute then scrape carefully in case of hard chocolate or use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot away the excess in case of liquid chocolate.

  2. Apply Stain Remover. Gently dab stain remover with a clean toothbrush over the chocolate stain. Do not rub the chocolate deeper into the fabric of the carpet. Rinse off the toothbrush in between dabs to prevent the further spread of the chocolate. Let the stain remover do its work by allowing it to sit for five to ten minutes.

  3. Rinse and blot. Next, blot the soapy stain with a clean towel without rubbing or layer a few sheets of paper towel atop the stain. Carpets are usually deep and thickly wound so the chocolate stain may not come out the first time. In that case, repeat the process until you can no longer see the stain.

Once you’re confident the soap is removed, blot the area with a clean dry cloth or layered paper towels.

How to Remove Chocolate from Upholstery

Got a bit of chocolate stain on your couch? Don’t worry—removing chocolate stains from your upholstery is a lot like dealing with carpet stains, but even simpler:

1. Remove Excess

Whether you lightly dab a towel over melted chocolate or use the vacuum hose while scraping off an old chocolate stain, remove as much chocolate as you can before applying any cleaning products.

2. Apply Stain Remover

Check if your upholstery is able to withstand chemicals before applying any dry-cleaning solvent or stain remover. If the furniture is stain remover-positive, gently blot a bit of solvent on the chocolate stain with a clean cloth until it is completely absorbed into the upholstery.

You can still see a bit of leftover chocolate stains? In that case, continue to apply the cleaning solution and blot the stained upholstery with a clean white cloth until you can no longer remove any chocolate.

You can apply a small amount of liquid Tide Ultra Stain Release to the area. After letting is sit for at least 5 minutes, you can rinse it away with a clean wet cloth. Vinegar is not recommended as it will not be particularly effective on chocolate.

It’s not always possible to get clothing into a washer to remove chocolate stains, but luckily with a few common household items and a clean sink, you can still attack chocolate stains and remove them effectively. Distilled white vinegar is a safe, natural cleaner that most people have sitting around the house. As with any cleaning solution, you should first spot test a bit of distilled white vinegar on an inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure it won’t fade or be damaged. Next, soak the stained clothing in a clean sink or basin filled with cold water mixed with a cup of white vinegar. Allow the garment to soak for at least thirty minutes, using a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush to rub at the stain during the process. Once satisfied the chocolate stain is gone, allow the garment to air dry.

Start by removing any excess, dried on chocolate with a dull plastic knife or other flexible scraper, being careful not to damage or tear any threads on the fabric. Next, rinse the stained area with cold water, gently using your fingers to work at the area and loosen as much remaining chocolate from the fibers as possible. Apply a pretreatment stain remover, like Tide Ultra Stain Release Detergent, and allow it to sit for at least an hour. Wash as you normally would, without rinsing the clothing. You can also apply dish soap or your favorite liquid detergent directly to the stained area for an additional cleaning boost before the wash cycle.