Enjoying your favorite chocolate bar while chilling on your expensive upholstered furniture can leave unsightly stains. The good news is, that there are various ways you can remove chocolate stains from your upholstery. You can use dish soap, laundry detergent, and liquid soap.
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Removing chocolate stains on upholstered furniture using dish soap
Liquid dish soap is an everyday kitchen necessity that almost every household has. Besides cleaning dishes, you can also use it to remove stubborn chocolate stains from your upholstered furniture. This method is simple and only requires dish soap, a spoon, and a small container.
Once you notice brown stains on your upholstery, don’t hesitate to act fast. Follow these steps:
- Gather the materials that you’ll need. Get your liquid dish soap, a spoon, and a small container.
- Using the spoon, try to scrape up as much of the dried chocolate stains from your upholstered furniture.
- In the plastic container, pour two cups of cold water and one tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Mix the solution thoroughly.
- Soak a clean cloth in the solution and use it to blot the lightened chocolate stains. It’s best to start at the outer edge of the stained areas to loosen up the chocolate stains.
- Continue blotting the stained areas until the chocolate stains begin to lighten visibly. Ensure that you continuously dampen the towel or change the solution to avoid spreading the stains on your upholstered furniture more.
- Once there are no stains left, rinse your upholstery with a clean, damp microfiber cloth.
- After removing the stain residue, dry the formerly stained areas using a dry cloth.
Be aware, if your upholstery indicates that it can only professionally cleaned, you can try commercial dry-cleaning solutions to remove the chocolate stains. All you need to do is apply two to three drops of solvent on the stained area and blot it using a towel. Make sure that you blot the area until there are no visible stains left. Check that your upholstery can handle it by doing a spot check first.
Using baking soda to remove chocolate stains
Baking soda is a great universal stain remover that can eliminate even the toughest stains, including chocolate stains. This mild method is perfect for removing stubborn chocolate stains on upholstered furniture made from delicate materials like silk.
Follow these steps to remove chocolate stains on upholstery with ease.
- Carefully remove the chocolate pieces from your upholstery using a spoon or dull knife. Pay extra careful because using a lot of force can destroy the sensitive fabric.
- Spray warm water on the stained area, helping loosen the chocolate stains.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and scrub using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Continue doing this process until you completely remove the stain.
- Once the stain is gone, rinse your upholstery using a clean, damp cloth.
Detergent can also be effective in removing chocolate stains
Laundry detergent not only helps you clean your clothes, but it can also remove stubborn stains on your expensive upholstery. It’s a versatile cleaning agent that works well with most stains, including chocolate stains.
It’s easy to do, and you can achieve optimal results by following the steps below.
Before getting started, ensure that your upholstery is made from standard fabric or material because upholstery made of silk can easily be damaged. If your upholstery is made of silk, it would be best if you call a professional cleaner. If the material is made of standard fabric, it’s okay to do this procedure.
- Dislodge some of the dried chocolate stains on your upholstered furniture using a dull knife or spoon.
- Make a solution using a cup of liquid detergent and two cups of cold water. Make sure that you mix it well.
- Dampen a cloth in the solution and start blotting the stained areas of your upholstered furniture. Start by cleaning the outer edges of the stain and working towards the center. Doing this helps avoid spreading the stains.
- Continue blotting until no more stains are left on the upholstery.
- Once there are no visible stains left, rinse your upholstery using a damp cloth.
- Let your upholstery dry by wiping it with a dry cloth.
Common questions about chocolate stains
Can I use an ice cube in pretreating the chocolate stains?
Yes, but the first thing you need to do is scrape off the chocolate from your upholstery if you want to follow this method. Once you remove the chocolate residue, you can put some ice cubes in a zippered plastic bag and pre-treat the chocolate stain by letting the ice cube sit on top of the stained area.
After pretreatment, you can use dish soap to remove the chocolate stains completely. It’s straightforward and easy to do. Follow the processes above for a faster process.
What causes chocolate stains?
The properties of chocolate are the primary reason for the stain. It consists of a compound called dark-colored tannin, which can leave dark brown stains behind, including on your upholstered furniture. Once it settles on the fabric, it dries and leaves unsightly stains. Fortunately, you can use the methods above to eliminate the stains. You can also contact a professional cleaner if you are dealing with severe chocolate stains or have fragile upholstery.
Can I use bleach in removing the chocolate stains?
You can use bleach to remove any stains as long as you mix it with other substances like water and hydrogen peroxide. Doing this neutralizes the bleach and helps you remove chocolate stains from your upholstery with ease.
However, even if you can use it to clean your upholstery, it’s best to refrain from using bleach because it can damage or discolor upholstery fabric. Make sure to do a spot test beforehand if you follow this approach.
Video: How to Remove Chocolate Stains From Fabric – Dried
Final thoughts
Chocolate is a sweet treat that everyone loves to indulge in every once in a while. However, it can leave unsightly stains on most surfaces, including on your upholstered furniture. Whatever kind of chocolate stains you’re dealing with, you can easily get rid of them with the processes above. It only takes a few steps, allowing you to get back your expensive stain-free upholstery with ease.
