If chocolate gets on your clothes, don’t be too quick to get upset. With the help of simple and affordable means, this problem can be solved at home. Here are some ways to get chocolate off your clothes for good.
Do not panic and rub the fresh chocolate mark into the cloth, trying to remove it in a hurry. This will only make the situation worse. Not only will you not wash the thing, you can also spoil the fabric with your diligence. Chocolate is not a pollution to be rushed. Red wine is another matter – here every second counts.
First, read the garment’s care instructions before you begin intensive chocolate removal. Some clothes may be too delicate. If you’re afraid of further damaging your clothes by trying to remove the chocolate yourself, then going to a professional dry cleaner is your best bet.
“Golden rules” for removing chocolate stains
To improve washing efficiency, consider the following tips:
- Fresh chocolate stains are removed faster and more successfully than old ones.
- It will be easier and better to clean clothes from chocolate if you first put the product in the freezer (for 10-15 minutes), after which carefully scrape off the hardened part with a spoon or the blunt side of a knife blade.
- Use cold water. Washing hot will fix the stain more strongly in the fibers of the fabric.
- When erasing stains, make movements from the edge of the stain to the center. So you won’t spread the pollution even wider.
- To avoid damaging the fabric, before using any solution cleaner, test its effectiveness on an inconspicuous area, such as the inside of a sleeve.
- Start with milder products before moving on to any aggressive solvents.
- For greater effectiveness, apply the cleaner immediately on the front and back.
- If the chosen cleaning agent did not help to wash off the chocolate, then rinse it thoroughly first, and only then use another cleaning solution, since some substances should not be mixed.
- Do not rub the fabric too hard, as this can fray the fibers or cause color loss.
- When using commercial stain removers, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and follow recommended precautions.
The most reliable ways to remove chocolate stains
It is better, of course, to wash clothes with professional stain removers. If there are no such products in the nearest store, or they are not suitable for the fabric of your clothes, or you decided to save money, then you can always use improvised means. Experienced housewives have long compiled a list of the most effective remedies for chocolate stains:
- Liquid detergent. Apply a few drops of liquid detergent to the stain, distribute over the surface of the contamination, leave for 10-15 minutes, rinse with water. If necessary, repeat the application. Laundry detergents containing natural enzymes are particularly effective, for example, “Lion Top – Enzyme Power” gel (contains a complex of active enzymes: protease and lipase).
- Vinegar. Make a solution of white table vinegar diluted with water in a ratio of 2:1. Pour over the chocolate and leave for a few minutes, then wash off with cold water.
- Lemon juice. Carefully blot the stain with a napkin soaked in lemon juice. You can use fresh lemon juice or lemon concentrate.
- Toothpaste. First, wash chocolate-stained clothing with a small amount of cold water. Then apply a layer of toothpaste, leave for 10-15 minutes, rub gently with a soft brush and rinse.
- Baking soda. Add some baking soda to the toothpaste and apply the mixture to the stain. Carefully rub with a brush, rinse, if necessary, wash again.
- Aqueous alcohol (ammonia) and glycerin. Use for particularly stubborn chocolate stains. Mix glycerin, ammonia and water in a ratio of 2:1:1, apply with a cotton pad. Leave for a few minutes, rinse with cold water and finally wash the clothes using the standard method.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Perfectly removes traces of chocolate from white clothes. Moisten the stain abundantly with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, and then wash it with the help.
- Cream. Just wet the area of contamination with fatty cream before washing. The method helps to dissolve even dried chocolate. After washing the cream itself with dishwashing detergent.
- Soap “Antipyatin”. An affordable and affordable option for removing stubborn stains, including from chocolate. Wet the stain with cold water, rub with soap until foam forms, leave for a while, then wash by hand or machine.