One of the best parts of Fall is the sweet tastes and of the holidays. But, children and adults often forget about candy in their pant or shirt pockets, or unknowingly wipe their hands on the clothes or spill on upholstered furniture and rugs while eating chocolatey, sticky treats. 

We do not recommend home cleaning for clothing as sugar and chocolate are combination stains that often include protein, carbohydrates, food dyes, and additives, and the ingredients that require special stain removes to penetrate deep into the fibers and ensure the entire stain is removed. If done incorrectly, any cleaning method can cause these stains to set permanently. 

For furniture or upholstery, you may want to try this method or have the item cleaned by a professional.

Removing Chocolate Stains from Upholstery

Step 1: Scrape any excess chocolate off gently with a knife or some card stock being sure not to tear or damage fabric fibers.

Step 2: Put some ice cubes into a small plastic zipper bag (like a small ice pack) and set the bag over the stain for about 10 minutes to harden any leftover chocolate residue.

Step 3: Remove the ice pack and scrape the remaining chocolate as in Step 1.

Step 4: Put some dish soap on a damp sponge, and use it to blot the stain until you've gotten as much out as possible. Do not rub.

Step 5: Rinse the sponge and blot again to remove any soap left on the stain.

Step 6: Pat dry with a clean, dry white towel (colorful towels might transfer dye). If any chocolate remains, sprinkle cornmeal over it and let it set for 30 minutes, then vacuum away.

From all of us at Tide Cleaners, have a sweet season!