How to Clean Chocolate Stains From Carpet and Area Rugs
Dropped another piece of chocolate again, did we? Or, is a hot chocolate spill to blame? In any case, the chocolate stain removal process can be frustrating and challenging, especially if you're not sure how to tackle chocolate stains. First things first, don't spread it around! Instead, try the cleaning technique we're outlining below. Just remember: You can damage your carpet by being too aggressive with cleaning, so take your time, avoid warm and hot water, and the stain will gradually lift (even from your synthetic fibers or wool area rugs).
Materials You'll Need
spatula or butter knife
dry, clean towels
paper towels
water
liquid dish soap or liquid detergent
white vinegar
ice cubes (optional)
vacuum cleaner (optional)
How to Clean Chocolate Stains From Carpet or Area Rug
Remove the excess chocolate (put avoid pushing the chocolate deeper). Avoid smearing soft chocolate and let it harden on the fibers. If it helps, apply an ice cube directly to the soft chocolate to help it set. "Using a spatula or blunt butter knife, carefully remove as much excess chocolate from the floor or carpet as you can," recommends Aaron Christensen, resident cleaning expert and VP of Growth at Homeaglow. "If there are any flakes left over, do a quick vacuum. Avoid peeling or using sharper implements to remove any excess as you can easily damage the floor or carpet."
For area rugs, layer dry towels underneath. This helps to prevent water damage to your floors as you continue to wash the stain.
Use cold water to dampen the fibers before adding soap. Flush the stained area as best you can.
Gently massage soap into the stain. Add a small amount of dish soap to a clean cloth or paper towel and rub the stain in a circular motion from the outside inwards. Christensen recommends leaving it to sit for 5 minutes.
Blot the soapy with a dry towel. Using a clean dry towel or paper towel, blot the stain to pick up and transfer as much of the stain and soapy residue off the carpet as possible.
Add a secondary treatment that uses white vinegar. While the area is still damp, rinse the area again with a 1:1 solution of cold water and white vinegar. Let it saturate the fibers. This helps to help neutralize the stain.
Blot the stain again using a dry paper towel. Not only does this absorb excess liquid, but it's a last check to make sure you aren't capturing any more bits of chocolate residue from the treated fibers.
Allow the carpet fibers to air dry. Using a clean towel blot away the moisture and leave to air dry. Avoid using a steam cleaner until you see that the stain is completely gone. Heat from the steam can further set a stain that isn't completely removed.
Related: How to Remove Chocolate Stains From Clothes
Can you clean older, set-in chocolate stains?
Yes, but it's best if you lengthen the pretreating time for the cleaning process. Soaking stubborn stains in a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water for upwards of a half hour helps treat the fibers. We also like Carbona Stain Devils #2 which targets stains caused by chocolate, ketchup, and mustard.
Will a steam cleaner help lift chocolate stains?
No – avoid any carpet cleaners that require heat until you're sure the stain is 100% removed. Heat will set stains into fibers (this applies to your laundry, too).
Related: Can You Remove Stains From Light Floor Grout? Yes, and This Technique Works the Best
