4 Steps to Remove Old and New Chocolate Stains

Use a butter knife or a spoon to remove any bits of chocolate from the fabric. You don't want to use anything sharp that could cut or damage the fabric. Work carefully to make sure you don't spread the chocolate to clean parts of the clothing. If the chocolate has already dried and hardened onto the fabric, it can be tricky to peel away without damaging the fibers of the fabric. Use your best judgment, but if it seems like it is doing more harm than good, do not peel or scrape away dried chocolate.

Using cold water, rinse the back of the stained area. This allows the stain to travel back through the least amount of fabric possible. It's tempting to use hot or warm water, but this may set the stain. Chocolate also has an oil-based stain component, so using cold water may seem counter-productive, but you are just trying to remove as much of the stain as possible without setting it permanently.

Gently rub heavy-duty liquid detergent (Persil or Tide) into the chocolate stain. If you don't have or use liquid laundry detergent, you can substitute a liquid dish soap but don't use detergent meant for the dishwasher. Allow the clothing to sit for five minutes. Do not rinse. Next, soak the clothing for 15 minutes in cold water. Every three to five minutes, rub the stained area between your fingers and thumb gently to loosen the stain. Rinse thoroughly. Continue until no more stain can be removed. Rinse the stained area completely and wash as usual.

If an oily stain remains, add a stain remover gel or spray. Treat both sides of the stain so that it penetrates fully. Wash clothing normally in the washing machine. Before drying, check to make sure the stain is completely gone. Air dry at first to make sure no hint of the stain remains. Repeat the steps if the stain is still present.