- The benefits of chocolate
- Does chocolate come out of clothes?
- How to get chocolate out of clothes
- How to get chocolate ice cream or milkshake out of clothing
If you're a self-confessed chocoholic, this is a pesky problem you'll be all too familiar with. While chocolate is delicious in its many glorious forms, it can be messy. If you're not careful, you can mush it into your favourite clothes before you know it. When that happens, you must act fast. Ignoring the problem, sadly, won't make it go away.
So, how do you get chocolate out of clothes? If you have been pondering that question, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we will be looking at expert tips on how to get chocolate out of clothes. As if that wasn't enough, we will also quickly examine the best way to get chocolate ice cream out of your clothing and what to do about chocolate milkshake stains. If your clothing looks a tad messy, read this simple guide now.
The benefits of chocolate
Eating chocolate doesn't have to be a guilty pleasure. If you love this tasty treat, we have some good news for you. According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, cocoa and chocolate could present a range of surprising health benefits. Let's take a look at what you can expect when you eat chocolate — in moderation, of course:
- Brain Power. The research found that people who consumed chocolate may have better cognitive function than others. That means guzzling down chocolate occasionally could lead to better brain power.
- Better Moods. Does chocolate make you happy? There may be a scientific reason for that. The same research found that eating chocolate could lead to better moods.
The scientists also pointed out that people who eat chocolate are often satisfied by it. When you fancy a snack, it could be just the thing for the job.
Of course, it's not all good news for us chocolate lovers. The researchers also noted that "overconsumption" of chocolate could lead to weight gain and subsequent health problems. Therefore, it's important to only eat small amounts of chocolate treats at a time.
Does chocolate come out of clothes?
The short answer is yes. Chocolate does come out of clothes. However, when you spill it or any other treat on your clothing, you will want to act fast. It's important to pre-treat the stain as soon as you can. That way, you should find that the chocolate does not do any lasting damage to your clothes.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is ignoring the stain. When you notice it, you should follow our tips to get rid of the chocolate.
How to get chocolate out of clothes
If there's a chocolate stain on your clothes, the most important thing is to act fast. Before you get started, you will need to gather some essential supplies. Here's what you need to get:
- Spoon
- Laundry detergent
- Washing-up liquid
- Cloth
- Hydrogen peroxide (optional)
Now that you have everything you need, let's look at how to get chocolate out of clothes. Remember, you should always read the label on your clothing for any particular advice and washing symbols.
Chocolate is one of those really annoying stains, but we know what to do. If you are dealing with something delicate, such as cashmere, you must take extra care. However, for most regular materials, you can use the following steps:
Step 1: Remove the excess immediately
For example, if you have sat in some chocolate, you may notice some excess chocolate on your clothing. You need to remove it entirely before you can begin washing the clothes. If you don't do this step, you will end up rubbing the chocolate into your clothes. That could make the stain worse than it would otherwise be and ruin the fabric.
You can use a clean spoon to get rid of the excess chocolate. Wait until the chocolate has dried entirely, and use the spoon to crack through it and break it off. Alternatively, you may use a knife — but be extra careful not to pull the fabric if you do so!
Step 2: Try a cold water rinse
Next, put the stain directly under the cold water tap and turn it on. Hold the material in place for around 30 seconds. You should find that this helps to remove any of the excess chocolate and also gets rid of some of the stain.
Note: You need to avoid using hot water to treat chocolate stains at this point. The temperature could melt the chocolate, leading to an even bigger stain than you had before.
Step 3: Treat the stain directly
Now that you've done that, it's time to pre-treat the stain. You will need a laundry detergent to do this. Choose the best washing powder for the best results. If you are using powder, mix it with a bit of water. If you're using gel, you can use the liquid straight on the stain.
Massage the detergent directly into the stain and leave it for 10 minutes. After that, soak the clothing in cold water for 15 minutes. This pre-treatment will help the wash entirely remove the chocolate from your clothing.
Bonus: Use hydrogen peroxide for white clothes
If you are trying to treat white clothing, like a white shirt, you can use hydrogen peroxide. Of course, you should always take extra care when using powerful chemicals. Always wear rubber gloves to protect your hands and skin.
Check out even more uses for hydrogen peroxide in our other article.
Step 4: Wash your clothing normally
After doing all the above, the next step is to wash your clothes normally in the washing machine. You should have gotten most of the stain out before you do so. Otherwise, you could end up making the chocolate stain worse. Choose a gentle, low-temperature cycle for the best results. That way, you won't risk damaging your clothes in the machine.
Use our laundry guide to find the best cycle settings for the items you're washing.
Step 5: Air-dry your clothing
As always, you should aim to air-dry your clothes rather than putting them in a tumble dryer. For one thing, this approach is better for the material of your clothes. (It also saves money, as running a tumble dryer can be expensive!) However, the main reason you need to air-dry your clothes is if the stain removal doesn't work. If there are any remnants of chocolate on your clothes and you apply a lot of heat, it will worsen the situation.
How to get chocolate ice cream or milkshake out of clothing
Are you dealing with an ice cream or milkshake stain? The steps that you take are similar to the ones that we have outlined above. However, you should note that both chocolate ice cream and chocolate milk are less potent than pure chocolate. For that reason, it is unlikely that you will need to use bleach to remove these stains — you can just stick to detergent instead.
Equally, chances are that you have spilt more of these treats on your clothes. In that case, when it comes to step one, you should thoroughly submerge your clothes in cold water. Frankly, running them under the cold tap won't do the job. After patting the excess liquid with a cloth, put the whole item in a basin of cold water for 15 minutes. When you have done that, you can follow the rest of the stain removal steps above.
As you can see here, learning how to get chocolate out of clothes isn't that hard. The next time you have an unfortunate mishap, follow our expert advice. If you use these steps, you should find that the stain comes out almost immediately. As always, refer to the label on your clothes before treating them with harsh chemicals.
Q&A
Did we miss something? If you are still looking for some answers, you've come to the right place. Here are some of our frequently asked questions.
Do chocolate stains come out of clothes?
Yes! However, you need to make sure that you treat the stain as soon as you notice it. The longer you leave it, the more damage it will likely do.
Does chocolate leave permanent stains?
If you don't get chocolate out of clothes quickly, it could leave a permanent stain. Chocolate tends to have a high oil content, which can stain certain fabric types. Move quickly here!
Will hot water get chocolate out of clothes?
No, and it may do more damage than good. Hot temperatures will cause the chocolate to melt, leading to further stains. You should use cold water to pre-treat the stain instead.
Have we fixed your food disaster? Let us know in the comments below.
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