Four Methods to Remove Chocolate From the Carpet

If you’ve dropped some chocolate on your nice clean carpet, don’t panic. If there’s no point crying over spilled milk, there’s probably even less point in crying over dropped chocolate… not when there’s work to be done, in any case. Chocolate might not be great for carpets, but it doesn’t ring the death bell for them either. Act quickly enough and follow the proper cleaning methods, and your carpet will be left none the worse for the experience. But what exactly are the ‘proper cleaning methods’, I hear you say? Hold tight, because you’re about to find out.

Method 1

Spot Remover has several excellent suggestions on how to remove chocolate from the carpet. For this one, you’re going to need a butter knife, a vacuum, spot remover, paper towels, and a clothing iron. Once you’ve gathered all your supplies, get started on the following steps.

  • Step 1 – If the chocolate has already dried, you’ll need to remove as much of it as possible from the carpet fibers by gently scraping it up with a butter knife. Go gently – the aim is to remove the chocolate, not give the carpet a haircut. Once you’ve scraped off as much as you can, vacuum up the residue.
  • Step 2 – Grab your paper towels and pile them over the stained area. Pre-heat the iron to its gentlest setting, then gently press the iron over the paper towels. Don’t hold the iron on any one spot for more than a couple of seconds, otherwise, you risk burning the carpet.
  • Step 3 – Gather up the paper towels. The heat from the iron should have melted the chocolate enough for it to have transferred from the carpet to the towels. If it was a particularly heavy load, you might have to repeat step 2 a few more times.
  • Step 4 – Even after you’ve soaked up the chocolate, you might still be facing an unsightly brown stain. If you are, apply a drop of household carpet cleaner to the stain and work it gently into the carpet.

Method 2

If your carpet is made of natural fibers, you’ll need to be very careful about what products you use during stain removal. The wrong one could easily end up leaving your carpet in a much worse state than it’s already in. If, on the other hand, you have a synthetic carpet, you can afford to be a little more free and easy with the products. In the next method suggested by wikiHow, we’ll look at how to remove chocolate from the carpet using good old dish soap.

  • Step 1 – Use a butter knife to gently scrape up any dried chocolate. Vacuum to clear any residue.
  • Step 2 – Mix up your detergent solution by combining 0.25 tsp (1.2 mL) translucent liquid dishwashing detergent with 8fl oz (240 mL) of lukewarm water.
  • Step 3 – Soak a white cloth or paper towel in the detergent solution before using it to blot up the stain. Press the cloth into the stain for a few seconds, then leave for 15 minutes to do its business. Once the time’s elapsed, use a fresh cloth or paper towel to blot up any excess solution.
  • Step 4 – To get rid of any remaining detergent residue, apply a vinegar solution to the affected area. To make the solution, mix 8fl oz (240 mL) of white vinegar with 16fl oz (470 mL) of water. Soak a white cloth or paper towel in the solution before dapping it onto the stain. Press the cloth for a few seconds into the stain, then leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water to finish.

Method 3

While DIY remedies will often suffice, sometimes you need to bring out the big guns. And by big guns, we mean professional carpet cleaner. Ultimately, carpet cleaner was invented for a reason; unless there’s more chocolate on your carpet than there is in a candy store, there’s a very good chance a good quality carpet cleaner will get rid of the problem without issue. Just remember that most carpet cleaners are designed for synthetics only, so be sure to check the label before using one on wool or silk carpets.

  • Step 1 – Start by removing as much dried chocolate from the offending area as possible. Use a butter knife to gently work the chocolate away from the carpet fibers, before vacuuming up any residue.
  • Step 2 – Blot the stain with a damp sponge or cloth.
  • Step 3 – Mix up the carpet cleaner as per the instructions on the packet. Patch test the cleaner on a small area of the carpet in an inconspicuous area. If nothing adverse happens, apply the cleaner directly to the stain using either a cloth or brush.
  • Step 4 – Allow the carpet cleaner to work its magic. Once it’s dried, vacuum to remove any residue. If there’s still any traces of stain left, repeat the previous steps.

Method 4

If your carpet is white or a very light hue, you could try homestratosphere.com’s suggestion of treating the chocolate stain with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is an active ingredient that’ll help penetrate the carpet and loosen the chocolate from the fibers. Just be very careful not to even attempt this method on a dark carpet, otherwise, it won’t just be the chocolate you’ll be lifting.

  • Step 1 – Remove any dried chocolate with a butter knife. Vacuum any residue.
  • Step 2 – Sprinkle the stain with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. If it’s a particularly heavy stain, you might want to leave it to soak in for a few minutes before proceeding to the next step.
  • Step 3 – Soak a white cloth in a solution of warm water and dish detergent and blot up the stain. Press the cloth into the stain for a few minutes, then leave for 15 minutes. Soak up the excess liquid with a fresh cloth or towel, then rinse the area with some lukewarm water and just a few drops of vinegar to remove any last traces of detergent.

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