The food pyramid appears to have inaccurately labeled my favorite food.  Chocolate really should be categorized with fruits and vegetables so that I can eat 4 or 5 servings a day guilt free.  And even if I have a twinge of guilt it is a great stress reducer that I rely on.  So occasionally it’s bound to happen – the chocolate spill.  I dropped a piece down my sweater, then leaned over a cabinet pressing it into my shirt.  Such fun!  A big blob of chocolate.
Chocolate is a combination of substances: grease, protein, sugar, cocoa…So how to get it out…

How to remove chocolate stains

  1. First, scrape off as much as possible.  A credit card works great for that. Remember to scrape it up and off, not into the fabric.
  2. Sprinkle some corn meal, kitty litter or cornstarch onto the stain as an absorbent, then place it over a clean towel and tap the stained area.  The absorbent should “absorb” much of the grease and make it easier to remove the rest.
  3. Rinse the stain from the back of the fabric with cold water. You could also use a spray bottle filled with water and spray it from the inside going to the outside.  Hopefully more of the stain will loosen up and come out.
  4. Spray on a laundry pre-treat such as Shout and set aside for 15 minutes.  Do not let it dry! Wash with a detergent with enzymes such as Era.  Era will remove a lot of protein stains.
  5. Check stain – if removed go ahead and dry in dryer. If the stain is not gone, soak in oxy-clean solution until remainder of chocolate is gone. Then wash again.

At Heritage Garment Preservation, we get all kinds of stains on wedding gowns. There probably isn’t a stain we haven’t seen and removed. Our wedding dress cleaning is thorough and safe so you can enjoy your wedding day without worrying about your gown.  So…

Enjoy some  more chocolate!

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