Clean Chocolate from a Carpet

Chocolate. There's nothing more distressing than a lump of chocolate pressed into a carpet. Here's how to get it out in a flash. The process works for both white and dark chocolate.

Steps

 * 1) Scrape up excess chocolate. Take action as soon as possible after the spillage. The longer you leave a stain, the tougher it will be to remove. Remove as much chocolate as you can with a clean non-serrated knife. Be gentle, so as not to damage the carpet fibres.
 * 2) Check carpet type. Different carpets react to stain removal techniques in different ways. Using the wrong removal method could cause the stain to become permanent or leave a worse mark than the stain itself. Carpets made of natural materials such as grass, sisal or wool can be severely damaged by liquid treatments. If you are in any doubt as to your carpet's suitability, contact a professional carpet cleaner.
 * 3)  Do a patch test. Before applying any solution to your carpet, you should always do a patch test. Choose an out of the way area of the carpet and apply a small amount. Wait a few minutes to ensure that problems don't develop. If your carpet starts to go brown or lighter in colour, immediately rinse the solution with cold water. Do not continue and call a professional.
 * 4)  Apply surgical spirit. To dissolve the fat in the chocolate, use surgical spirit. Put on some rubber gloves and then apply surgical spirit to a white cloth. Lay the cloth over the stain. Use a spoon to add the solution to your carpet. With the spoon, massage the stain through the cloth. When the surgical spirit is thoroughly worked into the stain, remove the cloth.
 * 5)  Mix a detergent solution. Now make a detergent solution by mixing a quarter of a teaspoon of a mild carpet shampoo with a litre of warm water. Remember to carry out a patch test.
 * 6)  Apply the detergent solution. Apply the detergent solution to a fresh white cloth and work it into the stain, using the spoon as described in "Tips".
 * 7)  Blot the area dry. Blot the area with some kitchen towel to remove excess liquid before applying the next solution.
 * 8)  Ventilate well before using ammonia. Before you mix your ammonia solution, make sure that the room is well ventilated, so that you don't breathe in too much ammonia.  Add one teaspoonful of household ammonia to one cup of warm water and stir. Don't forget the patch test. If safe, soak the cloth in the solution, lay it over the stain and massage the stain through the cloth using the spoon as before. Then gently blot the area dry.
 * 9) Mix the final rinse solution. Neutralise the ammonia by using a vinegar solution. Add one part white vinegar to 4 parts warm water. Pour the mixture into the spray bottle.
 * 10)  Neutralise. After testing the mix on a small hidden area of carpet, spray the vinegar and water mixture over the stain. Carefully blot the area, removing excess liquid. The stain should now be removed. If it isn't, repeat the rinse process.
 * 11)  Dry. To ensure that the stain is completely lifted and any remaining dampness is removed, stack a few pieces of kitchen towel over the stain. Cover with a heavy weight, such as a book. If the weight is coloured or porous, put a plastic bag between it and the kitchen towel. This will protect the weight and prevent its dye from leaking into the carpet.
 * 12) Wait. Leave the weight on the damp patch, ideally overnight. The stain should now be completely gone, but if by any chance it is still visible when you remove the weight, it's time to call in the professionals.

Tips

 * Handy Hint: Use the back side of a spoon pressed onto a cloth and use massage-like strokes to work solutions into your carpet. This will help you to avoid damage to your carpet fibers.
 * Ask children and others to eat their chocolate over a plate; try to avoid the chocolate mess in the first place. Always keep serviettes handy when eating chocolate.

Warnings

 * Take care with carpet cleaning products. There are many good carpet cleaning products on the market but experts tend to be wary of using them. They're not stain specific and may include ingredients which are not applicable to your stain and could do more harm than good.

Things You'll Need

 * some mild non-alkaline detergent with no bleaches
 * some household ammonia
 * 1 sponge
 * some clear household vinegar
 * some warm water
 * 1 blunt knife
 * 1 teaspoon
 * 1 bowl
 * 1 spray bottle
 * 1 pair of protective gloves
 * several white clothes or white kitchen towel
 * a heavy weight, e.g. a book
 * a clear or white plastic bag
 * some surgical spirit

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Clean a Rug
 * How to Remove Blood Stains
 * How to Remove Mold Stains from Wood Floors
 * How to Remove Rust Stains from Paint

Sources and Citations

 * VideoJug A video of cleaning chocolate from the carpet. The original source of this article. Shared with permission.