How to Remove Cocoa Stains
Cocoa is the main ingredient in chocolate, hot chocolate and drinking chocolate. It is the product of ground and roasted cocoa beans, and it enjoys nearly universal appeal. Because chocolate is dark brown, any cocoa stain is unsightly and easily noticeable. As with all stains, it is far easier to treat cocoa stains when they are still wet than when they are fully dried and set into the fabric.
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Scrape cocoa residue off cotton fabrics with a butter knife. Dab hydrogen peroxide onto the stain, and then launder normally in a regular wash cycle.
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Pretreat cocoa stains with a laundry prewash stain remover. Wash normally, and if the stain persists, wash the clothing again with color-safe bleach.
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Mix 2 cups cool water with 1 tbsp. regular dish-washing detergent to clean an upholstery stain. Scrape off any residue first, and then dab the solution onto the stained area and blot it with a clean white cloth. Repeat this step two or three times until the stain is removed. Sponge the area with cold water, and then blot it dry.
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Blend 2 cups warm water and 1 tbsp. regular dish-washing detergent to clean a carpet stain. Scrape away any residue, and then sponge the stain with this solution and blot it with a clean white cloth until the liquid has been absorbed. Repeat these steps until the stain disappears. If the stain is very stubborn, make an ammonia solution with warm water (one part ammonia to five parts water or one part ammonia to eight parts water). Dab it onto the stain. Blot it up, rinse with fresh water and blot once again.
References
Tips
- Some cocoa stains on fabric can be removed first by washing and then pouring boiling water over the stain so it runs through the fabric.
Writer Bio
Dale Yalanovsky has been writing professionally since 1978. He has been published in "Woman's Day," "New Home Journal" and on many do-it-yourself websites. He specializes in do-it-yourself projects, household and auto maintenance and property management. Yalanovsky also writes a bimonthly column that provides home improvement advice.
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