# How to get hot chocolate out of upholstery?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 17, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177 "2021-02-17T21:52:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177/1 "2021-02-17T21:52:46Z")

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Piper Mutt knocked over Mrs Piper’s mug of hot chocolate. Spilled all o er the upholstery if the chesterfield.

Thoughts on how to get it out without leaving a stain?

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177/2 "2021-02-17T23:39:10Z")

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Chocolate is a fat-based stain, besides the color. You might start with a degreaser, like a Dawn detergent. Use a wet-vac to lift it out, or a carpet/upholstery machine Don’t scrub it around, wider than the stain; you’ll spread it. Use a spoon to work towards the center of the stain,.

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177/3 "2021-02-18T00:51:34Z")

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The one and only Jolie Kerr of the “Ask a Clean Person” advice column [has nice words for Shout! brand stain remover spray for chocolate/dairy stains](https://offspring.lifehacker.com/how-to-get-chocolate-stains-out-of-your-kids-clothes-1828626870).

> [@](#):
>
> For stains on upholstered furniture, carpeting or, um, white duvet covers, spray a small amount of the Shout—maybe one or two pulls on the trigger—directly on the stains, then gently scrub at the area using a damp cloth or sponge.

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177/4 "2021-02-18T16:23:37Z")

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Note that “Chesterfield” is Canadian for sofa or couch. Took me a while to learn that.

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**Author:** ![daisysmithh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@daisysmithh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daisysmithh)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177/5 "2021-02-19T01:52:15Z")

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Mix one tablespoon dishwashing detergent with two cups cold water. Work from the outside of the stain towards the center washing the solution with a clean white cloth. Use a dry cloth to absorb the moisture and repeat until the stain is gone.

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**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-hot-chocolate-out-of-upholstery/933177/6 "2021-02-19T04:20:24Z")

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> [@daisysmithh](#):
>
> dishwashing detergent

Would that be hand-washing diswashing detergent, or machine detergent?

I’d assume the former, because the latter sometimes has bleaches or other things you wouldn’t want to expose upholstery to.