Halloween is here! That means ghosts, ghouls, goblins, creepy critters, and of course, lots and lots of candy.
Chocolate candy is one of the most popular treats handed out and enjoyed throughout the Halloween season and with trick or treating in full swing in Kenosha, there is sure to be a few pieces in your home, especially if you have children in your house.
If you or your children get chocolate on the carpet, try not to let it melt. Act fast! Here are some tips for removing chocolate stains from carpet and upholstery:
Scrape and Scoop
Before you can try to remove the chocolate stain from the carpet, you will need to scoop up and scrape away any of the excess solid chocolate sitting on top of the stain. Try not to scrape or rub too hard, as you don’t want the excess to press into the stain.
Water
Once you have removed all the excess chocolate from around the stain, you should blot the stain on your carpet with only water and a white cloth. Try to avoid using a colored cloth or one with a lot of patterns or decorations so that none of that dye or printing soaks into the stain. Perhaps most important is to be sure not to scrub the stain. Instead of scrubbing, blot the stain gently, pushing your fingertips into the cloth and working around the edge of the stain before focusing on the center.
Check the white cloth every few seconds to get an idea of just how much of the stain you are soaking up out of the carpet. If the cloth is absorbing a lot of the chocolate stain, then there is a chance that you can avoid using any kind of cleaner or solution and successfully remove the chocolate with just water. If there is still some chocolate remaining, you will want to move forward.
Detergent
If you aren’t having success with the cloth and water, you will want to use some household liquid dish soap. Mix a ¼ teaspoon of the dish soap into a bowl of water and create a mild, soapy solution. Next repeat the same blotting process as before. The detergent should be able to pull the remaining chocolate from the carpet, since soap acts as a magnet for dirt and debris.
Once you have removed the chocolate stain, be sure to get another cloth with just water on it to absorb any soap you might have left behind. It’s very important to never leave soap in carpet or upholstery as it will attract surrounding dirt and create a different stain.
Professional Cleaning
If it is a particularly bad chocolate stain and the tips above aren’t working, don’t worry. You can always call for help.
Nature’s Way Chem-Dry in Burlington is familiar with all the stains associated with Halloween treats and fall foods, including chocolate, and has had amazing stain removal results in Racine, Kenosha, Green Lake and surrounding WI counties.
There is almost no stain that Nature’s Way Chem-Dry hasn’t seen so you can feel confident you are calling experienced experts and professionals. Call them today at (262) 995-3249 or visit www.natureswaychem-dry.com for more information on their drier, cleaner, healthier carpet cleaning system.