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Out, Chocolate Spot!

posted by Annie B. Bond Jun 24, 2008 11:00 am
Out, Chocolate Spot!
4 comments

By Annie B. Bond, Executive Editor of Care2's Healthy & Green Living

Having had one too many favorite T-shirts ruined because of a chocolate stain that I could not for the life of me get out, I was determined, when writing my latest book, Home Enlightenment, to solve the mystery of how to remove this stain!

Here is my successful solution:

The key to successful stain removal is to use the right thing at the right time. The reason that cleaning chocolate stains is so hard is because it contains milk protein as well as cocoa.

Step One: Buy pepsin/papain digestive enzymes (available in health food stores); grind them up and add enough water to make a paste. Rub on the stain; let set for a few hours before rinsing.

If you still have a stain after removing the protein, go to step two.

Step Two: Soak the spot in 3 Percent Hydrogen Peroxide.

More on Household Hints (172 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3220 articles available)

4 comments

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Home Enlightenment

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4 Comments       add a comment »
Andrea Watson

One combo that I use on my carpet and clothes is Club Soda and Tea Tree Oil (Euclyptus oil would work also). I apply this mixture to the stain and "scrub" with a soft tooth brush.
This gets out many stains and is better than bleach.

If the shirt is white, you can try using lemon juice. There is a natural bleaching property that the juice has.

Silvia W.

I don't know how to get out jalapeno stains. Many of my favorite blouses are daubed with remnants of kim chi and gotchujang. (Gotchu in Korean is Jalapeno in Spanish.) I'm not about to give up eating to keep my clothes nice; I have what my grammie used to call "a large front porch."

Carole M.

Eve and Kitty---good ideas. I wonder if it would be good to try the peroxide first because it is cheap and handy. ZHow much does the pap. enzyme cost?

Eve S.
  • Eve S. says
  • Jun 25, 2008 9:59 PM

Because of their ability to break down proteins, the enzymes papain (from papaya) and bromelain (from pineapple) are also ingredients in meat tenderizers. I wonder if a meat tenderizer powder such as "Adolph's", if applied to protein stains, could remove them... or even pineapple slices or juice?
Eve from Oregon

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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