The first signs of spring are just starting to appear. While there is still snow up in the mountains there are spots of green down in the valley. For a lot of us, that means spring cleaning time is here. After back-to-back holidays you may be looking at your carpets and upholstery and wondering how you will ever get them cleaned again. If you are anything like us your holidays were full of treats and all of those chocolates from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day have left their mark all over your home. Are those stains making you feel more bitter and less sweet? Fear not, here are a couple of trusted tips to treat those stains and get you feeling shiny and clean for spring. 

Cleaning the Carpets

• First, use that butter knife and gently scrape off as much dried chocolate as you can. You will find that when the chocolate is dried it is removed in clumps. Chocolate that is still wet or melty is likely to spread making the stain worse.
• After scraping as much chocolate residue as you can from the carpet, pull out the trusty vacuum directly over the stain to remove any flakes that may remain.
• Cover the affected area with a few paper towels.
• Now it's time to use the iron. Set your clothing iron to the lowest, non-steam setting possible. Move the iron over the paper towels slowly. This should help the chocolate start to stick to the paper towels.
• When you’re ironing the paper towels, be sure to keep the temperature steady while doing so. Go over the stain as many times as necessary until the stain is gone. 
• If any dark stubborn spots remain, apply a household carpet cleaner to the area and agitate gently with a clean white towel. 

This method is sure to get your carpet back to the color it is supposed to be. Now what to do about bon bon bombs on your couches and chairs? Here is a method that has proven beneficial for chocolate stains on a variety of fabric types.

Cleaning the Upholstery

• Mix a common liquid dish soap in hot water and dampen a clean cloth in this stain-cleaning solution.
• Start cleaning the affected area with this damped cloth in a gentle circular motion. Try to avoid rubbing the stain, this will push the stain further down into the fabric.
• As the stain lightens, take dry paper napkins to absorb the moisture.
• Now dust cornmeal on the stained area and let it sit for some time. It will soak up dampness as well as the remaining chocolate stain.
• Gently brush off the cornmeal from the upholstery and vacuum the residue.

Chocolate can be one of the most unpleasant stains to look at in your house. We hope these tips help tackle this unpleasant chore. It is important to remember, only you know the make and quality of your carpets so be sure to take care and get a spot cleaner that is meant for your specific carpet type. When using any of the tools mentioned above, use caution to avoid over-agitating carpet fibers which might cause damage. And remember for the big jobs, we got you covered. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!