How to Clean Chocolate from Suede

by Meredith Jameson

Suede is a fabric made from leather, typically from the skin of a lamb, cow or deer. Suede has a soft brushed texture that is often used in furniture, clothing, handbags and accessories. If suede gets dirty, it is best to let a trained professional attempt to clean it, especially with tricky substances like chocolate. However, there are a few tricks to clean suede that you can try at home. Note that the stain may become worse if not treated properly, so attempt to clean the fabric at your own risk.

Items you will need

  • Soft dry cloth(s)
  • Butter knife
  • Steam
  • White vinegar
Step 1

Assess whether or not the chocolate has dried. If it is still slightly wet, use a clean soft cloth and dab at the fabric to pick up as much of the chocolate as possible. Do not rub the fabric too hard as this may simply penetrate the stain deeper into the fabric.

Step 2

Use the straight edge of a butter knife to gently scrape at the stain if the chocolate has dried. Remove as much as possible but do not scrape the fabric too vigorously, as this may damage the fabric.

Step 3

Use steam to remove the remaining chocolate from the suede. Heat up water in a saucepan or teakettle until steam is appearing. If you have a steam machine for clothes, that will work as well.

Step 4

Hold the stained suede about six inches away from the steam. Do not get the suede too close to the steam.

Step 5

Allow the steam to penetrate the fabric until it is hot. Keep the fabric from getting too wet or too close to the steam, as that may cause a water stain.

Step 6

Use a fabric brush or small brush with soft bristles to gently brush out the stain.

Step 7

Dab a clean dry cloth in white vinegar if the steam does not remove the chocolate. Gently dab the cloth on the stain but do not rub too hard and do not allow the fabric to become saturated with the vinegar. Allow to air dry.

Tips

  • If the above methods do not remove the chocolate, try putting some dry cornmeal on the stain. Allow to penetrate the stain and then brush off.

Photo Credits

About the Author

Meredith Jameson writes early childhood parenting and family health articles for various online publications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from San Francisco State University.