How To Get Chocolate Ice Cream Out Of Clothes

How to get chocolate ice cream out of clothes? What if you accidentally spill some chocolate ice cream on your sweater? Don’t think that it’s just milk and ice; there are many things behind chocolate ice cream that you may not know about.

Even when you have washed the clothes, chocolate ice cream may still leave yellowish or light brown stains for a long time. It may remind you of the mustard stains, and applying the methods of eliminating mustard from clothing items; However, things can get worse if you don’t do it right!

So, how to treat it in the proper way? Don’t worry; this post will tell you how with step-by-step directions!

What’s In Ice Cream And Does It Stain?

Ice cream is an all-time-favorite frozen food product. It is famous around the world as a dessert or snack with many different recipes and flavors. Ice cream is made of a blend of cream and/or milk with sugar, cooled under the freezing point of water ⁽¹⁾.

Some typical flavors of ice cream are vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. However, ice cream has many more diverse flavors such as mint, coconut, coffee, etc. So you can have a lot of options when choosing ice cream to enjoy.

Now the question you all have been asking: What happens when an ice cream spills on clothes? Out of your expectation, ice cream is not an easy stain to deal with if it is on your shirt. It consists of protein, fats, and starch that are likely to absorb deeply into the fibers.

With protein-based stains on clothing, although it may look clean after some basic wash, a yellowish mark will gradually appear on the item after some time! Ice cream stains are not as harmless as you may think. It is also inevitable, especially when your kids are eaters.

The problem may also come from the high sugar content of the ice cream. Sugar in ice cream is not only bad for your health and diet (if you use an excessive amount everyday) ⁽²⁾, but also one of the main reasons to cause that yellow stain on your shirt after a while.

You may think that getting rid of that yellow stain is as easy as removing the turmeric mark on the fabrics, but it’s much more complicated than that. It’s from the protein in milk, so it needs some specialized detergents to deal with it.

Whether it is in any flavor, almost every ice cream stains are the same and may have the same treatment. However, the color of them is the problem. Darker-colored ice cream stains like chocolate are a bit harder to deal with. You may want to use stronger detergent on them.

Don’t worry; there will always be some proper methods to use when the ice cream accidentally lands on your favorite T-shirt. Just follow my instructions, and you’ll observe the differences with better results!

Curious about the flavors of ice cream? Check out this interesting video!

Most Effective Ways To Deal With Fresh Chocolate Ice Cream Stains

The key step with fresh ice cream stains or any other type of stain is to remove the excess part as soon as possible. The longer the ice cream stays on your clothes, the more difficult it gets to fully remove. So try your hardest to get rid of the ice cream residue.

Most of the methods may require you to wash the clothes again with laundry detergent, but avoid the powdered one since it may leave residue and you’ll have to spend more time dealing with laundry detergent stains on laundry! Please be careful of that.

Below are some detergents and methods that you can use. They are all easy to find and replace with other ones having the same cleaning characteristics.

Using Liquid Detergents

Liquid detergents like laundry detergent or dishwashing soap are prone to be great pretreating products. Instead of washing the ice-cream-stained clothing with regular laundry detergents, you should first apply these powerful liquid detergents and then wash.

Tip: It is better to use detergents containing enzymes because ice cream stains are protein-based stains.

Enzyme-based detergent is effective on these stains and also promotes its cleaning ability on fruit stains, especially eradicating blueberry stains from garments. Don’t hesitate to stock some bottles of versatile liquid!

Preparation:

• A liquid detergent (liquid laundry detergent/ dish soap/ Persil Non-Bio)
• Cold water/ Club soda
• A sponge/ A cloth
• Washing machine
• Paper towels (optional)

Step 1: Get Off Any Excess Ice Cream

Blot the stain with paper towels, then flush the ice cream stain from the back of the clothing with running cold water or club soda.

Step 2: Pretreat The Stain

If you use this liquid detergent product for the first time, you should always test a little bit of it on an inconspicuous area of your garment.

Pour some drops of available liquid detergent onto the ice cream stain. Rub it thoroughly without too much pressure with your fingers. You may want to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. A stain remover can also be applied at this step.

Step 3: Soak The Treated Clothes

After applying the liquid detergents, soak the whole thing in cold water for about 15 minutes. While the items are submerged, use a sponge or cloth to rub on the stained spots every 3-5 minutes. Repeat the step if needed.

Warning: You should not use hot water at this step since it will “cook” the protein-based stain and set it permanently on your fabrics.

Step 4: Wash And Dry The Garments

After soaking, it’s time to launder your clothes. Be sure that the ice cream stain has gone by now. Check the care label attached to each item to make sure that you use the appropriate settings for them. Bring them to the washing machine and run a wash cycle.

Air dry your clothing by hanging them outdoors. If you want to tumble-dry (dry the clothes with a dryer), you must check the clothes carefully and ensure that there is no stain left. The heat from the dryer may set the stains further on your clothing item.

Note: If the ice cream stain is so stubborn that it still exists after this method, you may apply the whole process once again. Be patient when treating this type of stain.

You can quickly treat the ice cream stain with only dishwashing detergent!

Using Liquid Laundry Detergent And Stain Remover

Besides using only one detergent to treat the stain, you can also combine a detergent with a stain remover, one by one. The combination of these two can be a heavy-duty way to clean all of your stained clothes.

In addition, you may find this combination in the super glue stain removing methods for clothing. Therefore, it is not strange to say that this mixture is a safe and common way to treat many kinds of clothing stains!

Preparation:

• Liquid laundry detergent/ Dishwashing soap
• Stain remover
• Cold water
• A container (washtub, bucket, etc.)
• Washing machine (optional)

Step 1: Wash Away The Stain

The ice cream stains will be easier to treat if you act swiftly at the beginning. Rinse or soak the stained clothing item for 5 to 10 minutes. If the stain is old and dry, soak longer.

Note: Never use hot water since it can set a protein-based stain.

Step 2: Treat The Stained Area With Liquid Laundry Detergent

Remove the water residue in the container. Prepare a new solution with liquid laundry detergent and cool water. Soak your affected clothing in the solution for 30 minutes. Scrub the stain every few minutes while soaking.

Note: A dishwashing detergent may be used in place of liquid laundry detergent at this step.

Step 3: Rinse And Apply A Stain Remover

Rinse the soapy clothes, then rub some drops of stain remover directly onto the stained spots. Give it some time to absorb into the stain for about 7 to 10 minutes, then wash away the remover.

Step 4: Repeat The Steps If The Stain Stays

Check the stain to ensure that the stain has faded away after the treating process. If it has not gone, repeat the method. Then bring the garments to wash as normal; remember to follow the directions on the care label.

Treat The Chocolate Ice Cream Stains On Washable And Non-Washable Clothes

If you can identify whether your garments can be washed or not – most of the time by looking at the care label – then you can use specific methods to treat the ice cream stain on your clothing items.

For Washable Fabrics

With washable clothing, you can pre-treat it with some acidic liquid such as lemon juice. The more specific step will be introduced right away!

Preparation:

• Lemon juice
• An enzyme detergent
• Baking soda
• Cold water
• A container
• A soft-bristled brush

Step 1: Apply Lemon Juice

Wet your clothes with a little bit of water. Pour some lemon juice on the stain, enough to cover it fully. Then, air dry the clothing under the sun and fresh air.

Step 2: Use Enzyme Detergent

Mix 1 tablespoon of detergent containing enzyme agents with 2 cups of water in a container. Stir until they blend well together. Then, use a clean cloth to dip the solution and blot the stained part. You should not rub too roughly, or else the stain may set into the fibers.

Step 3: Use Baking Soda

If the stain is still there after applying lemon juice and enzyme detergent, sprinkle it with some baking soda until you cannot see the spot anymore. Grab a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush may do) and rub on the stain thoroughly.

Rinse away the stained area with cold water. Check to see if it has gone or not; if it remains, repeat the treatment.

Step 4: Launder And Air Dry Your Garments

Make sure the ice cream stain is no longer there, then bring your treated clothes to wash as you would typically do. You may want to look at the care tag of the clothing to see how you can wash them.

Air dry them as usual. If possible, avoid tumble-drying because the heat from the dryer may set the stain forever.

For Non-Washable Fabrics

You should treat non-washable clothes with a little bit more care. You can use the rubbing alcohol, mild detergent solution and hydrogen peroxide or amniac to treat the ice cream stains on those fabrics, one-by-one.

Preparation:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Mild detergent
• Cold water
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Ammonia
• Clean rag(s)
• An eyedropper

Step 1: Apply Rubbing Alcohol

Dip a clean rag into rubbing alcohol, then blot on the stained area. Leave it to soak into the fibers for 10 minutes, then rinse away all the alcohol with cold water.

Step 2: Prepare Detergent Solution

Mix 1 tablespoon of mild detergent and 2 cups of water. Continue to blot the stain, but with the detergent mixture. Wash the stain. Check to see if it still remains on the fabric. If yes, then move to the next step.

Step 3: Apply Hydrogen Peroxide And Ammonia

Use an eyedropper to get some hydrogen peroxide on your clothing. Then blot the stain with another rag. After that, you can apply ammonia with the same method as peroxide, which is using an eyedropper and blotting.

Step 4: Rinse The Stain

After applying hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, you can wash the stain with water and blot it dry with a clean drag to remove any excess fluid.

The ice cream stains on non-washable garments should have gone by now! If they still sit on your fabric, bring them to a professional cleaner.

Pretreat Old Dried Ice Cream Stains On Your Garments

If the ice cream on your shirt has dried and been on it for quite a while, you need to do some more steps before getting to wash the clothes as usual.

Option 1: Soak In Stain Remover Solution

If you observe a dried ice cream stain on your garment, soak it in the mixture of stain remover and cold water for a few hours. Then bring the clothes to wash as you usually do. The stain should be gone by now, but if it has not, try other options!

Option 2: Use Laundry Detergent

Old ice cream stains should be pretreated with some liquid laundry detergent. Then, you may apply the methods that I have suggested for fresh stains.

Preparation:

• A blunt item
• Laundry detergent

Step 1: Remove The Stain Residue

Use a dull utensil such as a butter knife or a metal spoon to scrape off the ice cream residue as much as you can.

Step 2: Apply Detergent Then Soak

Pour some drops of liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain and rub it gently. Soak the whole thing in cold water for about 30 minutes.

Step 3: Rub The Stained Area

While soaking, rub the stain with your fingers every 3-5 minutes to absorb the liquid detergent and work it best.

Step 4: Follow The Instructions For Fresh Stains

After step 3, you can now follow the specific directions I mentioned above for fresh ice cream stains.

Learn how to deal with the old ice cream stains with some simple steps!

Option 3: Wash With Bleach

With more stubborn stains, you may need to treat it with bleach. You should use mild bleach to maintain the best quality for your garments. Clorox is a great choice in this case.

Preparation:

• Bleach (Clorox)
• Cool water
• Detergent containing enzymes

Step 1: Eliminate The Excess Ice Cream

Take off the clothes (if you can) and rinse them with cool water to get rid of the ice cream residue. Try to act as fast as possible.

Step 2: Soak In The Detergent Solution

Bring your clothing to soak in the detergent solution with cool water. Choose the detergent that consists of enzymes to soften the protein-based stain quicker. Wait for at least half an hour.

Step 3: Wash Treated Garments With Bleach

Bring your soaked clothing items to wash in the washing machine and add the proper version of Clorox to the wash. Air dry them as you wish.

Option 4: Pretreat With Specialized Washing Liquid

Sometimes, when the regular liquid detergent is not enough to treat the dried ice cream stains, you may want to switch to other options like using specialized liquid detergent.

Preparation:

• Specialized liquid laundry detergent
• Cold water
• Washing machine

Step 1: Remove The Excess

Scrape away any excess ice cream stain off the surface of the fabric. Rinse the garment inside out in cold water to dilute the stain.

Step 2: Pretreat The Stain With Liquid Detergent

Pour the liquid detergent on the stain directly and spread the liquid evenly using the pretreat cap.

Step 3: Wash The Pretreated Clothing

Bring your treated garments to wash in the washing machine. Continue to pour an enough amount of liquid laundry detergent onto the piles of clothes in the washer.

Turn on the hottest water setting that your clothing items can withstand. You may want to read the care label first to set it up correctly.

Step 4: Unload Immediately When Finish

Once the washing machine signals that it has finished, unload your washed clothing right away. Then hang them outside for air drying.

Tips To Remember When Removing Ice Cream Stains From Clothing

When treating ice cream stains, especially chocolate ice cream stains, you should keep in mind some tips and tricks so that you won’t accidentally cause further stains on clothes. They are very simple and understandable tips, so try to take notes and apply them!

Act Quickly!

As soon as you notice the ice cream spill on your or your children’s clothing, find something to get rid of it right away. It can be some paper towels, a spoon, or even the edge of an old credit card. Just try to act swiftly so that the stain will get easier to remove.

Read The Care Label At The Beginning

Whatever you do to the garment, you should always check its attached tag first to see if it can endure the detergents that you intend to use. Also, do a patch test if you use the product for the first time.

Avoid Hot Water!

I have mentioned this a lot in the instructions. Since the ice cream stains are protein-based, hot water may cook the stain and let it set further to the fibers. Therefore, it’s recommended to only use cool or cold water to treat this type of stain.

Put A Clean Cloth Under The Garment

While treating the affected clothes with some liquid detergent, you should place a clean cloth behind the stained area so that the liquid can soak through the fabrics.

Don’t Tumble-Dry Your Treated Clothing

Avoid using the dryer to dry the stained clothes because the heat may make the stain stay on the fabric for a long time. If you have to use the dryer, make sure that the ice cream stains have entirely gone.

Use Proper Detergent For Dark-Colored Stains

With dark-colored stains like chocolate ice cream stains, which are more noticeable, you may want to use stronger detergent like bleach to treat them; or repeat the steps in one method if the outcome is not as you wish.

Liquid Detergent Substitutes

You can substitute liquid laundry detergent with dish soap, hand soap, or some other specialized liquids, such as stain remover like Persil Non-Bio. Just use the available one in your house, as long as it is in liquid form.

FAQs

There may be some more questions about this topic since ice cream stains are not easy to deal with! I will list some of the most common questions and answer them for you to understand more about the ways to get rid of ice cream stains.

Have You Known What To Do With An Ice Cream Spill?

I believe that I have provided you with complete and precise instructions on how to get chocolate ice cream out of clothing items. I hope that you have been fully equipped with enough information to handle this kind of stain on your clothes whenever you bump into them.

If you happen to have any more questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself by leaving a short comment below, and I will reply to it right away! Also, don’t forget to like and share the article if you find it helpful and informative!

See you later in the next posts!

References

1. En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Ice cream – Wikipedia. [online] Available at:
2. Healthline. 2021. Ice Cream: Nutrition, Downsides, and Best Choices.