Washing machines may take the stress out of doing laundry but sometimes you have to scrub your clothes the old fashioned way in the sink to remove stubborn stains - particularly chocolate. Chocolate is notoriously messy once it starts to melt and if it gets onto your clothes it can be difficult to remove. With Easter just around the corner there is lots of chocolate eating  to be enjoyed, which means sticky fingers - and inevitably stained clothes. 

Chocolate stains are particularly tricky to remove as it contains oils, like cocoa butter, which can create greasy spots, while the dark pigments leave a visible mark on your clothes. And the longer you leave it, the harder it is to get out. But cleaning experts say liquid dish soap is the key to easily lifting chocolate stains out of clothes and you can pick up a bottle for as little as 64p from some major supermarkets.

Before applying dish soap to the stain, experts say you should first scrape off an extra chocolate using a spoon or a dull knife, before blotting the area with a clean cloth.

Then add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap to cold water (never use hot) and gently rub this directly into the stain using a new cloth. Allow the garment to soak in cold water for around 15 to 30 minutes after applying the liquid soap, and then wash in the washing machine as usual.

Cleaning service The Maids explains: “Regular liquid laundry detergent is effective against grease, oil, dirt, and more, so when you use it straight out of the bottle, the detergent is a great stain pre-treater and stain remover. 

“Gently rub liquid detergent into the chocolate stain from both sides of the fabric. Let it sit for five minutes. Without rinsing, soak the clothing in cold water for 15 minutes. About every five minutes, give the stained area a scrubbing using your thumb and fingers on opposite sides of the fabric to loosen more of the oils and tannins.”

Hotel Chocolat adds: “We strongly recommend using cold water as it prevents the stain from travelling across the garment. Remember, chocolate contains cocoa butter, which melts when heated. 

“If you use warm water then you risk more chocolate spreading across the fabric as the remaining chocolate pieces on your clothing melt further.”