Chocolate stained clothes will look 'good as new' if soaked in 1 product before washing

is over for another year, and it's likely you spent the weekend indulging in plenty of chocolate treats. However, one of the only downsides of this sweet delight is how easily it can clothes.

Whether you've got messy kids at home or you've simply fallen victim to the plight of a chocolate stain, trying to get the clean again can be a nightmare. The reason chocolate stains so easily is because cocoa powder contains dark tannins, with the oil content of cocoa butter also posing difficulty. However, it's easier to get rid of chocolate stains than you might think.

The cleaning and laundry experts at Cleanipedia say you can banish chocolate stains and make your clothes look as 'good as new' if you soak them in one very simple household staple before putting them in the washing machine.

Showing off a stained white vest top that she'd found at the bottom of her son's wardrobe, she hailed the 'trick' to banishing those tough marks - salt and cold water. This combination works wonders at getting rid of stains fast, without damaging the fabric of your clothes.

The great thing about this hack is that you don't even need to do any scrubbing. Simply add two spoonfuls of salt to a basin or bucket and fill with cold water before adding in the stained clothing and allowing it to sit for around two hours.

Then, when the time is up, grab some detergent and use your fingertips to gently rub the stain to remove any stubborn remains before you put it in the washing machine, cleaning as normal.

After the cycle was complete, she took the now-pristine white vest out of the washing machine, declaring it looked 'good as new'.

Salt and cold water together can be used to tackle a huge array of tough stains, including blood and grease, so it's well worth adding it to your laundry routine.

And the reason you should use cold water instead of warm is because cold water prevents the binding between proteins from the stain and the fabric, making the removal process so much easier.