Chocolate is one of the most popular candies in the world. And if you have a sweet tooth, it’s probably one of your favorites, too. But even though chocolate is the perfect sweet treat, when it ends up on your couch instead of in your mouth, those couch stains can spell disaster for your furniture.

Couch stains can be really hard to get out of your furniture. And when that happens, it’s really easy to panic. But the good news is that you can restore your couch to its former glory. And fortunately, expert Jason Vishnefske from Santa Barbara Chocolate is here to share his professional tips and tricks on just how to do it. Here’s how you can remove annoying chocolate stains from your couch.

Blot, don’t rub.

When finding a stain on their couch, a lot of people immediately try to scrub it away. And while acting fast is best when it comes to removing couch stains, responding in a panic is actually doing more harm than good.

To avoid making a bigger mess, Jason says to try “blotting the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel to remove as much excess chocolate as possible. Avoid rubbing the stain, as this can spread it further and embed it deeper into the fibers.”

Gently scrub with a soft brush or sponge.

After you’ve gotten as much of that stain out as possible, it’s time to tackle whatever residue is left behind. To do this, simply combine a small amount of mild detergent with water, then use a soft-bristled brush or sponge on the area to buff the stain out.

Pro Tip: Working with water on upholstery can be tricky, depending on the type of fabric covering you have. In order to keep your upholstery looking nice, Jason advises you to “be careful not to oversaturate the fabric, as this can lead to water stains or damage to the upholstery.”

Try a vinegar solution.

For those annoying stains that just won’t go away, you have to bring out the big guns. Vinegar is a powerful natural cleaner that can tackle even the toughest of stains. And when you mix equal parts white vinegar and water, it can work wonders for removing those dreaded chocolate stains that won’t come out.

“Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, then dab the solution onto the stain with a cloth. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before blotting it up with a clean, damp cloth,” Jason says.

Let the area dry completely before re-checking the stain. It should be completely gone, but if not, start the process again until the stains are fully dissolved.

Consider using a stain remover.

If you’ve tried the vinegar solution but the couch stains still won’t let up, you’ll need to move on to plan B — a.k.a. a commercial stain remover.

But before you break out your removal product, make sure that it’s specially made for upholstery. Using the wrong cleaning product on your upholstery can ruin it. So to keep this from happening, always do a patch test first to make sure it won’t mess up the fabric when you apply it to a larger area.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Chocolate and other couch stains can be really hard to remove. And when you’ve tried just about everything, but the staining is still there, it may be time to call a professional for help.

Professional cleaners specialize in the art of stain removal. They have everything you need to get rid of pretty much any stain, anywhere in your home, and especially on upholstery.