13.01.2021

How to remove turmeric (haldi) and curry stains from clothes

Although a nice curry dish, such as butter chicken, is fantastic to have on your plate, getting it on your clothes on the other hand raises the question – how can you remove turmeric stains? Read on to discover how to tackle the situation in case of a turmeric (haldi) or curry stain emergency.

6 steps to remove turmeric stains from white clothes

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  Step 1

  Act as soon as possible

  When it comes to getting rid of curry stains, timing is everything. It’s best not to wait too long after the accident happened, otherwise you risk the stains setting in. Try to scrape off the excess stain with a spoon as soon as possible, and gently blot it with cold water.

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  Step 2

  Soak

  The next thing you’ll want to do is to fill up your sink or a bucket with cold water, add some Ariel Matic Front Load or Top Load Powder, and let your garment soak for 30 minutes. In case your clothes are white or brightly-coloured, use Ariel Matic Liquid Detergent.

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  Step 3

  Dose

  For effective turmeric stain removal, it’s important to know how to dose powder detergent properly. First, check the dosing instructions on the pack, then measure out the right amount by using the accompanying scoop. If you’re using a top loader or a front loader, dose the detergent and add to the drawer, then add the clothes.
  For brightly coloured garments, choose Ariel Matic Liquid. It comes with a dosing cap that ensures 0% spillage, making your job that much easier. Just measure out the correct amount of liquid detergent and pour the laundry detergent into the drawer of your washing machine.

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  Step 4

  Wash

  Place your garment into your washing machine along with similar items, and wash on the usual cycle, on the hottest wash temperature as indicated by your clothing’s fabric care label.

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  Step 5

  Unload

  When the cycle is complete, unload your clothes immediately. If you can still see the stains, repeat the above steps until they’re completely gone.

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  Step 6

  Drying

  If the curry stain is completely gone and there’s not a cloud outside, hang your garment on a washing line or put it on a drying rack in direct sunlight and let it air dry. Since sun rays work as a natural bleaching agent, it will help keep your white clothes white.

Why is it hard to remove curry stains?

While curry is commonly used to describe a wide range of mouth-watering dishes, it’s also one of the most beloved spice mixes known to man. Composed of cumin, coriander, fenugreek, chilli peppers and turmeric, it’s a rich blend of flavours and colours. It’s also a headache to get rid of once it found its way onto your clothing. The main offender behind curry stain is turmeric, which turns garments yellow thanks to curcumin, a naturally occurring chemical in the spice. Since curcumin is not water-soluble, you have to go further than basic water treatments if you want to get rid of the bright, golden-coloured stain.

How to remove turmeric stains from coloured and delicate clothes

When it comes to removing curry stains from coloured and delicate clothes, the only thing you have to avoid is drying the stained garments in direct sunlight and using bleach, as they can both damage the fabrics and cause the colours to fade. As for the rest, wash as usual, while paying attention to the instructions found on the fabric care labels.

Home remedies for turmeric stains

There are a number of ways you can clean your curry-stained white shirt in case you’ve run out of Ariel at home and need to act fast. Do note that the following advice is only applicable for white clothes, and that if you want the best cleaning result, using laundry detergent is always your best option.

• Alcohol Just simply spot-treat the stain with alcohol, then take a soft sponge and rub it on the fabric to remove the yellow stain.
• Vinegar Vinegar is also effective when it comes to getting rid of curry stains. Just mix one tablespoon of liquid dish washing detergent with a tablespoon of white vinegar and around half a litre of cold water, then apply the solution to the stain with a clean cloth. Use a sponge to soak up the excess liquid, if there is any. Repeat the process until the stain disappears.
• Lemon Slice a lemon into two, squeeze the juice onto the curry stain, then leave it for about 30 minutes. That’s plenty of time to go to the store and buy a pack of Ariel, so that you can then wash your garment as usual, following your clothing’s fabric care label.
• Glycerine First, remove any excess stains from the garment with a spoon or a dull knife, then blot the stain very gently with the towel to get rid of the remaining stain. After this, apply some glycerine on the spot, dab it lightly with your fingers, and leave it to soak for around an hour and go to the store to buy a pack of Ariel. When the time is up, rinse the stained area under cold running water to clear away the glycerine. Finally, you can wash the clothing at the highest safe temperature as indicated on your garment’s fabric care label, then just dry the piece outside.
  Curry stains are not the only tough stains in your household, you’ve also got grease, kitchen stains, turmeric stains, and paint ready to mess up your clothes. Luckily, Ariel offers outstanding stain removal results in 1 wash.

FAQs on how to remove turmeric (haldi) and curry stains

• Why aren’t turmeric stains removed from clothes after washing with soap? Turmeric stains are very persistent, so a simple soap is not always enough to remove them. Your best bet is to go for a laundry detergent that is specifically developed to remove stains like this.
• How do you get dried curry stains out of clothes? To make sure that you remove the curry stain you’re dealing with properly, use a pre-treating solution of water mixed with laundry detergent, soak the garment in it for an hour, then wash it normally.
• Does vinegar remove curry stains? Mixing some vinegar with dish soap and blotting the curry stain on your garment with a sponge may help remove the stain, but bear in mind that pre-treating it with laundry detergent mixed with water will surely give you better results.
• Can lemon remove turmeric stains? Putting a mixture of lemon and water on the turmeric stain and blotting it with a sponge can help lift it, but if you want to be more effective, you should use water mixed with laundry detergent as pre-treatment.