Although a nice curry dish, such as chicken tikka masala, is fantastic to have on your plate, getting it on your clothes on the other hand is not so great.
What is curry, is it really that hard to clean curry stains out of your clothes, and what is the best course of action to take when the inevitable accident occurred? Follow our how to remove curry stains guide and find out for yourself!
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, chili 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.
Removing curry stains from white clothes
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.
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 clothing soak for 30 minutes. In case your clothes are brightly coloured, use Ariel Matic Liquid Detergent.
Step 3
Dose
For effective 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 to the drawer, and 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.
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 indicated by your clothing’s fabric care label.
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.
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 sunrays work as a natural bleaching agent, it will help keep your white clothes white.
Removing curry stains from colours and delicates
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
There are a number of ways you can clean your curry-stained shirt in case you’ve run out of Ariel at home and need to act fast. Mind you that the following advice is only applicable for white clothes.
- 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 is no more.
- LEMON: You know the saying: When life gives you curry stains, apply lemon to them. First off, go to your kitchen, open the fridge, and look for the yellow fruit. Next, slice it into two and 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: For this last one, you’ll need a spoon or a dull knife, a kitchen towel, glycerine, and some laundry detergent. First off, remove any excess stains from the garment, 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. 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.