Although a nice curry dish, such as butter chicken, is fantastic to have on your plate, getting it on your clothes raises the question of how to remove turmeric stains. Read on to discover how to tackle a turmeric (haldi) or curry stain emergency.
Why is it hard to remove turmeric and curry stains?
Although 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 has found its way onto your clothing. The main offender behind curry stains is turmeric, which turns garments yellow thanks to curcumin, a naturally occurring chemical in the spice. Because 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.
6 steps to remove turmeric stains from white clothes
1
Act 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to remove turmeric and curry stains from white clothes
Turmeric or curry stain on a white garment can seem a nightmare at first, but Ariel can help! For your whites, choose Ariel Complete Washing Powder, pour some onto your curry or turmeric stain, and let it sit. Without rinsing off the detergent, put your garments into the washer, and wash them as normal. If the stain is completely gone, dry them in direct sunlight, which works as a natural bleaching agent, keeping your white clothes white.
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
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 curry or turmeric from the garment with a spoon or a dull knife, then blot the stain very gently with a towel to get rid of the remaining residue. After this, apply some glycerine on the spot, dab it lightly with your fingers, and leave it to soak for around an hour, while you 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.
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FAQs on how to remove turmeric (haldi) and curry stains
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