How to Remove Stubborn Turmeric Stains From Clothes Naturally

Did you know turmeric is a part of Ayurveda? It comes from the species of curcuma and has been used for centuries. We can notice turmeric being a part of several Indian delicacies. Indian golden milk, primarily consisting of turmeric powder, is a great example of this. Every Indian mother knows the importance of turmeric in her dals, sabzis, curries, and several other savoury dishes. But what happens when the same dal ends up staining your clothes? This could be your birthday dress, your office kurti, your gym workout set, and any other type of clothing. Instead of cursing and being frustrated, here are a few ways by which you can remove stubborn turmeric stains on your clothes.

A] What Makes Turmeric Stains Hard To Remove From Clothes?

Turmeric originates from curcumin, recognised for its strong pigment. You would have noticed that washing with water does not work well with turmeric stains. This is because turmeric is hydrophobic in nature. This is why unconventional methods such as baking soda and dish soap, among others, are often recommended. We’ll dive more into this later; first, let’s understand the why of these stains. One strong factor is its suitability for fibre structure. Fibres like cotton and linen absorb the pigment quite easily when compared to others. Did you know even temperature has a role in all of this? To understand this phenomenon better, let’s decode what your immediate response should be after a turmeric spill.

B] What Should Your Response Be After A Turmeric Spill?

An immediate response to your turmeric stain will work better. If you keep the stain for a long time, chances are it will become more difficult to remove. Here are a few steps to take after you notice a vibrant yellow turmeric stain on your clothes:

Separate the stained clothes from others. This will prevent staining other clothes. Next, take these clothes to your basin or any other similar place where you can wash comfortably. 

Here’s how to remove turmeric stains from your clothes based on their material:

• How to remove turmeric stains from cotton or linen clothes

Wash the stain with some cold or normal-temperature water. Take some vinegar solution and pour some into the cap of your vinegar. Now spread the required amount to the affected area. Bring in some baking soda from your kitchen and mix all of this. You can use a spoon for the same. Wash with normal water, and dry the cloth in sunlight. Repeat the vinegar and baking soda step only if required.

• How to remove turmeric stains from silk or other delicate fabric clothes

Use cold milk to remove turmeric stains from silk or other similar fabrics. Using a harsh detergent here can easily damage the fabric structure. Avoid the use of alcohol-based treatments as well. 

• How to remove turmeric stains from polyester, nylon, or other similar fabrics

For materials like polyester, rayon, and others, combine dishwashing liquid with baking soda. You can use an old toothbrush for this purpose. Next, you can follow up with the earlier-mentioned steps. This includes washing with cold water and drying in natural sunlight.

If you are struggling with other stains like tea, explore our guide on How to Remove Tea Stains From Clothes.

C] Home Remedies To Remove Stubborn Turmeric Stains From Clothes

• Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

Both lemons and baking soda are easily available ingredients in your home. Just chop some lemon and remove the juice into a small bowl. Now, put this onto the affected area and later sprinkle some baking soda. Gently scrub with a cloth or brush and notice the stain disappear. Follow up with cold or normal water as mentioned earlier.

• Vinegar and Talcum Powder

Take some vinegar from your kitchen and some talcum powder from your mom’s cabinet. First, pour the vinegar, followed by the talcum powder. Combining these two is sure to make even the old stains disappear. Follow up with the same steps as mentioned earlier. 

D] How To Remove Stubborn Turmeric Stains From Coloured Clothes

• For Pastel-coloured Clothes 

For pastel colours like yellow, blue, pink, and others, you can mix vinegar with a mild dish soap. For extra protection, you can also add a colour-protect detergent from a trusted brand. To avoid spoiling the good pastel tone, use professional services that incorporate colour-safe agents for stain removal.

• For Dark-coloured Clothes

Dark colours like black, army green, navy blue, and maroon, if not treated properly, can create random faded spots on your clothes. To prevent this, grab some glycerine to spot treat, and later treat it with cold water. 

• For Bright-coloured Clothes

The vibrancy of neon or bright colours in orange, green, red, pink, and more can easily become dull if not treated properly. Use of baking soda combined with a few drops of liquid soap can come to your rescue here. 

E] Common Mistakes To Avoid

To protect your fabric from damage, below are some common mistakes which should be avoided:

• Scrubbing Harshly

Don’t scrub too harshly or too fast, as that can damage the fabric quite easily. A better way to do this is to use a cloth or brush. 

• Using Hot Water

Use of hot water can be counterproductive. You can see we have recommended using cold or normal water multiple times throughout this article. 

• Use of Too Much Detergent

Using too much detergent can potentially irritate your skin. Use of mild detergents is a better option. It is better to use pH-balanced, enzyme-based, or oxygen bleach detergents that are generally considered safe for use.

F] Additional Tips To Prevent Turmeric Stains On Clothes

Wear an apron while eating. This will prevent any sudden spills while eating. Choose a good-quality apron made from stain-resistant fabric, such as polyester, for less hassle. You can also use napkins, which serve the same purpose. This will be especially useful if you have a baby at home. Stain sprays are also a great way to remove any stubborn stains instantly. Stain removal pens have also become quite popular owing to their small size. This makes it possible to carry them anywhere. Advice like wearing dark-coloured clothes where the possibility of a spill is high can be followed.

Choose the Best Dry Cleaning & Laundry Services in Vile Parle for effective stain removal solutions.

G] Use Of Professional Services For Haldi Stain Removal From Clothes

Professional services make use of: 

• Solvent-Based Instead of Water-Based Cleaning Techniques

Solvent-based measures instead of water-based ones help erase stubborn oil-based turmeric stains quite easily. 

• Specialised Stain-Lifting Agents

Carefully formulated stain-lifting agents like pre-treatment sprays, pH-balanced detergents, and multi-step treatments are often part of laundry services. This helps minimise the chemical damage while preserving the original fabric and texture.

• Steam Finishing

Steam penetrates the fabric, which makes the residue easy to remove. Steam finishing is especially recommended for delicate fabrics such as silk, satin, or other similar fabrics. 

• Use of Spot Testing

Spot testing is often recommended for any haldi stain removal method, even the home-based ones. This is because the wrong cleaning method can damage your fabric beyond repair.

H] Have Stained Clothes? Choose Fabricare Laundry Services

For stained clothes, solutions like solvent application, gentle agitation, post-treatment brighteners, or neutralisers can be used depending on the intensity of the stain and type of fabric. All the above-mentioned services are offered by Fabricare, an expert provider of professional laundry and dry cleaning services in Mumbai. We’re located in Vile Parle and provide services across Juhu, Andheri, Saki Naka, Santacruz, and Powai. To know more benefits from our services, contact us today.