Turmeric is an essential ingredient of Indian cuisine. It is a spicy spice extracted from the root of a plant called curcuma longa, belonging to the zingiberaceae family. Unfortunately, it is also the cause of some of the most stubborn stains there is. Dirtying a dress or cloth with turmeric immediately dyes the fabric a bright yellow. Once the stain sets in, the damage can be almost irreparable. In any case, if you intervene immediately and act quickly, it may be possible to minimize the stain or even completely remedy it with one of the methods (or all) outlined in this article. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Pretreat the Stain
Step 1. Quickly remove excess turmeric
When you get stained with turmeric, it is essential to take action right away. It is no coincidence that this spice is used as a fabric dye in many parts of the world: once it sets, it is very difficult to remove. As soon as you notice a stain on clothing or other fabric, immediately use a clean spoon to wipe off any excess turmeric. Then, rinse with water and pat dry with a towel. Resist the temptation to scrub or scrub, as this can cause the stain to expand or pulverize it between the fibers.
Another traditional solution, sometimes used to remove liquid turmeric stains, is to sprinkle absorbent powder (such as flour, cornmeal, or baking soda) around the stain and leave it on. Within a few minutes, the powder should absorb some of the liquid, which allows you to brush it off safely
Step 2. Pre-treat with detergent
Pour a few drops of all-purpose liquid detergent directly onto the stain and gently scrub with a soft toothbrush or towel soaked in water. Rub both sides of the fabric with the detergent for several minutes (trying not to puncture it), then leave it on for about 10 minutes for the product to be absorbed by the fibers.
Do not scrub with a toothbrush or dry towel: use it only with water and detergent. As stated earlier, using a dry tool can cause the turmeric to pulverize between the fibers, so it will be even more difficult to remove
Part 2 of 5: Wash the Turmeric Stains
Step 1. Wash in warm or hot water
Put the item of clothing or cloth in the washing machine and set the temperature as high as possible. Use the same type and amount of detergent you would use for this dress or cloth. Run a wash cycle at the maximum temperature indicated on the item's label.
If you have a load of similar clothes to wash, you can add the stained piece to avoid wasting water
Step 2. Let the piece dry in direct sunlight
Once the wash cycle is complete, remove the item from the washer and observe the stain (the severe stains may not disappear after this first attempt). If it's a nice day, hang the cloth by a thread or on the clothesline in the open air so that it dries in direct sunlight. The whitening power of the sun is well documented. In fact, in the past, it was one of the main ways to keep white clothing white. Sun drying can help minimize turmeric stains on clothing of any color. However, note that the sun's rays cause a slight discoloration of colored garments, so you may want to avoid this technique for particularly brightly colored clothes.
Do not leave any type of clothing or cloth (not even whites) exposed to the sun for days on end. This can accelerate the natural wear of the fabric by weakening the fibers and making them prone to breaking
Step 3. Repeat as needed
Turmeric stains can be quite persistent. Almost always, it is preferable to pre-treat the stained dress or cloth with detergent and then wash it, but this will not necessarily remove the stain on the first try. Be prepared to repeat this cycle several times for the purpose of getting noteworthy results (or, alternatively, try one of the other home remedies outlined below).
Part 3 of 5: Bleaching the Whites
Step 1. Bleach white fabrics
Bleaching is another solution you can try to treat whites. This potent and corrosive substance can wash the color out of fabric pretty quickly, so it's a good choice for removing turmeric from white pieces. Try adding a few tablespoons of bleach to a bucket of hot water and soak the white items in the solution for about 15 minutes. Afterward, wash them as usual.
- A clarification: you shouldn't use this method for colored clothes. Exposure to bleach can cause bright colors to fade immediately. In high doses, it can even remove color completely.
- Also, you must avoid using bleach for silk, wool or mohair, as it can irreparably damage these fibers. For white pieces of silk or wool, try using hydrogen peroxide, a gentler alternative.
Part 4 of 5: Treatment with Home Remedies
Step 1. Try using a paste-based solution of baking soda
The natural properties of classic baking soda offer an easy remedy to get rid of turmeric stains. To try this method, pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into a small bowl, then add a small amount of water to create a thick, moist solution. Before washing the garment, scrub the turmeric stains with the solution using a soft toothbrush or towel. Alternatively, use the solution to remove stains from hard surfaces such as kitchen countertops - baking soda is a mild abrasive.
Baking soda is a very effective cleaning substance for several reasons. With its crystalline structure, it is a mild abrasive, so it is not aggressive on most surfaces. Its slight alkalinity allows it to dissolve the fat. Plus, it's a natural deodorant, so it's especially useful even if it doesn't get rid of the turmeric stain
Step 2. Use a vinegar-based cleaning solution
Another easy home remedy for fighting stains (including turmeric stains) is white vinegar. Try mixing 1 or 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 120ml of isopropyl alcohol (or 500ml of a solution of warm water and dish soap). Then, soak a rag in this solution and gently place it on a fresh turmeric stain. Blot with a dry cloth to absorb the liquid. Repeat for several minutes and let it dry. After a few attempts, you should observe that the natural acidity of the vinegar will begin to fade the stain.
Use only white vinegar, never red or balsamic vinegar. These alternatives contain dyes that can in turn cause hard-to-remove stains
Step 3. Treat stains with glycerin
Glycerin is a chemical compound produced during the soap making process and the processing of animal fats. Generally, it is available in pharmacies and low-cost specialty stores. Combined with the classic dish detergent and water, it gives you a powerful cleaning solution, ideal for fighting even the most stubborn of stains. Try mixing about 60ml of glycerin with 60ml of dish soap and 500ml of water. Then, soak a cloth in this solution and gently rub it (or, if it's a fabric, dab it) on the turmeric stain to treat it.
Step 4. Try treating hard surfaces with mild abrasives
For areas like kitchen worktops, stoves and floors, you don't need to tread as gently as you would with other types of clothes and cloths. In these cases, try combining any of the cleaning methods outlined in this article with a mildly abrasive product to get rid of the stain. Regular and abrasive sponges, brushes and rags are all useful tools for scrubbing and removing turmeric stains from hard surfaces. Abrasive solutions, such as the sodium bicarbonate one described above, are also effective. However, do not use harsh abrasive tools (such as steel wool) or metal scrapers, as they can leave permanent scratches on the surface.
- Before using an abrasive product, try to wet the stain using a solution of hot water and detergent for 5 minutes. In this way, the cleansing effectiveness will be even more effective.
- Try buying a magic eraser or similar sponge. Usually, it is available in supermarkets or hypermarkets at a fairly low price. Its operation is based on a microscopic abrasive action that effectively removes stains.
Step 5. You could soak the stain in baking soda
Some home cleaning experts trust the effectiveness of clear, carbonated, and flavorless beverages (such as sparkling or sparkling mineral water) to clean. Others, however, argue that they are no more effective than smooth water. In any case, there is very little scientific evidence for either theory. However, since carbonated water is very delicate, it definitely won't damage any turmeric-stained fabric, clothing, or surface, so you can try it worry-free. Try soaking a rag of sparkling water and placing it on a cool stain. Alternatively, pour soda water over a stain that affects a hard surface. Leave it on for 5 minutes, then scrub with a sponge or rag to remove the stain.
Do not use tonic water or a clear carbonated soft drink: although their appearance is identical to that of plain carbonated water, these drinks contain sugar, which can cause a sticky effect once the fabric has dried
Part 5 of 5: Saving a Permanently Stained Boss
Step 1. Knot-dye the fabric
Sometimes, it is useless to soak, pre-treat, dry, wash and repeat these steps several times: there are turmeric stains that are impossible to remove. In this case, you don't necessarily have to throw away the stained dress or wear it despite the stain. Instead, try to modify it so that this imperfection is no longer a problem. For example, if it's a light-colored garment with a visible turmeric stain, try knot-dyeing it. Hide the stain by creating a swirl of bright colors and no one will notice.
Step 2. Dye the entire garment
If the dress has several noticeable spots of turmeric, you can simply try dyeing the entire piece the same color as the spice. Turmeric, which is sometimes used intentionally to dye fabrics, is easy to use even for someone who has never dyed a garment. This procedure usually allows you to obtain a final product of a color that ranges from bright yellow to orange red. As a result, it will help you enrich the summer wardrobe.
Online, you can find several instructions for using turmeric for the purpose of dyeing a garment (for example, click on this link)
Step 3. Cover the flaw with an embroidered decoration
If the stain is in a strategic position, you may be able to cover it with a decoration. For example, if the stain is in the exact center of the front of a shirt, embroider an elaborate, floral logo on the blemish, so it will hide it and give you the opportunity to make this garment truly unique. If you feel like creating an asymmetrical pattern, you can theoretically decorate any part of the garment with embroidery, so let your creativity run wild.
Step 4. Recycle the fabric
Despite all the treatments tried, some stained clothes just seem unrecoverable. Not only has the stain become irremediably fixed, you can't even cover or hide it with changes to a work of art. In these cases, think twice before throwing the garment away. Stained clothing can offer you fabric in perfect condition to recycle in a wide variety of ways. Here is a list of some of the possible uses you can give to a fabric made from a stained garment:
- Curtains.
- Duvet covers.
- Tea towels.
- Hair bands / cuffs
- Coatings.
- Rags.
