Many things can happen in a kitchen, especially with all the ingredients involved in cooking. Your clothes are very much susceptible to stains as you carry on with the necessary processes to finish your dish.
Knowing hacks and styles in removing stains is always handy; this involves learning how to get turmeric stains out of clothes.
Turmeric and The Kitchen
Turmeric can be both familiar and unfamiliar, depending on the place of origin. However, it is undeniable that turmeric exists in many households and is actively used in the kitchen and many dishes.
Turmeric is a popular spice from Curcuma longa roots and is under the ginger family.
This spice is not only used for food but also medicinal purposes like the following
- Reducing swelling
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Conjunctivitis
- Smallpox
- Chickenpox
- Skin cancer
- Urinary tract infections
- Chronic anterior uveitis
- High cholesterol
- Liver diseases
- itching
Turmeric’s yellow color
Turmeric comes in yellow powder form, which is familiar to people who usually cook food with this spice. Turmeric is also used as a coloring agent for other yellow things like cheese, butter, curry powder, mustard, and many more.
Given the turmeric’s bright yellow color, it risks staining clothes, whether they may be light-colored or dark. In these instances, it’s essential to know what to do, avoiding worst-case scenarios.
Turmeric is usually used in dying clothes because of its capability to bind its color onto the fabric. This means that turmeric has the ability to stain your clothes permanently if not treated the right way.
Getting Rid of Turmeric Stains Out of White Clothes
If you happen to like curry and other dishes that have turmeric in their recipes, then it’s not impossible to get your clothes and your home stained with turmeric now and then.
These stains are especially noticeable when they happen to stain your white clothes. To remove it, you would need to prepare the following things
- Bleach
- Hot water
Steps
- Create a mixture with a few capfuls of bleach and hot water.
- Soak the fabric in the mix for 15 minutes.
- Wash as you usually do.
Another method of removing turmeric stains from an article of white clothing involves the following materials
- Baking soda
- Water
- Toothbrush (soft-bristled) or any cloth capable of removing through rubbing
Steps
- Get the baking soda and mix it with a bit of water, creating a paste.
- Use the paste and apply it to the stained area.
- Use the brush or a cloth to rub and work the paste into the areas gently.
- Proceed to wash your clothing item as you usually would. However, if you are using a washing machine, it’s advised to use the cold water cycle setting.
- Air dry in the sun. Not only will it dry quickly, but the sun also helps in natural bleaching.
Removing Turmeric Stains With Sanitizer and Baking Soda
This duo also helps in turmeric stain removal. Hand sanitizers are usually readily available at home, and baking soda. Baking soda is typically considered a staple product at home used in cooking and cleaning.
Because the primary materials for this method are prevalent, they make the baking soda and hand sanitizer process very doable and convenient. The materials you would need are as follows
- Hand sanitizer
- Laundry detergent
- Baking soda
- A soft brush or cloth ideal for rubbing and scrubbing
- A blunt knife or spoon
- Clean paper towel or any clean towel
Steps
- After getting an area stained, immediately search for something blunt and flat, a tool to scrape excess turmeric gently. Gently scoop extra turmeric off the site.
- Locate every area that’s been affected and rinse them with water.
- Get a clean towel or a set of clean paper towels to dab on the wet areas. Gently dab and pat the areas rinsed to suck up moisture. Remember to avoid scrubbing and rubbing the stained area as this may further sink the stain deeper into the fabric or spread it.
- Time for some pre-treatment! First, get some hand sanitizer and put some on the stained areas. Sanitizers are usually equipped with alcohol which helps break down the stain.
- Another pre-treatment solution would be liquid laundry detergent.
- You can also pair this with the popular stain hack using baking soda. To create the paste, mix baking soda with a bit of water.
- Apply the paste onto the stain and use the brush or cloth to rub and work the paste into the stain. Leave the paste for 10 minutes before proceeding to the next step.
- After doing either or combining these processes, wash your clothes as you usually do. It’s paramount that you set your washer to the cold rinse cycle. The detergent should also be as much as you typically use.
- Air dry your clothes as much as possible. The sun’s heat has natural bleaching effects, so if you happen to treat bright-colored fabrics, it would be better to hang them inside.
Removing Turmeric Stains Using Lemon Juice and Laundry Detergent
Lemon
Lemon juice not only quenches your thirst but can also help remove stains. For this method, you will need to prepare the following things. This method can be done whether you are at home or outside eating dishes with turmeric as one of the ingredients.
- Lemon juice or ice cube
- Water
Steps
- Rinse the stain immediately.
- If you are in a public place and can’t remove your clothes, locate the stained area and work an ice cube into it.
- If there is lemon juice or a slice of lemon available, use it and apply it to the stained area. Do this for 15 minutes. Do gentle rubs instead of complicated and torrid rubs to push the stains further into the fabric.
- Relax and wait until you get home and immediately wash your clothes as you usually would.
Laundry detergent
As common as this sounds, laundry detergents are very helpful in removing stains. This is why laundry detergent is the most convenient washing tool to purchase.
Turmeric stains can be stubborn, so using detergent would be beneficial to do the following technique. The materials you would need are the following
- Water
- Laundry detergent
Steps
- After being stained, if you can remove your clothes, it would be better as it would be more accessible for you.
- Remember to use cold water and rinse the stained area.
- Make a mixture with cold water and laundry detergent.
- Get the piece of clothing and soak it in the mixture for at least 20 minutes.
- Wash the fabric as you usually do, and make sure you use the cold water cycle.
- Check whether you got rid of the stain completely. If you deem that it needs another round of washing, toss it in the washer again to altogether remove the stain.
It’s important to note that the answer would always be cold water when choosing between hot and cold water for turmeric stains. Hot water would only encourage the stain and help it set onto the fabric.
When washing in the washer, it’s essential to use the cold water cycle. This also goes for rinsing. Always use cold water.
Removing Turmeric Stains Using Baking Soda
For this method, you would only need the following things
- Baking soda
- Small bowl for the mixture
- Water
- Soft bristles brush or cloth
Steps
- Get your baking soda and add a couple of spoonfuls into a small bowl.
- Add a little water, just enough to create a paste.
- Use a soft-bristled brush and cloth to work the paste into the stained area.
You can also use this paste whenever dealing with turmeric stains on the kitchen counter or some other material in the kitchen.
Getting Rid of Turmeric Stains Using Vinegar
Vinegar is not solely used for cooking but also cleaning. It has proven its effectiveness for stain removal many times. Combining vinegar with other cleaning agents helps in removing tough stains.
For this method, you would need to prepare the following things
- White vinegar
- Rubbing alcohol
- Warm water (2 cups)
- Dish soap
- Soft cloth for dabbing into the stain
- Dry cloth
Steps
- Locate the stained areas and use the soft cloth, scoop it into the mixture, and dab it into the stained area.
- Immediately follow up with the dry cloth and blot using it absorbing moisture.
- Repeat these steps several times or for as long as you need and as many minutes as you deem required.
- After repeatedly doing the steps, the vinegar should have done its job and broken down the stain.
It’s important to note that you should only use white vinegar. Using red wine or balsamic vinegar is not recommended as they will only make it harder to remove the stain as they are usually used as dyes.
Summary
Turmeric has been used in a lot of dishes all over the world. The commonness of turmeric spice in dishes and even drinks makes it very easy for individuals to get their clothes stained.
When caught up in these situations, it’s essential to know how to get turmeric stain out of clothes.
Jessica Oliver is a fashion enthusiast with more than ten years of experience in the industry. She previously managed her own clothing store in New York before becoming a mother of three. With a passion for sustainability and a desire to share clothing care and recycling tips.