How to Remove Turmeric Stains

Last Updated: December 15, 2021 References Tested

Turmeric, a zesty, peppery spice derived from the ground up root of a plant in the ginger family, is an essential ingredient in Indian cooking. Unfortunately, it's also the source of some of the most stubborn stains around. Spilling turmeric on clothing or fabric rapidly dyes the clothing a bright yellow. Once it sets, this stain can be almost impossible to remove. However, if you catch the stain early and act fast, it can be possible minimize the stain or even remove it entirely using one (or all) of the methods in this article. See Step 1 below to get started!

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Pre-Treating the Stain

1
Remove excess turmeric quickly. When it comes to turmeric stains, time is of the essence. Turmeric is used as a fabric dye in many parts of the world for a reason — once it sets in, it's very tricky to get out.^{[1]
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Research source} As soon as you notice a stain on your clothing or fabric, immediately use a clean spoon to remove any excess turmeric that may be present. Then, rinse with water and dab with a towel. Treating with hand sanitizer and then rinsing may also be effective on less-porous surfaces. Resist the urge to rub or scrub, as this can spread the stain or grind it in.
- Another traditional solution sometimes used to remove liquid turmeric stains is to pack absorbent powder (like flour, cornmeal, or baking soda) around the stain and allow it to sit. Within a few minutes, you should notice the powder soaking up some of the liquid, which allows it to safely be brushed away.
2
Pre-treat with detergent. Pour a small dab of all-purpose liquid detergent directly onto the stain and scrub gently with a soft toothbrush or towel soaked with water. Scrub both sides of the fabric with detergent for several minutes (taking care not to wear a hole into the fabric), then let it sit for about 10 minutes to allow the detergent to soak in.
- Don't scrub with a dry brush or towel — only use water and detergent. As noted above, rubbing with a dry tool can grind the turmeric into the fabric, making it even trickier to remove.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Washing turmeric stains

1
Wash in warm or hot water. Drop your garment or fabric into the washing machine and wash it on the hottest setting. Add the same type and amount of detergent as you normally would for the garment. Wash for one cycle on the hottest setting allowed on the item's care label.
- If you have a load of similar clothing, you can also wash it with your stained garment to avoid wasting water.
2
Dry in direct sunlight. After your garment has finished washing, remove it and inspect the stain (serious stains may not yet have disappeared). If the weather outside is good, hang your clothing out to dry on a wire or drying rack in direct sunlight. The bleaching power of the sun is well-documented — in fact, in the past, it was one of the main ways people kept their whites white.^{[2]
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Research source} Sun drying can help minimize turmeric stains on any color of garment. However, note that sun drying cause colored fabrics to fade slightly, so you may want to avoid using this technique for especially brightly-colored clothes.
- Don't leave any sort of clothing or fabric (even whites) in the sun for days on end. This can accelerate the natural wear and tear of the fabric, leading to weakened fibers and a susceptibility to tearing.
3
Repeat as needed. Turmeric stains can be remarkably persistent. While quickly pre-treating with detergent and washing your soiled garment or fabric is almost always a wise choice, it may not necessarily remove your stain on the first attempt. Be ready to repeat this cycle several times for the best results (or, as an alternative, try subbing in one of the home remedies below).

Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Bleaching Whites

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Bleach white fabrics. One extra option that you have for treating white fabrics is bleach. This powerful, corrosive detergent can strip the color from fabric remarkably quickly, making it a great choice for removing turmeric from your whites. Try adding a few spoonfuls of bleach to a bucket of hot water and soaking your white clothes in this wash for about 15 minutes before sending them through the wash.
- To be clear, you will probably not want to use this method for colored clothing. Exposure to bleach can cause bright colors to rapidly fade — in high doses, it can even remove the color entirely.
- You will also want to avoid using bleach for silk, wool, or mohair, as it can permanently damage these fabrics. For white silks and wools, try using hydrogen peroxide, a milder alternative.

Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Treating with Home Remedies

1
Try using baking soda paste. One easy stain-removal trick uses the natural properties of everyday baking soda to beat tough turmeric stains. To try this method, scoop a few spoonfuls of baking soda into a small bowl, then add a small amount of water to make a thick, moist paste. Use a soft toothbrush or towel to scrub turmeric stains in fabric with the paste before running them through the wash. Alternatively, use the paste as a very mild abrasive to help take stains out of hard surfaces like kitchen counter tops.
- Baking soda is a great cleaning agent for several reasons — it's crystal structure makes it mildly abrasive without making it damaging to most surfaces, its mild alkalinity allows it to cut through grease, and it's a natural deodorizer, which can be particularly useful even if won't remove your turmeric stain.^{[3]
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2
Use a cleaning solution with vinegar. Another easy home remedy for fighting stains (including those from turmeric) is white vinegar. Try mixing a tablespoon or two with about 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol or 2 cups of warm water and dish soap, then soaking a rag and gently soaking a fresh turmeric stain. Blot with a dry cloth to absorb the liquid. Repeat for several minutes and allow to dry. Over several repetitions, you should notice the vinegar's natural acidity cause the stain to begin to fade.
- Only use white vinegar — never red wine or balsamic. These alternatives can contain dyes that can cause their own tough-to-remove stains.
3
Treat stains with glycerin. Glycerin, also known as glycerine, is a natural chemical produced in the process of making soap and processing animal fat. It is often available at pharmacies and specialty stores for a small price. Mixed with ordinary dish soap and water, glycerin can make a powerful cleaning solution that's ideal for fighting even the worst stains. Try mixing about 1/4 cup of glycerin with 1/4 cup dish soap and 2 cups of water, then soaking a rag in this solution and gently rubbing (or, if you're dealing with fabric, dabbing) your turmeric stain to treat it.
4
Try treating hard surfaces with mild abrasives. For surfaces like kitchen counter tops, stove tops, and floors, you don't have to be as gentle as you do with clothing and fabrics. In these cases, try accompanying any of the cleaning methods in this article with some mild abrasive action to help scour your stain away. Sponges, abrasive pads, brushes, and rags are all great tools for wiping or rubbing away turmeric stains on hard surfaces. Even abrasive pastes, like the baking soda one described above, can work well. Don't use harsh abrasives (like steel wool) or metal scrapers, however, as these can leave permanent scratches on the surface.
- For extra cleaning power, try soaking the stain in a mixture of hot water and soap for five minutes before using your abrasive.
- If you don't have one, you may want to try a "magic eraser"-style cleaning sponge. These are usually available at grocery and department stores for a fairly affordable price and work with a microscopic abrasive action to effectively remove stains.^{[4]
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5
Consider soaking in soda water. Some home care experts swear by clear, bubbly, flavorless beverages like soda water or club soda when it comes to cleaning, while others claim they are no better than ordinary water. In fact, there is very little scientific evidence either way.^{[5]
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Research source} However, because soda water is so mild, it definitely won't hurt any fabric, clothing, or surface that's stained with turmeric, so feel free to use it without worry. Try wetting a rag with soda water and using it to soak a fresh stain or pouring soda water on a stain on a hard surface, letting it soak for five minutes, then rubbing with a sponge or rag to lift the stain away.
- Don't use tonic water or a clear soft drink — though they look identical to soda water, these liquids contain sugar, which can make a sticky mess when it dries.

Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Salvaging a Permanently Stained Garment

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Tie-dye your garment. Sometimes, no matter how many times you soak, pre-treat, dry, wash, and repeat, you just can't remove a turmeric stain from your clothing. In this case, you don't necessarily have to throw your stained clothing out or wear it in spite of the stain. Instead, try altering it so that the stain is no longer a problem. For instance, if you've got a light-colored garment with a prominent turmeric stain, try tie-dying it. Bury the stain in a swirl of bright colors and no one will be the wiser!
2
Stain the entire garment. If you've got turmeric to spare, another way to hide a bright turmeric stain is simply to stain the entire garment with the same type of turmeric. Turmeric, which is sometimes purposely used as a fabric dye, is well-suited for amateur dying. This process will usually result in a final product that ranges from bright yellow to orange-red, which can make a fine addition to a summer wardrobe.
- You can find a variety of instructions for using turmeric in dying projects online.
3
Cover with embroidery. If the stain is in a choice location, you may be able to over it simply by stitching over it. For instance, if you have a turmeric stain in the very middle of the chest of your tee shirt, stitching an elaborate, flowery logo over the stain will conceal it and give you an opportunity to make your shirt truly unique. If you're willing to go with an asymmetrical design, you can embroider virtually any part of your clothing, so be creative!
4
Use the fabric for something else. Some stained clothing just can't seem to be rescued no matter what — not only can the stain not be removed, but it also can't be covered up or obscured with your own alterations. In these cases, think twice before you throw your clothing away! Stained clothes are a great source of perfectly good fabric that can be re-purposed in a wide variety of ways. Below are just a few possible uses for fabric from stained clothing to get you started:
- Curtains
- Quilts
- Dishrags
- Head/wristbands
- Upholstery
- Rugs.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I get turmeric out of a dress?

Community Answer

Follow the instructions here, considering the type of fabric it is.
Question

How can I remove turmeric stains from skin and nails?

Community Answer

Rubbing alcohol works best. Curcumin is the "essence" of turmeric, and it's only soluble in alcohol or oil, not water. You can get most of the stain out with the alcohol, then alternate dish soap (citrus ones seem to work well) or degreasing spray cleaner and alcohol. If you are left with any stains after a few tries, oxy cleaners work okay (try the pet stain pre-treaters) bleach will get the rest. Use a diluted solution (1 tbsp./cup H2O), rinse well, then wash hands and put moisturizer on to replenish all the natural oils leached out of your skin. Or mix lemon juice with a few aspirin, rub it into your skin, rinse. Great exfoliator!
Question

How do I get the orange color from turmeric off my teeth?

Community Answer

Here are a couple of ideas: 1 - Swish 3% hydrogen peroxide in your mouth for about a minute, then rinse with water very thoroughly. If you have any sensitivity in your mouth, dilute the hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water before swishing. This isn't a quick fix; it may take 2 to 4 weeks of daily rinsing to get results. 2 - Make a paste of about 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and 1 one tablespoon of baking soda. Using a toothbrush, brush your teeth with the paste. After, let the paste sit on your teeth for about a minute. Then rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. Again, this isn't a quick fix as it may take 2 to 6 weeks of daily use to get results.