Turmeric Stains Everywhere? Here's How to Get Them Out!

As much as one might praise turmeric for its many health and healing benefits, this deeply hued condiment can unfortunately leave a yellow stain wherever it is used! Right from the container that you store it in, to the plates/dishware used for food that has been cooked with the ingredient; turmeric will certainly make its presence visibly seen! Still, that’s no reason to shy away from this incredible spice, and miss out on benefiting from it, too.

Often used as a natural home remedy to heal wounds and, of course, in cooking, some of the the benefits of turmeric include better heart health, improved brain functionality, increase in antioxidants in the body, and anti-inflammatory properties. While the only downside of turmeric is having to deal with the stubborn stains afterwards, the upside is that they are not impossible to get out either. Whether it has gotten on your skin, dishes, counter, or clothes, MaidForYou knows a thing or two about abolishing stubborn yellow turmeric stains!

So, stick around and keep reading to learn about our simple yet effective cleaning guides on how to remove turmeric stains.

Steps to Remove Turmeric Stains from Dishware

(Plastic, ceramic, and glass)

• In a basin, add 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts warm water; mix in ½ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and stir it up to combine the cleaning agents well. 

• The basin and cleaning solution in it must be enough to completely submerge the stained portion of your dishware, if not the entire item. Leave the dish soaking in the solution for at least 30 minutes.

• Remove the dish and discard the water. Proceed to scrub the turmeric stain away with a non-abrasive sponge and dish soap. 

• Rinse off the cleaning agents thoroughly and dry with a clean kitchen cloth.

NOTE: After allowing the dishware to soak in the water-vinegar solution, you may proceed to wash the item in your dishwasher using a hot water cycle and a stain-fighting dish detergent.

TIP: For stubborn turmeric stains on dishware, use a melamine sponge and 1-2 drops of dishwashing liquid to scrub the area before rinsing with warm water. 

Steps to Remove Turmeric Stains from Clothes

(Suitable for all fabrics)

• If there is any solid matter on the fabric, pick it up with a spoon or paper towel without rubbing the stain in any way. 

• Hold the stained area of the clothing under cold running water for a few seconds to rinse off as much of the stain as possible. 

• Use paper towels to soak up moisture from the clothing; do this by gently dabbing the material as opposed to rubbing or scrubbing. You might find some of the yellow stain also lifting up at this point.

• Apply a clear hand sanitiser to the stain and work it in with a clean, soft toothbrush. Avoid coloured hand sanitiser as it might leave a stain of its own on the fabric.

• After 10 minutes of sitting time, gently scrub the area within the radius of the stain using the same toothbrush.

• The steps above conclude the pre-treatment method to remove turmeric stains on clothes; the next step is to machine-wash the garment in cold water (or as appropriate for the fabric). Avoid hot water as this will likely cause the stain to set in further. A regular wash cycle with your usual choice of laundry detergent will suffice. 

• Air dry the clothing and repeat the steps above if needed. Do not put the clothing in the dryer if the stain has not been fully removed.

Steps to Remove Turmeric Stains from Kitchen Counters

• If the stain has occurred due to a food spill, wipe it up with a paper towel first. 

• Baking soda comes highly recommended when removing turmeric stains from countertops as it provides a safe and effective abrasion to the material without scratching it. To use it, empty some baking soda in a bowl and then add just enough water to make a paste.

• Use a spoon or your fingers to apply an even layer of the paste to the stain. You might want to wear a pair of rubber gloves for this to avoid transferring some of the yellow stain to your fingers. Once coated, allow the paste to dry for 10-15 minutes.

• Dampen a clean sponge or microfibre cloth and scrub the area using the paste as a scouring cleaning agent. A bit of elbow grease here should do the trick to remove the turmeric stain.

TIP: You can also use a melamine sponge and clear dishwashing liquid to effectively get out turmeric stains from countertops.

Steps to Remove Turmeric Stains from Your Skin

(This method can be used on any part of your skin, as well as fingernails and toenails)

• Rubbing alcohol does a good job at breaking down remnants of turmeric on your skin, as well as the stubborn yellow discolouration it leaves. Apply the liquid by adding a few drops to a cotton pad and gently scrub the stain on your skin or nails. 

• Wash off the cleaning agent with warm water and bath soap. While rubbing alcohol will typically not remove a turmeric stain on your skin in its entirety, it is used as a pre-treatment method to aid in getting the job done.

• To effectively remove the remainder of the stain, combine baking soda and lemon juice to create a paste; scrub your skin with this natural exfoliator using a soft body brush before rinsing the area with water. 

• As an alternative, a simpler method to remove turmeric stains from nails would be to scrub them with cotton pads soaked in rubbing alcohol. This is intended to moisten the nails with the liquid cleanser.

• In a bowl of water, mix in a few drops of citrus-based dish soap, and soak your nails in the solution for 10 minutes.

• Wash your nails with warm water and hand soap, and dry them immediately. 

• Finish off by moisturising your skin/nails after using rubbing alcohol.

Now that you are privy to this much-needed information on how to remove turmeric stains from dishware, clothes, counters, skin, and nails, you can happily go about using the ingredient and reaping the many benefits that come with it! Oh, happy day!