Quick answer
Scrape off the food, blot the oil with paper towel and treat with dishwashing liquid in cold water. Rinse, then soak white or colourfast cotton in oxygen bleach to lift colour. Dry in sunlight only once the stain is gone, and do not iron it first.
Key takeaways
- Tomato, chilli and turmeric each need a little patience; remove oil first, then colour.
- Cold water and dishwashing liquid before any bleach.
- Never iron a stain; heat sets it.
- Take silk, wool and embroidered garments to a professional.
Why are curry stains tricky?
A curry stain is oil, plus colour from turmeric, chilli and tomato. Oil carries the colour into the weave, so the order of treatment matters.
Step by step on cotton
- Scrape off food and blot the oil with paper towel.
- Rub a little dishwashing liquid into the stain and rinse in cold water.
- Soak white or colourfast cotton in oxygen bleach and lukewarm water for one to two hours.
- Wash as normal and check the stain before drying.
Sunlight helps, heat does not
Direct sunlight fades turmeric and tomato colour. Hot water and ironing set it permanently. See also haldi stains and oil and ghee stains.
Silk, wool and delicate fabrics
Do not use oxygen bleach or soak these. Blot and bring them to us quickly. Our dry cleaning treats stains by hand with Seitz and Diversey chemistry.
Why order of treatment matters
Oil blocks water from reaching the colour, so treating the colour first rarely works. Lift the oil with dishwashing liquid, then deal with turmeric, chilli and tomato. That is why a two-stage approach beats one big soak.
Tomato and chilli stains
Tomato carries a pigment called lycopene that fades well in sunlight. Chilli carries oil and colour. Treat both with dishwashing liquid, rinse in cold water and give the garment a few hours of sun once the greasy part is gone.
Prevention at the table
Wear an apron when cooking, keep a stain stick handy and treat stains the same evening. A stain left overnight is harder to remove than one treated in minutes.
When home treatment is not enough
If the stain has dried, the garment is delicate, or the colour is dark and strong, send it for professional care. Hand treatment with the right chemistry, followed by cleaning and finishing, can lift stains that home methods cannot. Tell us what the stain is and when it happened; see our dry cleaning.
Tell your cleaner what the stain is
Knowing the cause helps the right treatment. Mention it when you schedule a collection.
