How to Remove Curry Stains

Co-authored by Brandon Beckwith

Last Updated: March 5, 2023

Dishes made with curry can be so delicious, but drop some from your plate, and you have a pretty stubborn stain to deal with. Luckily removing curry stains is relatively easy if caught before they dry.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Removing Curry Stains on Clothing

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Use a spoon or a knife to scrape off as much excess curry as possible.Be sure to scrape and scoop the curry from the clothing, and not spread out and increase the size of the stain.
2
Pretreat the stain. Apply a prewash stain remover directly to the stain.^{[1]
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Research source} You could alternatively use glycerin as a prewash treatment. Apply the glycerin onto the stain, and use your fingers to work the glycerin into the fabric.
- Let the glycerin sit on the stain for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, rinse off the glycerin with water.^{[2]
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  Research source}
- If you’re at a restaurant and can’t launder your shirt right away, blot the stain with some cool water, and squeeze lemon or lime onto the stain. Leave the lemon solution on your shirt for about 15 minutes, then blot with water. Wash the garment within 48 hours.
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3
Wash the garment. Wash the garment in the hottest water setting available, using either color safe bleach for colored clothing, or normal bleach for white clothing.^{[3]
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- You could also use oxygenated bleach.^{[4]
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- If the stain is removed after laundering the garment, proceed to dry the item.
4
Soak the garment in a hydrogen peroxide solution. If the stain still persists after washing it, mix together a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to 9 parts cool water. ^{[5]
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Research source} Soak the garment in the hydrogen peroxide solution for approximately 30 minutes.
- Rinse the item in clean water, and wash the garment as you normally would.^{[6]
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5
Dry the garment. When the stain is completely out of the garment, dry the garment in the drying machine as you normally would, or hang dry it outside.
- Be sure that the stain is completely removed before you dry the garment.^{[7]
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  Research source} If the stain is still there, heat will permanently set the stain.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Removing Curry Stains From Upholstery or Carpeting

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Use a spoon or knife to scrape off as much excess curry as you can. Be very careful not to spread out the stain and make it even bigger.
In a small bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon of liquid hand soap, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of cold water.^{[8]
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Research source} This cleaning solution is mild, yet tough enough to lift the curry stain from the carpet or upholstery.
3
Sponge the stain. Use a clean white rag to sponge the stain with the cleaning solution. Leave the solution on the stain for 30 minutes.^{[9]
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Research source} Blot the stain every 5 minutes with a clean area of the cloth (or a new cloth) and some more cleaning solution.^{[10]
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- When the stain is removed, sponge the area with cool, clean water.
4
Sponge the stain with rubbing alcohol. If the stain still persists after sponging it with the cleaning solution, sponge the spot with a bit of rubbing alcohol. Keep sponging until the stain is completely removed.
- Sponge rinse the area by blotting it with some clean water.
Use a clean cloth to blot the area dry, and allow it one day to dry completely.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you get curry stains out of countertops?

Brandon Beckwith
House Cleaning Specialist
Brandon Beckwith is a House Cleaning Specialist and the CEO of Reliable Housekeeping in Sacramento, California. Brandon and his team specialize in house cleaning such as maintenance cleaning, deep cleaning, move in/out cleaning, apartment cleaning, as well as commercial cleaning, window cleaning, and carpet cleaning. All members of the Reliable Housekeeping team receive background checks and professional training. Their family-owned and operated business is licensed, insured, and bonded.

Brandon Beckwith

House Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Create a homemade cleaning mixture with white vinegar and a little bit of dishwashing liquid. Let it sit and soak into the stain for a minute and wipe it all up with a microfiber rag. Depending on the countertop material, you might also be able to wipe it with an abrasive sponge or medium-to-hard bristle brush.

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Question

How can I get curry out of my daughter's school shirt?

Community Answer

Read the instructions of the article, and use that information to get the stain out of your daughter's school shirt.

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Question

How can I remove curry stains from dishes?

Community Answer

Use a good quality dish-washing liquid. Scrub very hard with a soft sponge to remove any sticky, built-up residue. If the dish is plain white and not made of china, use a ball of wire-wool or a scouring pad to scrub off any remaining residue (if the dish is made of china or colored, do not use a scouring pad or wire wool, as this will wreck the dish). After this, rinse and dry as usual.

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