It happens every year. A diya tips, a drop of ghee finds the sleeve, a child shakes rangoli powder over your shoulder, and the new kurta you were saving is no longer new. Do not panic. Most Diwali stains come out if you act the same day and do not rub.
These are the methods we use and suggest at our counter. Each is safe and uses things you already have at home. Always follow the care label first, and test any method on an inside seam before you try it on the front.
The first rule for every stain
Do not rub. Rubbing pushes the stain into the fibres and spreads it. Blot or lift, and work from the back of the cloth so the stain is pushed out, not in. Act the same day if you can, because a stain left overnight is harder.
Diya wax
Let the wax harden fully. Then lift it gently with a blunt edge, such as the side of a spoon or an old card, without scratching the cloth. Place a paper towel or blotting paper above and below the mark and press with a warm iron on a low setting, with no steam. The paper soaks up the melted wax. Move to a clean part of the paper and repeat. If a colour mark remains, take the kurta to the dry cleaner and point out the stain.
Oil and ghee
Blot the excess with a clean cloth. Cover the mark with talcum powder or baking soda and leave it for an hour, so that it draws out the oil. Brush it off. Then wash the spot gently with a mild detergent and cold or lukewarm water, following the care label. If a shadow remains, repeat once before you wash the whole kurta.
Rangoli colour
Dry powder first. Shake and brush it off while it is dry, away from the garment and not across it. Do not wet it yet, because water will set the colour. Once the loose powder is gone, rinse the area in cold water from the back and wash with a mild detergent. For a deep colour such as red or magenta, dry cleaning is the safer route.
Sweets, syrup and chutney
Scrape off what you can. Soak the mark in cold water for a few minutes, then wash gently with mild detergent. Avoid hot water on a sugar stain, because it can set a sticky mark. For a chutney or a curry stain, blot, rinse from the back with cold water and treat the same day.
Ash and sparkler marks
Brush off dry ash and let the cloth air. A scorch or burn cannot be removed, which is why we suggest keeping sparklers and fireworks to an older kurta. Keep loose sleeves and stoles away from diyas and sparklers.
Embroidered and delicate kurtas
Do not iron directly on embroidery, and do not scrub it. Take it to a dry cleaner the same day and tell them what the stain is. Our product pages advise dry cleaning for the first wash, and gentle care after that. See our embroidered kurtas for what we mean.
Better still, plan ahead
Keep your newest kurta for the evening puja and photographs, and wear an older one for rangoli, diyas and cooking. A print or a stripe hides a mark better than a plain surface. Our guide to the five days of Diwali suggests which kurta to wear for each day. For the puja itself, see what to wear to the Diwali puja at home.
If the worst happens close to a function, message us on WhatsApp and we will check what we have in your size.
Questions we hear at the counter
How do I remove diya wax from a kurta?
Let it harden, lift it gently with a blunt edge, then press the area between paper towels with a warm iron on low, without steam. Dry clean if a colour mark remains.
How do I get ghee or oil out of a kurta?
Blot, cover with talcum powder or baking soda for an hour, brush off, then wash the spot gently with mild detergent and cold water.
Will rangoli colour come out?
Usually, if you brush off the dry powder first and rinse in cold water from the back. Strong red and magenta may need a dry cleaner.
Can I use bleach on a coloured kurta?
No. Bleach can take colour out of the whole garment. Use a mild detergent, or a dry cleaner.
Should I wash the stained kurta the same day?
Treat the stain the same day. Wash the whole kurta following the care label, and dry clean it if it is embroidered or if the label says so.
Also see: Diwali at Home.