Kamal Ghorui
Holi is among India’s most-awaited festivals which involves colours and more colours. Our homes and streets get filled with colours, music, balloons, and gulal. However, with these festivities, our clothes get stained. And once the celebrations are over, merrymakers get into first cleaning themselves and then their stained clothes. The dark greens, blues and reds are stubborn shades. But worry not, today we are sharing some magical tricks and the right cleaning techniques, you can save your outfits from becoming a part of the dustbin.A look at five effective ways to remove Holi colours from clothes.Rinse the stained clothes with cold waterThe first step is to act immediately. As soon as the celebrations are over, soak the clothes under cold running water. Avoid hot water because heat can make the colour bond strongly with the fibres. Hold the stained portion under the tap and allow water to run through the back of the fabric. This pushes the colour out rather than deeper into the cloth.Vinegar + Detergent + Lemon = Magic
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When vinegar meets detergent and lemon, it becomes a magical remedy. Together these simple kitchen ingredients become a natural cleaning agent. All you need to do is mix two teaspoons of vinegar, one teaspoon of detergent powder, and squeeze half a lemon in a little water. Now soak the stained clothes in this mix for 15–20 minutes. You’ll see most of the colour has already left the fabric. Rinse with clean water and see the magic.Baking Soda to the rescueFor more hard stains, soaking the garment in a mix of water and baking soda. Let it soak for an hour or so. Then wash. This works on stained clothes because baking soda works as a natural deodoriser and loosens colour particles. Lemon Juice
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Lemon juice is considered a natural stain remover. You can try squeezing lemon juice directly on the coloured area. It works because lemon has acidic properties which act as a mild bleaching agent. It works well on light fabrics. But it’s suggested to do a patch test before to avoid fading.Wash with mild detergent Wash the garment using a good quality detergent in lukewarm water. Wash the fabric gently with your hands. It works better than machine washing because it allows you to identify the stained area and scrub gently. Once clean, rinse thoroughly. Avoid harsh sunlight during as it can fade the colour of fabric.But remember, the best method to deal with Holi stains is to treat them immediately. The longer the colour stays, the more difficult it becomes to remove. With a few simple household ingredients, you can remove most colour stains. So don’t worry about the clothes, play Holi.
