What's the Best Way to Get Turmeric Stains Off of a Kitchen Countertop? Good Questions

Q: I spilled turmeric on my kitchen counter. What's the best way to get the color out?

Sent by Chitra

Editor: Chitra, it would definitely depend on what material your countertop is made out of! But we'd probably start with bleach (if your countertops are light-colored) and go from there.

Readers, any advice or tips?

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(Image: Anjali Prasertong)

Categories: Kitchens, Advice, Main, Countertops, Housekeeping & Cleaning, Questions, Spices

Posted by Faith Durand

Faith Durand is the executive editor of The Kitchn and the author of Bakeless Sweets: Pudding, Panna Cotta, Fluff, Icebox Cake, and More No-Bake Desserts. She lives in Columbus, Ohio.
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Comments (10)

Baking soda mixed with water did the trick for me recently. I let it sit for 45 minutes before scrubbing off.

It's amazing what Soft Scrub can eliminate! But I would definitely test a small, inconspicious area first no matter what I used to make sure it wouldn't bleach out or otherwise permanently damage the countertop.

Barkeeper's Friend, its the only thing that works on my white corian countertops. That stuff is amazing!

Just any 'all surface cleaner' works for me on my corian countertop.

I've never found bleach to work. The pigments in turmeric are photosensitive so light alone can do wonders to fade these stains.

Magic erasers?

i too am a friend of said Barkeepers. That is my wonder (cleaning) drug.

I have found that turmeric stains fade after a few days and within two or three weeks disappear completely. Even a big, oily turmeric stain on my new butcher block countertop (thank you dear husband) disappeared within two weeks.

i hate bright white corian and i also find turmeric stains fade - i usually dont fret over it and after a few days of regular cleaning its gone - even under my bright under cabinet task lighting you cant see it

thanks so much for these suggestions! very helpful!