Those yellow stains on pillows may be disgusting, but they’re not permanent.
Although we know that the human body – including our own – can sometimes be disgusting, we prefer not to remember it. So when you change your sheets and find that your perfectly white pillows are now covered in a web of yellow and brown stains, it can be annoying.
But those faded pillows look worse than they really are. There is a reasonable explanation for causing these stains and they can be removed. Here’s what you need to know.
Why do pillows turn yellow?
There are many reasons why pillows turn yellow, but the most common cause of these stains is perspiration. People sweat in their sleep, and some sweat more than others. The more you sweat, the more moisture seeps into the pillowcase and onto the pillow, causing stains. And when you think about the number of hours your head and face spend on that pillow, that’s a lot.
In addition to perspiration, your hair can be the cause: especially if it is particularly oily or if you sleep a lot with wet or damp hair. Certain types of cosmetics and skin care products can cause these yellow spots. He can also drool. Placing a waterproof pillow protector before your pillowcase can help prevent too much fading.
Make sure your washing machine is big enough.
If your washing machine is large enough, you can wash small pillows in it. But if you have queen or king-size pillows, head to the laundromat for extra-large front-loading washers. “What cleans is not the water, but the tumbling motion of the stuff inside the washer,” Roberts explains. “If I put pillows in the washing machine, they get wet but they don’t turn over.”