Use bleach. By soaking a yellow stain in bleach before washing, you can help get your pillow's color back to normal. Be careful, though: Bleach is a harsh chemical product and not all pillows can be bleached without damage. Make sure to carefully study your pillow's care instructions before using bleach.
Dissolve a scoop of oxygen bleach, such as OxiClean or Molly's Suds Oxygen Whitener, in hot water in your bathtub, laundry tub, mop bucket, or sink. Soak your pillow in the solution overnight. Launder and dry the pillow as usual.
To clean yellow pillows, you'll add a cup of powdered laundry detergent, a cup of powdered dishwasher detergent, a cup of bleach (or bleach alternative) and half of a cup of borax to a washing machine or bathtub full of very hot water.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Mixture for Cleaning
You will only need baking soda and vinegar to prepare this cleaning solution. Firstly, mix half a cup of baking soda with half a cup of vinegar. Then put your white pillowcases in the washing machine.
Pillows start to turn yellow due to a variety of factors, most of which involve the accumulation of moisture. Sweat, drool, wet hair, and even skincare products can contribute to yellow stains on a pillow.
Step 2: Put up to two pillows (for balance purposes) in the washing machine and wash in a mixture of detergent, vinegar, washing soda and dishwasher detergent. The added ingredients help whiten pillows.
Fill a bucket, bathtub or sink with a mixture of lukewarm water and a tablespoon of detergent; the water should be deep enough to completely submerge the pillow. While submerged, gently massage the pillow to circulate the solution through it.
Pillows turn yellow because of sweat. There are other reasons why a pillow may start to turn yellow including falling asleep with wet hair, lotions and oils on the skin, and moisture. When moisture or sweat remains on the pillow for long periods of time, the pillow will turn yellow.
Before washing, soak your pillowcases and other linens overnight in warm water with oxygen bleach or Borax. Wash your pillowcases using the hottest water cycle and the correct amount of liquid detergent. Line dry your pillowcases outside in the sun for pillowcases that look and smell brand new!
Follow these steps to freshen your foam or throw pillows. Add one tablespoon of baking soda with an equal measure of water. Mix until a paste is formed and then smear this over the stained areas. Let the paste rest for several minutes and then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
Those who prefer not to use bleach, the experts suggested applying a small amount of baking soda to the stain and dunking an old toothbrush into white vinegar. The cleaning pros said: “Use the soaked vinegar brush to scrub the baking soda. Wipe away the dirty residue with a damp cloth.”
Toss old pillows in the washing machine and set to soak. Washing two at a time balances the washing machine so they clean evenly. Add the hydrogen peroxide and vinegar to the drum of the washing machine. (Hydrogen peroxide is a natural whitener, and vinegar tackles deep-set stains.)
Begin this method by mixing together two parts warm water with one part lemon juice and use a clean cloth or towel to gently dab at the stain with the mixture above. Repeat the dabbing until the stain comes out and then rinse with water if necessary.
Down or feather: Most down pillows can be put in the washing machine. But use cool water and a mild detergent, then dry on low heat. (High temperatures can damage the down.) Memory foam or latex: Washer agitation can break up foam, so these pillows will probably need to be hand-washed.
Place equal parts rubbing alcohol and white vinegar into a spray bottle, and can add a few drops of essential oil for a fresh scent. Spray the mixture onto the soiled area (again, better to start with a little bit rather than use too much and ruin the fabric), and rub with a clean cloth.
Most experts recommend replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years. Doing so helps to ensure that you're using pillows that are supportive, clean, and free of allergens. It is also important to care for the pillows you use to ensure their longevity. Generally, you'll be able to tell when it's time to replace your pillows.
Yellowing sheets are primarily due to body sweat and oils, including lotions we put on to rejuvenate our skin overnight, according to textile engineer Vikki Martin, vice president of fiber competition for Cotton Incorporated.
In addition to regularly cleaning your sheets and comforter, you should also be caring for your pillows, mattress, and mattress topper. Pillows, especially, should be washed at least two to four times a year (say, every four months) to help them last longer.
Fill your bathtub with warm water and ⅛ cup of laundry detergent. Place the pillows in the tub, letting them soak for 5-10 minutes. Use your hands to gently scrub the pillows. Drain the water; rinse the pillows with cold, clear water from the faucet.
Wash it in cold or warm water on the gentle cycle, and don't add too much detergent—soap residue can build up on the down, just like dirt and sweat do. It's important to thoroughly rinse and spin the pillow to make sure the soap is fully removed, but it's hard to know whether the down filling inside is free of soap.
Spray a light mist of vinegar over the pillow, then wipe it down with a mild dish soap solution and white cloth or a sponge. If spots remain, wipe them with rubbing alcohol on the tip of a cotton swab. Air out the affected pillow for a day or longer, if possible, in non-humid conditions to help remove lingering odors.
Does white vinegar remove yellow stains? It does indeed! Mix it with equal parts water to create a great at-home spray to use on yellowed clothing.
Pro tip: "To 'recharge' your pillows and freshen them up in between deep cleanings, you can also run the pillows through the washing machine on a gentle, warm water cycle with 1/2 cup of white vinegar," says Cohoon.
When your pillows get stained by sweat or oils from your body as you sleep, you either buy new ones or bleach them to retain their initial color. You can bleach your pillows when they get yellow stains to remove these stains and kill germs.