Spot clean any soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild sudsy soap solution. Lightly rinse with a damp cloth. (FYI, wet foam tears easily, so be gentle with the water and soap solution.) Allow the pillow to air dry completely before putting it back on the bed or couch.
Spot cleaning, put simply, is tackling a stain without washing the whole product. Something like our 100% wool pillows cannot be machine washed, so stains must be addressed exclusively by spot cleaning. But I'll let you in on a little secret: Even machine washable items need spot cleaning sometimes!
Spot Clean Only: Clean spots and stains on the surface, rather than washing the entire pillow. Hand Wash: The pillow can be gently washed by hand. This generally means it can be submerged in water, but the spin cycle of the washing machine may damage the pillow.
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.
Using a toothbrush, apply bleach or vinegar to treat deep yellow stains. Baking soda can also be used to soak up dampness and odor. If you're applying baking soda, give it a day and then shake or gently vacuum up the baking soda.
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!
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.
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.
One of the first methods to spot clean Karl suggested to remove yellow pillow stains is a combination of baking soda and white vinegar. He said: “Because vinegar is an acid, it helps to remove any stains from your pillows. This method is great for tough stains that might have been there a while.”
If a garment has a spot clean only care label, you cannot hand wash it, place it in the washing machine, wet clean it, or dry clean it. The only way to clean the garment is to delicately address, by hand, visible spots or spills using specialized spotting agents on the impacted areas.
If your pillow can be washed, it should be washed at least twice a year. If you eat in bed, have pets, or sweat a lot, you should wash pillows quarterly. Special pillows like body pillows or throw pillows should be cleaned every 3 to 6 months. This is dependent on how, where, and how often they are used.
Although some experts recommend professional dry-cleaning for down and other fluffy bedding items, it is generally safe to wash them, either in the machine on a gentle setting or by hand. Here are some other great tips on how to keep your pillows and comforters looking like new.
Our sweat causes those yellow pillow stains because of a chemical it contains—urea. A harmless byproduct of our sweat (and, in much larger quantities, our urine too), urea breaks down and turns back into ammonia over time. If you want to get technical about it, it's actually the ammonia that causes those yellow stains.
Lumpy pillows can also be a result of sweat and oils getting into your pillows, causing the filling to clump together. Finally, fabric conditioner can leave a residue that sticks the stuffing materials together, so avoid using it when washing your pillows.
Many people are in the habit of showering before going to bed; however, wet pillows can cause moisture to seep into your skin, leading to eventual discoloration. The moisture will draw in all the dirt and dust from your pillow, leading to permanent brown stains.
As a rule of thumb, if your pillow has a few yellow stains it is probably okay to keep sleeping on it. But if your pillow has turned completely yellow, or has developed some brown stains, it is probably time for a replacement.
First, start by mixing a few tablespoons of lemon juice with a cup of water in a large bowl. Dip a clean, white cloth into the mixture and use it to gently scrub the yellowed areas of the pillow. Be sure to avoid saturating the pillow, as this can cause it to become waterlogged and lose its shape.
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.
Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of vinegar to the washing machine. This will vary according to your machine! For my machine, I add it to the fabric softener area. For some, you may wish to let it fill with water then add it in during soaking.
Remove the cases and spot treat any yellow stains with a commercial stain remover. Let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping it away with a damp cloth. Machine-wash pillows with 1 cup (240 mL) of dish soap, 0.5 cups (120 mL) of laundry detergent, ¾ cup (6 oz) of washing soda, and 0.5 cups (120 mL) of white vinegar.
Peterson said the best way to hand wash is to fill up a large sink or bathtub with warm water then add a few drops of your favorite liquid detergent. You should submerge your pillow and massage it for several minutes to let the detergent seep into it.
For top-load washers, place one pillow on either side so the weight will be equally distributed. Add 1 Tablespoon each of hydrogen peroxide, oxygen bleach, and baking soda. Wash in hot water. Then put straight in the dryer.
The cleaning gurus said: “To whiten yellowed pillows, combine baking soda, white vinegar, laundry detergent, and dish detergent in a small container and mix. “Place the pillow into the washing machine and add the cleaning solution as you usually would during washing.