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.
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.
Why wash your pillows. While you sleep, your body sheds thousands of dead skin cells. They in turn attract dust mites, which, although harmless, do produce droppings that contain allergens. Letting these build up can trigger anything from asthma and rhinitis to itchy eyes.
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.
Down pillows can be machine-washed and dried in the same manner as poly-filled pillows. However, they should only be washed on the gentle cycle and dried on medium or low heat. Down pillows can take up to three times longer to dry.
If you're wondering how to whiten yellow-stained pillows, it's pretty simple. All you need is dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, bleach and borax, plus a little hot water to make them look as good as new!
Sweat. We all sweat at night, and over time sweat can seep through your pillowcase and onto your pillow. Eventually, this will cause your pillow to yellow. Sweat stains are the most common reason for pillow yellowing.
Wash two pillows in a single load to balance the washer. Use only a tablespoon of detergent to prevent over-sudsing and detergent buildup inside the pillow. Use the washer's gentle cycle and the warmest water temperature recommended on the pillow's care tag.
Time dry for at least one hour. Allow pillow to cool, then check to see if the inside is dry. If the pillow feels at all damp, return it to the dryer for another hour. I found synthetic fiber pillows took 60 minutes, while down took several hours.
Although most pillows have a tag giving laundering instructions, few people bother to wash them. We think they're shielded from the day-to-day grit and grime of life, thanks to the pillowcase. Or else, that washing them may ruin them.
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.
Be certain to dry your pillow(s) very thoroughly so they don't mold or mildew. It will take about 2-3 hours (or longer) to completely dry a standard size pillow at low heat.
Put your pillows in the washing machine. In a top-loading machine, use at least two pillows at a time to keep the machine balanced. Add a small amount of laundry detergent. Use the gentle cycle at the water temperature specified.
If your pad has a REMOVABLE outer cover, you can unzip it and toss it in your washing machine for quick cleaning (vacuum it first). Machine wash the cover SEPARATELY in warm or cold water on a normal cycle (remember to check the care tag). Then tumble dry on low heat. Do not use chlorine bleach.
Use a toothbrush to gently loosen stain debris on your pillow. 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.
If your pillow has a strong odor, spray a 50/50 vinegar and water mix to eliminate the smell. Be sure to spray lightly and let the mix stand for five minutes before blotting the pillow dry with a towel.
Over time, bed sheets (especially white ones) might start turning yellow-ish - and that's normal! Bedding may turn yellow for a variety of reasons, such as body fluids, sweat, even the body lotion we use!
Vinegar and Baking Soda Mixture for Cleaning
Firstly, mix half a cup of baking soda with half a cup of vinegar. Then put your white pillowcases in the washing machine. Next, add water to soak the pillow covers. When they are soaked in water, add the cleaning mixture to the tub of the washing machine.
If you wake up to a wet patch on your pillow in the morning, that drool is what is left of any excess saliva that escaped your mouth while you slept.
Why do pillows turn yellow: The bottom line. For the most part, pillows turn yellow because of sweat and oils seeping through your linens to the pillow itself, but cosmetics, hair products, water (from damp hair) and drool can also cause yellow stains on pillows.
The key to preventing pillows from getting lumpy is washing two pillows at the same time since the two pillows will balance out in the washer. To keep your pillows from getting damaged, place them in the washer vertically and use a mild, liquid detergent.
Dry your hair before bed, wash out any hair product, remove makeup and avoid putting any cream on your face. But the best thing you can do to prevent your pillows turning yellow is to slide a pillow protector over your pillow before you add a pillowcase.