If your comforters and pillows are showing a yellowed appearance, it’s only natural. Over time, various factors such as dust mites or sweat affect the quality of the bedding. Fortunately, it is possible to make yellowed pillows snow-white with the right tricks. Discover three simple and effective washing methods, as well as some practical tips for always clean laundry.
As you must know, everything related to bedding should be washed regularly, and pillows are no exception to this rule. In fact, it is important to disinfect them and remove yellowish stains that have settled there.
In addition, pillows can easily become an environment conducive to dust mites, viruses and bacteria. These come from sweat and dirt particles, among other things, that build up there over time. But despite the yellowish stains and odors that can emanate from your pillows, it’s not always necessary to throw them away. This is even more true if they are of good quality and have not exceeded a lifetime of 2 years. Instead, before you take such action, focus on inexpensive cleaning tips to make them look better. Here are some methods you should use once a month to treat them effectively. These also apply to pillows and bolsters.
What causes yellowed pillows?
As you can already guess, the main and most common reason remains sweating. And for good reason, your pillow will gradually and irrevocably turn yellow every night because of the latter. Body sweat penetrates the fibers of the pillow before subsequently appearing on the surface. But although sweat remains the most common reason, other factors also play a role, such as saliva.
The liquids that we secrete contribute to the yellowing of the pillow that absorbs them. In addition, this discoloration is not only an aesthetic problem, since it is evidence that bacteria and mites have settled in the heart of the fibers. And it is quite natural, since these creatures are particularly fond of spreading moisture, which can lead to diseases such as asthma, allergies or rhinitis. Here are 3 effective methods to wash your yellowed pillows:
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Hot water and lemon
Lemon is an invaluable and very effective ally if you want to breathe new life into your pillows to sleep well and with optimal comfort. With the following trick, you can take advantage of the brightening and disinfecting properties of citrus.
Start by boiling 2.5 quarts of water and add 6 glasses of lemon juice. Then soak the pillow in this lemon water for about 2 hours. All you need to do is wash the pillow with soapy water to remove stains before rinsing and drying. Feel free to add more water so that the pillow is completely immersed in the solution.
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White vinegar and baking soda
To naturally lighten and soften the textile fibers of your pillow, a combination of baking soda and white vinegar is a perfect solution. In fact, you can rely on the antibacterial and brightening properties of these two elements to remove all the dirt, sweat and stains on your pillow. In addition, this also helps to fight bad odors that may have settled in it.
To use it well, it is very simple. Place your pillow in a basin filled with hot water and add half a cup of white vinegar mixed with the same amount of baking soda. Let it soak for 1 hour. Then choose a normal wash cycle and run it through the washing machine, then air dry. It should be noted that baking soda can also be used to clean your mattress.
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Lemon and hydrogen peroxide
This anti-stain and anti-mite treatment is ideal as a substitute for bleach and consists of the combination of lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide (oxygenated water) to lighten linen. Ingredients that contain active ingredients that can easily remove sweat or saliva stains.
To use their benefits, prepare a bucket of hot water in which you put half a cup of lemon juice and twice the amount of hydrogen peroxide. Put the pillow in the bucket and leave it for an hour. When that time is up, do a normal wash cycle in your washing machine to rinse out the pillow, and then let it dry in the sun.
Practical tips for washing your pillows
To ensure optimal washing of pillows, it is important to take into account a number of recommendations:
- Always read the label: whether polyester, cotton or feathers, any type of pillow should be washed according to the washing instructions on the label to maintain its quality. Therefore, always check if yours is machine washable.
- For top loading machines: Take two pillows at a time to keep the machine balanced.
Air dry or sun dry: when you’re done washing, simply place your pillows in the sun so they can benefit from UV rays. The latter promote fading of the textile, making this light source the best way to dry your bedding while facilitating the eradication of dust mites. Result: you’ll find a bright white pillow to sleep soundly at night. If you want to dry in the dryer, opt for a fresh air cycle. If it’s a feather pillow, add tennis balls to make it look stuffed. However, be careful not to put more than two at risk of damaging the machine’s drum.
Tips for caring for your pillows
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Use a pillow protector
You can give your pillow a second line of defense against dead cells, sebum or sweat secreted by the skin. All you need to do is get a pillow protector to put under your pillowcase to keep allergens out. Also, make sure to wash these covers every month.
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Wash pillows 3-4 times a year
This is even more true if you notice that they are yellowing. As for pillowcases, which are obviously the first to be exposed to our body fluids, once or twice a week is a correct frequency.
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Replace pillows after 2 or 3 years
While many people keep their pillows extra-long, it is best to replace your pillows after 2 or 3 years of use. In fact, after a while, pillows lose their firmness and can no longer support your head properly. However, their yellowing should not always be a reason to replace them.
How to wash the pillows depending on the type?
Depending on how your pillows are filled, washing instructions will vary. Here’s how you should proceed with each type:
- Memory Foam pillows: Given the risk of the washing machine damaging the foam filling and the viscoelastic behavior of your memory foam pillow, it may be preferable to opt for a hand wash. You will need to start by completely immersing it in water and squeezing the pillow for 10 minutes. Then rinse until the water runs clear and be sure to wring it out thoroughly before air drying. For stains, clean with a damp cloth moistened with some mild detergent or stain remover. Result: a firm pillow, ideal for spinal support.
- Polyester pillows: For this type of synthetic fiber pillow, wash it in lukewarm water on the gentle cycle. The amount of detergent should be sparing. For machine washing, one to two teaspoons is enough.
- Feather or goose down pillows: Place these pillows in the washing machine with cold water and a mild detergent. Then dry in the dryer on low heat so as not to damage the down. In fact, the latter can deteriorate in quality due to high temperatures.
What about bed linen and how often should it be washed?
The bedroom is a place with humidity and heat, which are perfect conditions for the accumulation of bacteria, germs and other dirt. To avoid these inconveniences, it is necessary to wash the sheets and comforter cover every two weeks or even every week. There are also natural solutions to effectively clean your mattress.
How to wash your bedding properly?
Bedding sets and sheets should be washed regularly so that you can always enjoy fresh smelling bedding. It is therefore advisable to wash them at the right temperature and prefer heat. In fact, it is a high temperature that eliminates all pathogens that could settle in the microfibers of the sheets. However, always check the recommended temperature on the label. This will help you not to compromise the quality of your laundry.
