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.
Your head and face are resting against the surface of the pillow for hours on end, which causes you to perspire. This will eventually soak through the pillowcase and reach the pillow below.
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.
If it smells funny or feels damp (think mildew), you probably should replace it. But if it smells fine and is comfortable, it should be safe to sleep on until you can get a replacement. If your pillow has turned completely yellow, or has developed some brown stains, it is probably time for a replacement.
If your pillow is over two years old and covered in yellow and brown stains, we'd recommend buying a new one. This is especially true if you haven't washed your pillow since buying it and don't use a pillow protector.
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.
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.
“As we sleep, we tend to sweat,” says laundry expert Lori Williamson, founder of Now It's Clean. “[This is why you] see yellowish stains on your pillow.” Our sweat causes those yellow pillow stains because of a chemical it contains—urea.
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.
Sweat stains may be invisible in the initial stages but over time, they can lead not only to yellow marks on your mattress but bad odour as well. This is by far the most usual reason for the yellowing of your mattress, even your pillows, for that matter.
Sleep Drooling
Drooling is one of the biggest reason for pillow discoloration. If you check the pillow carefully, you will be able to identify the dried stains of your drool. These stains look like brown spots, and if you drool excessively, you will find them everywhere.
Men are more likely to wait longer between sheet changes than women (29.6 days vs. 19.4 days). On average, single people go 37 days before changing their sheets, while those in relationships go 21.8 days, and married couples go 19.9 days.
Bodily Fluids
Besides sweat, your body produces other fluids as you sleep at night. These fluids can accumulate over time and cause your sheets to yellow. While there isn't much you can do about that, you can take steps to wash your sheets regularly and reduce the accumulation of fluids.
Yellow stains on the underarms of your favorite shirts can be caused by substances in your sweat as well as aluminum in your antiperspirant or deodorant. If yellow stains are giving you grief, try switching to an aluminum-free formula.
A more common type of discolored sweat is called pseudochromhidrosis. With pseudochromhidrosis, sweat takes on an unusual color after secretion from the sweat gland as it comes in contact with dyes, chemicals, or chromogenic bacteria on the skin (bacteria that produce pigments.)
It is normal for a pillow to turn yellow over time. Sweat and other moisture will eventually cause discoloration. You should wash pillows every 4 to 6 months to prevent premature yellowing.
Symptoms. The defining symptom of chromhidrosis is the production of colored sweat. The color may only affect sweat in certain areas or sweat all over the body. The color and the vividness of the shade can vary from person to person.
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 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.
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.”
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. And these stains are more than just unsightly.
For an extra deep cleaning, start out by soaking your pillows in hot water and detergent. This gives the cleaning products a head-start on tackling stains and germs. You can do this right in your washer if it's a top-loading machine, otherwise, you'll have to do the soaking in a separate container (or your bathtub).