If your duvets and pillows have started to yellow, it’s only natural. Over time, several factors, such as dust mites or sweat, affect the quality of your bedding. Fortunately, it’s possible to make yellowed pillows snow-white with the right tricks.

As you may know, everything related to bedding should be washed regularly, and pillows are no exception. In fact, it’s important to disinfect them and remove any yellowish stains that may have settled there.

Furthermore, pillows can easily become a breeding ground for dust mites, viruses, and bacteria. These come from, among other things, the sweat and dirt particles that form there over time. But despite the yellowish stains and odors that may 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 two-year lifespan.

Before taking such measures, instead, focus on low-cost cleaning tips to keep them looking their best. Here are some methods you can implement once a month to effectively treat them. This also applies to cushions and pillows.

What causes yellow pillows?

As you might imagine, the main and most common cause remains sweating. And for good reason: your pillow will gradually and irreversibly turn yellow every night due to this. Body sweat penetrates the pillow fibers before subsequently appearing on the surface. But while perspiration remains the most common cause, other factors come into play, such as saliva.

The fluids we secrete contribute to the yellowing of the pillow that absorbs them. Furthermore, this discoloration is not just an aesthetic concern; it is evidence that bacteria and mites have settled in the heart of the fibers. And it’s natural, since these creatures especially like moisture to thrive, which can cause conditions like asthma, allergies, or rhinitis.

Here are 3 effective methods for washing your yellowed pillows:

1. Hot Water and Lemon

Lemon is an invaluable and highly effective ally if you want to breathe new life into your pillows for a good night’s sleep with maximum comfort. The following trick will allow you to take advantage of the whitening and disinfecting properties of citrus fruits.

Start by boiling 2.5 liters of water and adding 6 glasses of lemon juice. Then soak the pillow in this lemon water for approximately 2 hours. All you have to do is wash the pillow with soapy water to remove stains before rinsing and drying it. Feel free to add more water so that the pillow is completely submerged in the solution.

2. 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 bleaching action of these two elements to remove all the dirt, sweat, and stains present on your pillow. This will also help combat any unpleasant odors that may have set in.

Using them correctly is very simple. Place your pillow in a container 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’s worth noting that baking soda can also be used to clean your mattress.

3. Lemon and Hydrogen Peroxide

Ideal for replacing bleach, this stain-fighting and dust-mite treatment combines lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide to whiten clothes. These ingredients contain active ingredients that can easily remove sweat or saliva stains.

To take advantage of its benefits, prepare a bucket of hot water with half a cup of lemon juice and twice as much hydrogen peroxide. Place the pillow in the bucket and let it sit for an hour. After this time, run a normal cycle in your washing machine to rinse the pillow and then let it dry in the sun.