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Why Pillows Turn Yellow – And How To Fix It

There’s nothing quite as blissful as sliding into your comfy, warm bed at the end of a long and stressful day…at least until you get a glimpse of your favorite pillow and realize it’s turned an unappealing shade of yellow.

I mean. It’s exactly the shade of urine, isn’t it?

Image Credit: iStock

If it makes you feel any better, it happens to everyone – and there’s a way to reverse it (other than simply buying new pillows, I mean).

First up, the why. There are several reasons you might see your pillows change color, but the most common cause is sweat.

As hard as we try to keep our houses at optimal temperatures, the truth is that most of us sweat while we sleep – some more than others – and as moisture seeps into your pillow, stains result.

Image Credit: iStock

Oils or residual water from your hair, makeup, and skincare products can also help the discoloration along.

You can help prevent the yellowing with a waterproof pillow protector, but don’t worry – if it’s too late for prevention, a simple cleaning procedure will also do the trick.

First off, make sure to wash your pillows at least twice a year whether you notice a yellow color or not. When you do, follow the care instructions on the tag along with any of your regular stain-removing protocols.

Homeguides suggests that you add 1/2 cup of bleach and 1/2 cup of borax to your regular detergent.

Image Credit: iStock

If yours are particularly bad or have been there for awhile, you can start with a store-bought stain remover spray, a paste made out of a mixture of baking soda and water, or Dawn PowerWash (my personal go-to).

Good luck, y’all.

And remember, pillows typically aren’t going to break the bank, so you can always grab some new ones and start fresh.

I’m just throwing that out there.