Two Cheap Household Staples Could Whiten Yellow Pillowcases

Apologies in advance, but there’s a pretty gross reason our pillowcases turn yellow. 

The colour change is usually due to a buildup of our sweat, skin oils, hair oils, and drool – and parts of these deposits, like proteins and fats, yellow with age. (Rarely, clear sweat changes hue after contact with bacteria in a process called pseudochromhidrosis.)

Depending on how discoloured your pillowcase has become, a regular wash might not cut through this residue. 

Luckily, though, some experts say there’s a two-ingredient solution to the problem. 

Baking soda and water could help 

Panda London said that a “mixture of baking soda and water” can help to banish stubborn stains.

They reccomend turning it into a paste and applying it to your case before washing. Begin with a small patch to test whether it works on your material. 

Southern Living recommended a similar method. 

Baking soda, they explained, can help to lift stains and boost the effectiveness of your detergent later on. 

Spot-treat affected areas with a baking soda and water paste, they suggest, before rubbing off the mixture before washing. 

When you do chuck the offending item in your machine, make sure to add 110-135g of baking soda in your drum alongside your usual detergents. 

The Spruce said you should wait until your paste is completely dry before removing it and putting it in the wash.

They also point out that baking soda “softens clothes and boosts the detergent’s power,” and can even help to keep your washing machine drum clean.

Lastly, speaking to Ideal Homes, Petya Holevich, a cleaning expert at Fantastic Services, said it could help to improve the smell of your pillowcase, too: “Baking soda acts as a natural deodoriser and mild pillow stain remover”. 

What if I have really severe yellow stains on my pillowcase?

For more severe stains, oxygen bleach may be needed. 

This is a “safer alternative to chlorine bleach for whitening,” Holevitch said. 

Soak your clothes in a mixture containing the product for at least an hour before washing.

However, there are exceptions: silk, wool, and fabric with leather strips or wooden buttons can suffer in the solution. 

Make sure you check the care label on your pillowcase first.