Pillows tend to become discoloured and stained towards the end of summer due to increased sweating in the warm months. However, there’s a simple way to make them white again
Pillows often become discoloured or stained towards the end of summer due to increased sweating during the warmer months. But there’s no need to bin that bolster, says Carrie Higgins, author of ‘Organization Hacks’ and founder of the lifestyle blog Making Lemonade, reports Wales Online.
She said: “I won’t go into too much detail, but needless to say pillows are hotbeds of junk collected in the six to eight hours you spend on them every. Single. Night.
“Multiply that by how many nights you’ve slept on them and… yeah. Body oils, hair product residue, sweat, drool, dust mites, exfoliated skin… clean ‘dat pillow!”.
Contrary to what one might think, reviving grubby pillows doesn’t require excessive time or money.
Carrie mentioned the most effective stain remover is plain white vinegar. The high acidity makes it an extraordinarily potent natural cleaner, capable of breaking down organic stains like sweat and oils, which accumulate on pillows.
In addition to removing stains, vinegar acts as an antibacterial agent and deodoriser, thus eliminating bacteria and unpleasant smells from fabric. Carrie stated: “As dirty and drool-ly as my pillows were, I didn’t need to run ANY of them through a second time, the vinegar… worked like magic!”.
How to get your pillows clean again
Make sure you check the care label to confirm the pillow is machine-washable – memory foam pillows aren’t appropriate for washing.
Put them in the washing machine – two at most per cycle.
Add 250ml of white vinegar into the fabric conditioner compartment of your washing machine, followed by your detergent.
Select the hottest water temperature recommended on the pillow care label and operate it on a delicate cycle.
When that cycle is done, run the machine on a spin cycle to dry as much as possible.
You can add pillows to a tumble dryer on a low-heat setting. Wool dryer balls can assist in fluffing up the pillows once more.
Alternatively, you can air-dry them outdoors if it’s sunny, as sunshine can naturally assist in whitening fabric and breaking down marks.
Ensure the pillows are thoroughly dry before using them to avoid mould and unpleasant smells.
