Prep first
Before you start
- Work out the cause first: location, smell, feel and how it appeared decide the treatment.
- Brush or vacuum dry soot and mildew before you wet them.
- Keep the pillow out of the dryer until the stain is gone.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
Black stains on a pillow can be mildew, soot or grease, and some marks are damage that won't fully lift. Machine-drying a stained pillow makes the stain more permanent, so keep it out of the dryer until the mark is gone. If an old stain or smell still shows after a careful wash, replacing the pillow may be the sensible call.
Start with an enzyme laundry pretreater on black stains on pillow fabric, and let it work before the wash. Check the care label first, especially on a down pillow with a dry-clean-only shell. If the mark survives a careful wash, a pillow stained after years of use may be past saving.
Before you start
What pillows can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
5 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Mild liquid detergentFor dabbing on the stain and for the wash; use one made for down on down pillows. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushFor brushing off dry soot or mildew and for working problem spots on down. (opens Amazon)
- Clean spongeFor sponging the foam itself on foam and hybrid pillows. (opens Amazon)
- Clean towelFor pressing the moisture out of a pillow without wringing it.
- Washing machine with a gentle or delicate cycleFor polyester, down-alternative and hollow-fiber pillows, and for foam covers.
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Identify the cause first
Look at where the mark sits, how it smells and how it appeared, since those clues decide the treatment. Work out the cause before you wet anything, because the wrong treatment can make some marks worse.
Step 2 of 7
Brush off the dry soot or mildew
Brush or vacuum dry soot and mildew before you wet them, so the loose part comes off instead of smearing. Brush mildew off outdoors so it doesn't spread indoors.
Step 3 of 7
Strip the pillow and read the label
Start by taking off the pillowcase and any pillow protector. Then find the sewn-in care label and read it before anything else. Wash in cold or lukewarm water, and let the label decide the limits.
Careful. Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, so never use it on a stain you can't identify.
Step 4 of 7
Test the cleaner on a hidden spot
Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, and let it dry to see the result. Only move on to the stain once the test spot looks right.
Step 5 of 7
Wash on a gentle cold cycle
Wash the pillow on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water, following the method for its fill type below. Use only a little detergent, because extra suds are hard to rinse out.
Careful. Never machine wash or fully submerge a foam or hybrid pillow, because the foam can trap water and grow mold.
Step 6 of 7
Check the stain before drying
Look at the stain in good light before the pillow goes anywhere near the dryer. If the mark is still there, air dry the pillow and go back to the cleaning step.
Careful. Dryer heat makes a visible stain more permanent.
Step 7 of 7
Dry it on low until fully dry
Tumble dry on low, or air-fluff with no heat, until the center is completely dry. Down may need several low-heat cycles, so keep checking the middle by hand.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for black stains on pillows
Look for a mild liquid detergent labeled for down when you wash a down or feather pillow. Choose one labeled for delicate fabrics for the other pillow types.
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on pillows, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain should be gone when you look at it in good light, with the pillow still out of the dryer. Once it's dry, the center should have no cool damp spots, no odor and no clumps.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Foam or hybrid pillow
The washer is just for the cover. Unzip it and run it on a cold, delicate cycle, then lay it flat to dry. Skip the dryer.
For the foam, sponge it with a little soapy lukewarm water. Press out the moisture with a towel, then let the foam air dry flat.
Polyester, down-alternative or hollow-fiber pillow
Of all the pillow types, these are the easiest to clean. Put a dab of detergent right on the stain before washing, and run two pillows at once so the machine stays balanced.
Dry them on low heat, or air-fluff with no heat, until the center is completely dry. Feel the middle with your hand, because the outside can seem dry while the center is still damp.
Down or feather pillow
Check the label first, because you can only use the washer if it allows it. If it does, pick a down detergent, keep the water low-temperature, and add an extra rinse. Don't skip that rinse: detergent left in the fill can reduce its fill power.
Washing by hand? Use lukewarm water with a little detergent, and scrub the trouble spots with a soft brush. Keep rinsing until no suds are left, then press the water out of the pillow.
Down pillow with a dry-clean-only shell
If the shell fabric is dry-clean only, the pillow goes to a dry cleaner instead of the washer. Tell them it's a down pillow before they start, because dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils.
No home wash is covered for that shell, so don't put it through the washer. If the stain is still visible after professional cleaning, replacing the pillow is the realistic next step.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Weeks or months of sitting is a lot for a black mark, so one wash may not clear all of it. There's no stronger treatment that's safe to recommend for old stains on pillows.
Before you wash anything, brush off what has dried on the surface. Take care of that dry residue first, and only after that bring in the water.
Say the pillow already went through the dryer. Then the stain will be more set than it was before. If the stain or smell is still there once the wash is done, it's time to replace the pillow.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on black stains on pillows?
Several home remedies get suggested for black marks. Most of these remedies don't suit black marks on a pillow, and the reason for each one follows.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't bleach a black mark until you know the cause
Bleach can make manganese and iron stains worse, and it shouldn't be used on a pillow here. Down can't be bleached or ironed, so skip both.
Don't twist or wring a down pillow
Press the water out instead, and support the whole pillow while you do it. Wet down is heavy, so lifting it by one corner can strain the shell.
Don't use or store a pillow while it's damp
Moisture trapped in natural fill causes clumping and odor. Wait until the center is completely dry before you use or store the pillow.
When to call a professional
Feather pillows can also be cleaned professionally, where the feathers are removed and sterilized with UV light. If a new pillow arrived damaged or defective, contact the maker before you clean it.
Questions
Can you wash mildew out of a pillow?
Brush it off outdoors first, then wash it with a little detergent in cold water on a gentle cycle. Dry it on low until the center is completely dry. If the mark or musty smell still won't come out, replace the pillow.
Why do black stains show up on my pillow after sleeping?
The most likely causes are mildew, soot or greasy residue, and where the mark sits and how it smells helps you tell which. Some black marks are damage rather than dirt, and those may not come out completely.
Can I put a stained pillow in the dryer?
Not until the stain is gone. Dryer heat makes a visible stain more permanent, so air dry it and check again.
Can I wash a foam pillow in the washing machine?
Only the cover goes in the machine, on a cold, delicate cycle. The foam itself gets sponged with lukewarm soapy water and air dried flat.
How do I know a pillow is fully dry?
Feel through the center: it should have no cool damp spots, no odor and no clumps. Down may need several low-heat cycles before it passes that check.
When should I replace the pillow instead?
Replace it if the stain or smell won't come out after cleaning and drying. That's the point where replacing the pillow makes more sense than another wash.
Black Stains on other materials
Other stains on pillows
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.