First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off the excess lotion with a dull edge.
- Blot the spot rather than rubbing it.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
Retinol creams are lotion-type cosmetics, so a stain from one leaves an oily mark on the pillow, and a machine dryer can make that mark permanent. The fill decides how the pillow gets washed, so a foam pillow and a down pillow need different handling. Check the care label before anything gets wet.
Pretreat the spot before the pillow goes near the washer, since that's the best defense when retinol has stained a pillow. An enzyme laundry pretreater or a prewash stain remover spray is the usual pick for an oily film like this. If it has already dried, work a little detergent into the spot and let it sit, as long as the care label allows it.
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
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- Dull butter knife or spoonLifts off the excess lotion without spreading it.
- Clean white cloth or paper towelBlots the oil up without rubbing it in. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid detergentPre-treats the spot before the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Detergent made for downOnly for a down pillow, and only if its label allows machine washing. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushWorks problem spots on a down pillow during hand-washing. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Scrape off the excess lotion
Use the dull edge of a butter knife or spoon to lift off as much lotion as you can. Then blot the spot with a clean white cloth, pressing gently, so the oil doesn't spread.
Step 2 of 6
Remove the cover and read the label
Take off the pillowcase and any protector, then read the sewn-in care label before you do anything else. If the case is silk or satin, the Silk & Satin guide covers its cleaning. If the label is missing and you can't tell the fill, sponge the spot with cool water only and keep the pillow out of the machine until you know what's inside.
Step 3 of 6
Pre-treat with a little detergent
Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, then dab a small amount of detergent onto the stain. Use cold or lukewarm water for everything that follows.
Step 4 of 6
Wash by the pillow's fill
Foam or hybrid pillows get only the cover washed on a cold, delicate cycle while the foam is sponged. Polyester and down-alternative pillows go through a gentle cold cycle, two at a time. Down pillows are machine washed only if the label allows it, otherwise hand-washed in lukewarm water with a soft brush.
Step 5 of 6
Check the stain before the dryer
Look at the spot in good light before anything goes in the dryer. If any of it is still visible, repeat the detergent pre-treatment and wash again.
Careful. Dryer heat makes a stain more permanent, so one cycle can set it for good.
Step 6 of 6
Dry until the center is fully dry
Tumble on low, air-fluff or use no heat until the center is completely dry. Feel for cool damp spots, odor or clumps, because trapped moisture in natural fill causes them. Down may need several low-heat cycles.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for lotion on pillows
Pick a detergent labeled for down when washing a down pillow.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain should be gone before the pillow sees any heat. The center should be completely dry, with no cool damp spots, odor or clumps.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Foam or hybrid pillow
Unzip the cover and machine wash it on a cold, delicate cycle, then lay it flat to dry without a dryer. Sponge the foam itself with lukewarm, soapy water instead of putting it through the wash.
Never machine wash or submerge the foam, because it can trap water and grow mold. Let the foam dry fully before you use the pillow, since trapped water is what leads to mold.
Polyester or down-alternative pillow
Machine wash it on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water. Wash two pillows together to keep the machine balanced.
Dab a little detergent on the stain before it goes in, then check the spot once the cycle ends.
Down or feather pillow
Machine wash only if the label allows it, using a detergent made for down at a low temperature with an extra rinse. Leftover detergent can reduce fill power, so don't skip that rinse.
For hand-washing, use lukewarm water with a little detergent and work problem spots with a soft brush. Rinse until the suds are gone.
Acne cream on a pillow
Acne creams can contain benzoyl peroxide, which is 'a strong oxidizing and/or bleaching agent' that can destroy dyes. The spots may not appear for hours, days or months, so a clean-looking pillow isn't proof the stain is gone.
Treat the lotion part the same way as above, but don't count on a normal wash to fix a color change. A bleached-looking spot is permanent, so plan on replacing the pillow if it shows up.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old lotion mark that has already been through a wash and a dryer is harder to lift, but it can still improve. Repeat the detergent pre-treatment on the spot, then use a light detergent solution with a few drops of ammonia. Test that solution on a hidden spot first, since ammonia can change some colors.
Dried lotion is the hardest version, so expect it to lighten rather than vanish. Keep the solution light and avoid stronger cleaners, since they can damage the cover.
If the stain survived the dryer, it has become more permanent, so stop heating it and don't run it again on high heat. A mark that still shows after careful washing is usually as good as it will get. Bleached-looking spots from acne medicine are permanent, so replace the pillow if the stain or smell stays.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on lotion on pillows?
Most kitchen and bathroom remedies aren't needed on a pillow, since detergent and cold water do the job. Most of these are best skipped, so you don't reach for the wrong thing.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't twist or wring a wet down pillow.
Press the water out instead, even when the pillow still feels heavy with water. Wringing it is the wrong move for a down pillow.
Don't mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or vinegar.
Chlorine bleach must never be combined with ammonia, vinegar, rubbing alcohol or other cleaners, because bleach and ammonia form toxic chloramine gas. Rinse thoroughly between treatments if you ever use ammonia and then anything with bleach.
Don't use hot water on a stain you can't identify.
Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, and you may not know what the mark is made of. Keep the water cold or lukewarm until you know what you're dealing with.
When to call a professional
If a down pillow's shell is dry-clean-only, take it to a dry cleaner and talk through the method first, because dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils. Feather pillows can also be professionally cleaned, where the feathers are removed and sterilized with UV light. If a new pillow arrives damaged, contact the maker before cleaning it.
Questions
Does retinol stain pillow?
Yes, a retinol cream can leave a greasy mark, since creams are oily cosmetics. Treat it like any lotion stain: scrape it off, blot it, and wash it by your pillow's fill. Check the label first, since that tells you what the pillow can take.
Can I machine wash a lotion-stained pillow?
It depends on the fill and the label. Foam and hybrid pillows can't be submerged, while polyester and down-alternative pillows can usually go through a gentle cold cycle. Read the label before you decide.
Why did the mark show up days after I applied the cream?
Acne creams with benzoyl peroxide can leave spots that show up hours, days or months later. Those bleached-looking marks are permanent, so treat them as a reason to switch pillows rather than keep washing.
Can I bleach a down pillow to lift the stain?
No. A down-filled pillow must never be bleached or ironed, so leave bleach out of the method entirely. Stick to a detergent made for down and a gentle cold wash.
What if the lotion has already dried into the pillow?
Dried lotion is harder, so expect a lighter mark rather than a clean one. The set-in section covers the stronger options and when to stop.
When should I give up and replace the pillow?
Replace it if the stain or smell won't come out after cleaning. A lingering odor means moisture may still be trapped in the fill, so check the center before you decide.
Lotion 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.