First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Treat sweat stains promptly, because they can weaken most fibers.
- Keep heat away: no dryer, iron, or hot air until the stain is gone.
- Blot the stain rather than rubbing it, so it doesn't spread into the fibers.
Sweat on a pillow often leaves yellow marks where sweat has reacted with antiperspirant, and the odor can cling to the fabric too. Fresh marks on a washable cover respond well to patience, but machine drying can make a stain permanent, so keep the cover away from the dryer. If the shell is dry-clean-only, that decides the approach for you.
For yellow sweat stains on pillowcases, work an enzyme laundry pretreater into the fabric before the wash rather than after. If the sweat smell still lingers once the cover is dry, repeat that step instead of reaching for more heat. Check the fabric in good light before you decide the job is finished.
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
6 items
What you'll need
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- Oxygen bleachThe warm soak, used on colorfast covers only. (opens Amazon)
- AmmoniaA few drops lift yellowing on new stains. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid detergentPre-treats lingering odor before the peroxide round. (opens Amazon)
- 3% hydrogen peroxideThe mild strength for persistent odor. (opens Amazon)
- White vinegarA few drops for old yellow stains. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white absorbent clothFor blotting and for dabbing the core of a foam or hybrid pillow. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Check the label and pretest
Read the care label first, and follow any limit it sets on water, heat, or cleaners. Test each product you plan to use on a hidden seam, and stop if any color transfers or changes.
Tip. If the label is missing or unreadable, skip the wet steps and dab the spot with a damp cloth only.
Step 2 of 715 to 30 minutes
Soak in warm oxygen bleach
Dissolve oxygen bleach in warm water and soak the stained cover in it. Use this soak only on a removable cover or a washable pillow, and only on colorfast fabric.
Careful. Never fully submerge a foam or hybrid pillow, since the foam can't release all its water and can grow mold.
Step 3 of 7
Dab ammonia on new yellowing
If the stain is new and has changed the fabric's color, dab a few drops of ammonia onto it. Rinse the spot with clear water before you go on to the next step.
Careful. Ammonia damages silk and wool, so skip it on those fibers.
Step 4 of 730 minutes
Pretreat lingering odor with detergent
Rinse the cover thoroughly first. If odor is still there, work a liquid detergent into the area and let it stand for 30 minutes.
Step 5 of 715 to 20 minutes
Use peroxide on stubborn odor
If the smell hangs on, apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the spot and leave it on the fabric for 15 to 20 minutes. It may take two or three rounds to clear the stain that's causing the odor.
Careful. Use only the 3% strength; the stronger hair-bleaching solution is too harsh.
Step 6 of 7
Wash cold on a gentle cycle
Launder the cover cold on a gentle cycle, and rinse it fully. Then check the spot in good light, and if any mark is left, go back to the warm soak before anything goes near the dryer.
Step 7 of 7
Dry only after the stain is gone
Once the mark is completely clear, tumble on low heat or air-dry the cover. Keep the pillow out of use until its center is completely dry.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for sweat on pillows
Pick an oxygen bleach labeled for colorfast fabrics, and skip any product that also contains chlorine. A plain, mild liquid detergent is all you need for the odor pretreat.
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
ECOS OXO Brite Stain & Odor Remover Pre-Wash Spray
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
You'll know the stain is lifting when the yellow fades and the edges stop looking darker than the fabric around them. Once the spot is clear in daylight and the cover smells clean, it's safe to dry.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Pillowcases
A pillowcase comes off, so you can run the whole method on the cover alone and skip the core. Start with the warm soak, then move through the ammonia, odor and wash steps in order, rinsing between each one.
Pay close attention to the seams, where the stain tends to collect. Check it in daylight before drying, since a faint mark is easy to miss indoors.
Yellow marks on pillows
Yellow marks come from sweat reacting with antiperspirant, so treat them as old stains from the start. Skip the ammonia on these and go straight to the vinegar dab for old stains.
If the pillow has a foam or hybrid core, only the cover gets treated, and the core gets a damp cloth only. Dry it fully before use.
Yellow marks on pillowcases
On a pillowcase, you can pull the cover off and treat the yellow spot before anything else. If the cover is cotton or linen, dilute the vinegar with 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar before you dab it on.
After the vinegar, sponge with clear water, then wash cold on a gentle cycle. Check for yellow again before the dryer.
Odor on pillows and pillowcases
For a removable cover, soak it overnight in warm water with 3 or 4 tablespoons of salt for each quart of warm water, then rinse. Add the peroxide round if the smell is still strong.
For foam or hybrid pillows, skip the soak and rely on a damp cloth and full drying.
White pillowcases
White covers can take the full method, including the warm soak and peroxide round. You don't need a different approach, just a closer look at each stage.
Check the spot in daylight after each round, since white fabric shows any remaining yellow most clearly. If the cover is still yellowed after several rounds, move on to the set-in options for old marks rather than repeating the same step.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old yellow stain has usually set into the fibers, so start with the vinegar instead of ammonia. Dab a few drops of white vinegar onto the stain, then sponge it with clear water. On cotton or linen, dilute the vinegar with 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar first.
Dried stains are the hard ones, so repeat the peroxide treatment two or three times, letting it sit for its full time each round. After each round, wash the cover cold on a gentle cycle and check the stain in daylight before drying it.
Heat from the dryer makes a stain harder to lift, so if one has been through the dryer, expect a longer fight and go back to the soak. If it's still there after all of this, an enzyme or oxygen-bleach wash on a colorfast cover is the last option, and a stain or smell that won't come out means it's time to replace the pillow.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on sweat on pillows?
Plenty of home remedies float around for sweat stains, and some are fine on pillows while others can damage the cover or the fill. Here's how each one fits the method above.
Works1Helps4Skip2
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Vinegar
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
Ammonia + Vinegar
Poison Control warns that mixing ammonia products with other cleaners is dangerous, and the ammonia maker's safety sheet lists acids such as vinegar as incompatible.
Ammonia + Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals, and Poison Control warns that mixing ammonia products is dangerous.
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach
Chlorine bleach isn't safe on pillow fabric, so keep it out of this process entirely. It must never be mixed with ammonia, vinegar, or other cleaners either.
Don't dry the pillow before the stain is gone
Dryer heat sets a stain and can make it impossible to remove. Keep the pillow out of the dryer until the mark is completely clear, and then use low heat only.
Don't wash pillows in hot water
Pillows can't take hot water or high heat, and hot water can set a protein stain you can't identify. Wash cold on a gentle cycle, and follow the care label over anything here.
Don't wring out a wet down pillow
Twisting can damage the fill, so press the water out by hand instead. Dry it fully before use, because a damp center causes clumping and odor.
Don't let sweat build up
Sweat can weaken most fibers the longer it sits, so treat a fresh mark as soon as you spot it. Waiting until laundry day gives the stain more time to set into the cover.
Don't mix ammonia and vinegar
Use ammonia on new stains and vinegar on old ones, but never on the same stain at the same time. Rinse thoroughly between each product so the two never meet on the fabric.
When to call a professional
If a down pillow's shell is dry-clean only, take it to a reputable dry cleaner and talk through the method first, since dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils. Feather pillows are often best sent out for professional cleaning, where the feathers are removed and sterilized with UV light.
Questions
How do I prevent sweat stains on pillows?
Keep a washable cover on the pillow and wash it often, so sweat doesn't soak into the core. Check for yellowing after each wash, and act on a fresh mark quickly.
Why are my pillowcases yellow even after washing?
Yellow marks come from sweat reacting with antiperspirant, so ordinary washing often leaves them behind. Dab the yellow spot with white vinegar, then wash cold on a gentle cycle.
Will the stain come out of a white pillowcase?
Usually, since white covers can take the full method, including the warm soak and peroxide. Check it in daylight after each round, so you know when to stop.
What if I can't tell what my pillow is filled with?
Check the label first, since it says whether the pillow can be washed. If there's no label and you can't tell the fill, treat only the cover and dab the core with a damp cloth.
Can I wash a foam pillow to get sweat out?
No. Foam and hybrid pillows should never be washed, since the foam can't release all the water it absorbs and can grow mold. Dab the stained spot with a damp cloth, then let the pillow dry completely before use.
Why does my pillow still smell after washing?
Odor usually lingers when sweat is still in the fabric or the core is still damp. Work through the peroxide round, and make sure the pillow is completely dry before you use it again.
Does vinegar work on old sweat stains?
Yes, on old yellow stains: use a few drops of white vinegar, then sponge with clear water. Colored vinegar can leave its own stain, so use plain white only.
Sweat 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.