Prep first
Before you start
- Pull off the pillowcase and any protector, and read the care label.
- Brush off powdery residue before anything wet touches it.
- Test any product on a hidden spot first.
- Work out the fill before you choose a wash.
A white mark on a pillow is usually residue, like undissolved detergent or deodorant, or a mineral deposit left when water dried. Down and feather pillows, and any dry-clean-only shell, need a different route than foam. Machine drying a stained pillow can set the mark in, so hold off on the dryer while the mark is still there.
If you're seeing white stains on your pillow after sleeping, pretreat the spot before it goes anywhere near the washer. An enzyme laundry pretreater is the product to reach for on that kind of mark. Check the fill first, since foam and down each need their own approach.
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
4 items
What you'll need
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- Mild liquid detergentDabbed onto the mark and used in the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Detergent made for downOnly for down-filled pillows, as the down method calls for. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushFor working problem spots on a down pillow by hand. (opens Amazon)
- Vacuum or dry brushFor powdery deposits before anything gets wet.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Strip the pillow and read the label
Take off the pillowcase and any pillow protector, then read the sewn-in care label before you do anything else. If the label is missing or the fill is unclear, don't guess: test a hidden spot with cold water only, and wait for the result before going further.
Step 2 of 6
Brush off any powdery residue
Vacuum or dry-brush any powdery deposits before anything wet touches the pillow. Work from the edge of the mark toward the center so the powder doesn't spread.
Step 3 of 6
Pretreat with a little detergent
Use cold or lukewarm water and dab a little mild detergent straight onto the mark. Let it sit while you set up the wash, and keep the rest of the pillow away from the spot.
Careful. Never iron or apply heat to a deodorant mark, so if you're not sure what the mark is, keep heat away from it.
Step 4 of 6
Wash on a gentle cold cycle
Machine wash polyester, down-alternative or hollow-fiber pillows on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water, two at a time so the machine stays balanced. Foam, hybrid and down pillows need a different wash, covered in the variations below.
Step 5 of 6
Check that the mark is gone
Once the wash is finished, look at the mark closely in good light. If it's still there, treat the mark again and check once more.
Careful. Heat makes a stain more permanent, so the pillow stays out of the dryer while the mark shows.
Step 6 of 6
Dry on low until the center is dry
Tumble dry on low, or air-fluff with no heat, until the center is completely dry. Feel for cool damp spots and check for odor or clumps, since trapped moisture in natural fill can cause clumping or odor, and down may need several low-heat cycles.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for white marks on pillows
Pick a mild liquid detergent for the dab and the wash. If the pillow is down, use a detergent made for down.
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.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
You'll know it worked when the mark is gone and the center of the pillow feels dry all the way through. A pillow that still smells or has cool damp spots isn't finished, even if it looks clean.
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. The foam itself gets a sponge with warm, soapy water instead, and only on the spot.
Rinse the spot with clean water, then leave the pillow flat until it is completely dry all the way through.
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 the rinse.
To hand-wash instead, use lukewarm water and a little detergent, work problem spots with a soft brush, and rinse until the suds are gone. Then the drying steps take over.
Down pillow with a dry-clean-only shell
If the shell fabric must be dry-cleaned, that is the only reason to dry clean a down pillow. Have it cleaned by a professional, and discuss the method with them before you agree.
If the shell is washable, the down card above applies instead, so the home wash is the route. The professional section below explains what to ask.
New or damaged pillow
If a new pillow arrives damaged or defective, contact the maker before cleaning it. Keep it as it arrived until you have their answer.
If they confirm it's fine to clean, follow the steps above for its fill. Use the same cold water and gentle handling the steps describe, since that is the safest approach.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
There's no special method for old stains on pillows, so a stronger product isn't the answer. Give an old mark the same careful treatment as a fresh one: pretreat it with a little mild detergent, then wash it in cold or lukewarm water on the method that fits your fill.
If the mark has dried, work it gently with a soft brush and rinse until the suds are gone, rather than scrubbing it hard. Once the wash is done, check the mark before any heat touches the pillow.
If the stain or smell still won't come out after another wash, replace the pillow rather than hoping the dryer will help. Heat only makes a stain more permanent, so the realistic outcome for a mark that has been through the dryer is a new pillow.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on white marks on pillows?
Most household remedies are made for other stains, and several can damage pillow fabric or fill. Mild detergent and water alone are the gentlest choice for pillow fabric and fill.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't machine wash or fully submerge foam.
A foam or hybrid pillow can't release all the water it absorbs, and that trapped water can grow mold. Only the cover goes in the machine, so keep the foam itself out of the wash.
Don't wring a wet down pillow.
Wringing or twisting a wet down pillow is the wrong way to get the water out. Press the water out with your hands instead, and keep the pillow flat while you do.
Don't bleach or iron a down pillow.
Down-filled pillows can't take bleach or an iron, whatever the stain looks like. The detergent and cold-water methods above are the safe choices for this fill.
Don't use hot water on a stain you can't name.
Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, and a pale mark is hard to identify by eye. Stick to cold or lukewarm water until you know what the mark is.
When to call a professional
If the shell is dry-clean-only, use a reputable dry cleaner and discuss the method with them first, because dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils. For a feather pillow, a professional can remove the feathers and sterilize them with UV light, which is worth asking about if the mark stays.
Questions
What causes white stains on a pillow?
Usually residue, such as undissolved detergent or deodorant, or a mineral deposit left when water dried. Brush off any powder first, and test the cleaning on a hidden spot before you wet the mark.
Can I machine wash a foam pillow?
Only the cover. The cover goes through a cold, delicate cycle and dries flat, while the foam itself gets a sponge with warm, soapy water on the spot.
Can I put a down pillow in the washing machine?
Only if its label allows it. Use a detergent made for down at a low temperature, add an extra rinse, and dry it on low heat until the center is completely dry.
Can I use vinegar on a white mark on a pillow?
No, detergent and water alone handle this mark, so vinegar isn't needed. Keep acid cleaners away from the pillow unless its care label clearly allows them.
How do I know the pillow is dry?
Check the center by feel: it should be dry all the way through, with no cool damp spots, odor or clumps. Down may need several low-heat cycles before it gets there.
When should I replace a pillow?
When the stain or smell won't come out after washing. A pillow that can't be cleaned of its mark or odor is best replaced rather than kept.
White Marks 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.