Prep first
Before you start
- Work out the cause first: the spot's place (underarm, collar, neckline) and how it appeared guide the treatment.
- Pretest any remover on a hidden area such as a hem or seam.
- Treat it soon, because perspiration can weaken most fibers if it is left.
- Yellowing caused by chlorine bleach damage is permanent, so no soak will bring it back.
Yellow on a pillowcase is usually sweat, antiperspirant or body oil residue that has slowly turned yellow in the fabric, sometimes months after it first showed up. Dryer heat is the big problem, since it sets the stain and makes it far harder to lift. Keep it to a careful soak in water, never hot water or chlorine.
The overnight soak in a color-safe powdered stain remover does most of the work, so give it the full time before you wash. Keep the wash gentle and cold, and check the spot only once the pillowcases are completely dry. If a stain has been set in for months, it may take a second round of the soak and wash to fade.
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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- Plastic dishpanHolds the overnight soak and keeps the pillowcases fully submerged (opens Amazon)
- Color-safe powdered stain removerMakes the soak solution, one scoop to 2 gallons of water (opens Amazon)
- Plastic spoonStirs the powder into the water until it dissolves
- Good laundry detergentUsed in the cold machine wash (opens Amazon)
- Washing machine and a drying rack or lineFor the gentle cold wash and the air dry (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Dissolve the powder in water
Fill a plastic dishpan with 2 gallons of lukewarm water and dissolve 1 scoop of a color-safe powdered stain remover in it. Stir with a plastic spoon until the powder has fully dissolved.
Careful. Use lukewarm water only. Never use hot water on a stain you cannot identify, because it can set protein stains.
Step 2 of 6
Soak the pillowcases overnight
Submerge the pillowcases completely in the solution for 8 hours or overnight. Weigh them down if they float, so every part of the stained area stays under the liquid.
Step 3 of 6
Rinse out the soak
Pour out the solution and rinse the pillowcases well in clean water. Rinse the plastic dishpan too, so no residue is left in it.
Step 4 of 6
Wash on a gentle cold cycle
Machine wash the pillowcases on a gentle cycle in cold water with a good detergent. Set the machine to gentle and cold before you start, and do not add anything else to the drum.
Step 5 of 6
Air dry and check the stain
Lay the pillowcases flat or hang them to air dry, then check the spot once they are completely dry. A pillowcase that looks clean while still damp can still hide the yellow.
Tip. Check in daylight, because indoor light can make yellow hard to judge.
Step 6 of 6
Repeat only if it's fading
If the yellow has faded but is still visible, repeat the soak and wash once more. If it looks the same after a full round, stop and read what is realistic for stubborn yellowing below.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for yellow stains on pillows
Pick a powdered stain remover labeled safe for colors, and use the scoop it comes with. Skip chlorine bleach products for this stain.
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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Yellow that fades after the soak and wash means the method is working. Yellow that looks the same after a full round is a stubborn stain, and the set-in section explains what to expect.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Pillowcases
Pillowcases take the full method above, since they are washable fabric you can soak and machine wash. Check the care label first, and if it calls for dry cleaning, take them to a dry cleaner instead.
Soak the whole pillowcase rather than just the spot, so the yellow is treated evenly. If the stain sits on a seam or thick hem, let the soak run its full time rather than scrubbing it hard.
Yellow-stained pillow
What the yellow is decides how you treat it. Residue yellowing from sweat, antiperspirant or oil is often treatable with the soak and wash, while yellowing from chlorine bleach on spandex or a resin finish is damage and will not come out.
Heat-set residue is the hardest kind, because dryer heat bakes it into the fibers. If the spot is old and dried, expect to repeat the soak rather than expect one pass to finish it.
White pillowcases
White pillowcases follow the same method, with one limit: do not stretch the mix or the soak to get more out of it. Extra-strong mixes, and soaks much longer than overnight, can yellow white fabric on their own.
If a white pillowcase still shows yellow after a round, repeat the full, correct-strength treatment instead of making it stronger. Check it once it is completely dry, since wet fabric can look lighter than it really is.
Pillow protectors and covers
Protectors and covers are removable layers, so you can treat them the same way as pillowcases. Check the care label before soaking, and do not use any setting the label does not allow.
Wash the cover separately from the insert, and keep the insert itself out of any soak. Foam and hybrid inserts cannot be submerged at all.
Pillow stained after sleeping
A yellow mark that shows up in the morning is usually fresh sweat or body oil, and it is far easier to lift while it is fresh. Treat it as soon as you see it, because perspiration can weaken fibers the longer it sits.
Pretest on a hidden seam first, then use the soak as written. If the spot is already dry and yellow, follow the set-in section instead, since it is more stubborn.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Yellowing that has built up over months is the hardest case, and it usually takes more than one round. Repeat the full soak and wash on the same pillowcase, using the same mix and soak time rather than a stronger or longer one. Stronger mixes and much longer soaks can yellow white fabric on their own.
If dryer heat set the yellow, expect it to be harder to lift, because the heat has bonded the residue into the fibers. Give it the full overnight soak again, and check it only once it is completely dry.
Some yellowing will not come out at all, especially damage from chlorine bleach or a resin finish, and no soak can reverse it. If it is still there after a couple of full rounds, that is the realistic limit. A pillow whose stains or smells cannot be removed should be replaced.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on yellow stains on pillows?
Several common home remedies were written for other stains or for hard surfaces, so only some of them apply to pillows. Stick to an overnight soak in lukewarm water with a color-safe powdered stain remover, then a cold gentle wash.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach on these pillows.
Down-filled pillows cannot take bleach, and chlorine bleach permanently yellows spandex and wool. Never mix it with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners either.
Don't iron or heat a yellow stain.
Heat and chemicals together will ruin most fabrics, and an iron can set residue for good. Keep the iron and high heat away from the pillowcase until the yellow is completely gone.
Don't wring a wet down pillow.
Press the water out instead of twisting it. Do not store or use the pillow until its center is completely dry, because trapped moisture causes clumping and odor.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The yellow is still there after one full presoak
Air dry first and look again, because some fading only shows on dry fabric. If you are making progress, repeat the whole presoak rather than switching to a harsher product, and keep the item out of the dryer in the meantime.
The yellow looks worse or patchier than before
Rinse thoroughly and stop treating that area. Yellowing can be damage rather than residue, such as bleach on spandex or on a resin finish, and that kind is permanent; pretest a hidden spot before spending another night on it.
The pillow still feels damp in the middle
Keep drying on low heat, air-fluff or no heat, never high heat, until the center is completely dry. Never use or store a pillow while it is damp, and never twist or wring a wet down pillow; press the water out instead.
The care label is missing and you cannot tell what the fill is
Treat it as delicate: keep the water cold or lukewarm, keep the treatment as mild as possible, and sponge rather than submerge if the filling feels like foam. Pretest a hem or seam first and let the item air dry completely.
When to call a professional
If a down pillow's shell fabric must be dry-cleaned, use a reputable dry cleaner and discuss the method with them first, since dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils. Professional cleaning is also an option for feather pillows, where the feathers are removed and sterilized with UV light. If a new pillow arrives damaged or defective, contact the maker before you clean it.
Questions
Why do pillows get yellow stains?
Yellowing usually comes from residues of sweat, antiperspirant, body oil or protein in the fabric. These residues slowly react with oxygen and turn yellow, sometimes months after the stain was made.
What are the yellow stains on my pillow?
They are usually body residue that has turned yellow, not one specific substance. Yellow can also be damage, such as chlorine bleach on spandex or a resin finish, and that kind is permanent.
What should I do about a fresh spot before it sets?
Treat any sweat or oil spot on a pillowcase as soon as you see it. Fresh residue lifts far more easily than yellowing that has built up over months.
Is yellowing from sweat bad for the fabric?
It can be, if it is left. Perspiration can weaken most fibers over time, so treat a sweat-yellowed pillowcase as soon as you notice it.
Can I wash a foam pillow in the washing machine?
No. Never machine wash or fully submerge a foam or hybrid pillow, because the foam cannot release all the water it absorbs and can grow mold. Stick to washing the pillowcase or a removable cover, and keep the insert dry.
Can I put a yellowed pillowcase in the dryer?
Not until the yellow is gone. Dryer heat sets residue stains and makes them more permanent, so air dry the pillowcase first and check it. Once it is clean, use low heat only if the care label allows it.
Yellow 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.