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The Reason Why Your Favorite Pillow Gets Yellow Stains, and How to Clean Them

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola 20 décembre 2024

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Story at-a-glance

• Pillows commonly develop yellow stains from sweat, drool, oils and beauty products
• Studies show that yellowed pillows harbor harmful pathogens, including bacteria that survive up to 206 days, causing respiratory issues and allergic reactions
• Natural cleaning methods for yellow pillows include white vinegar, lime juice for new stains and baking soda paste mixed with essential oils
• Common laundry detergents contain harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with studies finding an average of 17 VOCs, including carcinogenic pollutants that have no safe exposure level

Have you paid attention to your pillow lately? Most people have a favorite pillow they've been using for several years, and despite the stains it has accumulated, continue to use it. Moreover, many refuse to wash their pillow, arguing that the stains have become part of its identity and are the secret sauce for a serene slumber.

Why Do Pillows Turn Yellow?

As noted in The Hearty Soul, many agree that a well-used, yellow-stained pillow offers comfort, but others find it unsanitary.¹ The source of this debate is an X user named Cam. He started a discussion about this very topic, saying that despite how his pillow looks, "this thing is magic."²

The post went viral, gaining millions of views. While many were disgusted, other people defended Cam, noting that the discoloration from long-term use offers a safe space where you comfortably rest your head. Other people jokingly said that they haven't been able to sleep properly after they replaced their old, yellow pillows for new ones.

But why does this happen in the first place? According to the Sleep Foundation, pillow stains occur due to the different substances that embed themselves into the fabric as you sleep. Here are some of the most common factors:³

• Sweat — According to Dr. Aarthi Ram, a sleep medicine expert at Houston Methodist, "It's normal to experience variations in your body temperature while you sleep, and sometimes this can lead to sweating." This happens due to different reasons, such as current stress level, your sleepwear and the temperature in the room.⁴

To reduce the incidence of night sweats, adjust the temperature to a lower setting or sleep in a cooler room in your home. Wear lighter pajamas as well.

• Damp or wet hair — The water from damp or wet hair acts much like sweat, causing discoloration in the pillow. The leftover water from your evening shower penetrates the pillowcase, so be sure to have enough time to dry your hair before going to sleep.

• Drool — As you sleep, saliva production continues to keep your mouth from drying out. Moreover, the muscles in your mouth relax, and when it opens, excess saliva runs out. This is usually normal and can be circumvented by sleeping on your back. If you sleep on your side or lie facing down, there's a higher chance for saliva to come out.⁵

• Oils from your skin and hair — Your skin and hair follicles contain sebaceous glands, which produce an oily substance called sebum. This substance protects your skin and hair from drying out, while also acting as a natural lubricant to reduce friction on your skin, moisture loss and the risk of skin infections. They're made from various fatty substances, such as cholesterol, which stain your pillow or pillowcase.⁶

• Beauty products — Many people have a nighttime skincare routine, and these products contain ingredients that will eventually stain pillows, especially when they're not yet fully absorbed by the skin before sleeping.

Is Sleeping on a Stained Pillow Unhealthy?

While sleeping on your favorite pillow is comfortable, there are several reasons why it would be wise to have it cleaned regularly. The Sleep Foundation provides several compelling arguments:⁷

"The first is the presence of allergens. Over time, dust mites, mildew, and other allergens can build up in a pillow, especially one that's been significantly affected by moisture. When these allergens accumulate, they can cause allergic reactions that may make it harder to sleep. Lack of sleep in turn can lead to a weakened immune system and other health issues.

The sweat, oil, and dead skin cells that turn a pillow yellow can also clog pores and potentially cause skin breakouts. Pillows can also be a source of bacterial buildup over time. We recommend replacing your pillow every one to two years or if it shows signs of excessive discoloration."

Indeed, microbes are most likely lurking in your dirty pillow. A study⁸ published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety noted that "pillows are known to be a source of human respiratory pathogens." Examples that were found include adenoviruses, fungi and bacteria.

In another study,⁹ mold embedded on pillows was found to be a risk factor for hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This condition causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and coughing after inhaling an allergen. When exposed to the allergen for long periods, chronic shortness of breath and tiredness develops.¹⁰

Pathogens are hardy organisms, so again, it's important to clean your beddings regularly. According to a study¹¹ published in GMS Hygiene and Infection Control, bacteria can survive on polyester for up to 206 days, and viruses can survive two to four weeks at room temperature.

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Natural Remedies to Help Clean Your Pillow

If you have a favorite pillow, cleaning it is important because it harbors pathogens and other substances that pose health risks. The Hearty Soul provides several natural strategies to make your pillow nice and clean again without resorting to poisonous laundry detergents:¹²

• White vinegar — Incorporate white vinegar to your laundry routine to help remove stains. Add it in your washing machine or soak your pillow in it with water before washing. According to the BBC,¹³ vinegar helps remove stains due to its acidic nature. When it makes contact with stains, the reaction produces a salt that easily dissolves in water.
• Lime juice — Squeeze two fresh limes onto the dirty pillow and soak it for an hour before putting it in the washing machine. Note, however, that this method is not strong enough for old stains. Only use it for new stains.
• Baking soda — Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix into a paste and place it on the stain. Dry and remove the residue, then wash.

In addition to the natural stain removers mentioned above, pay attention to the laundry detergent you're currently using, especially if it contains artificial fragrances. Many laundry detergents sold today hinge their reputation on keeping your clothes, beddings and other fabrics smelling nice after washing. Consumers value this feature so much that analyses are published comparing how well each product smells and for how long.¹⁴

While fragrant fabrics are pleasing to consumers, the problem is that they're toxic and will harm your health. And since you're not the only one using these products, you're exposing yourself to a large amount of these chemicals every day.

In an experiment by Anne Steinemann, Ph.D., a professor of civil engineering at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and her colleagues, they tested 25 top-selling household products, including air fresheners and all-purpose cleaners. The average number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted was 17. They summarized the dangers of fragrances:

"A single fragrance in a product can contain a mixture of hundreds of chemicals, some of which (e.g., limonene, a citrus scent) react with ozone in ambient air to form dangerous secondary pollutants, including formaldehyde. The researchers detected 133 different VOCs. Most commonly detected were limonene, α- and β-pinene (pine scents), and ethanol and acetone (often used as carriers for fragrance chemicals).

Each product emitted [one to eight] toxic or hazardous chemicals, and close to half (44%) generated at least 1 of 24 carcinogenic hazardous air pollutants, such as acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde or methylene chloride. These hazardous air pollutants have no safe exposure level, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."

To protect your health, I recommend washing your pillows, beddings and clothes using natural ingredients. Here's a recipe from Mommypotamus to get you started.¹⁵

Homemade Natural Laundry Detergent

Ingredients

• 6 cups washing soda
• 3 bars coconut oil soap (4.5 to 5 ounces each)
• Lemon essential oil (optional)

Procedure

1. Cut soap into small chunks. Add to a food processor along with the washing soda.
2. Blend until you have a fine powder. You may want to lay a dish towel over the top of your food processor to prevent a fine mist of powder from floating into the air. Also, let it settle a bit before opening the container or the powder will float onto your kitchen counter!
3. Pour into a clean container (keep the essential oil next to the jar and add five drops with each load).
4. - Sources and References
5. • ^1, 12 The Hearty Soul, October 30, 2024
   • ² X, October 22, 2023
   • ^3, 7 Sleep Foundation, “Why Do Pillows Turn Yellow?”
   • ⁴ Houston Methodist, March 3, 2020
   • ⁵ Very Well Health, “Reasons for Drooling in Your Sleep”
   • ⁶ Cleveland Clinic, “Sebaceous Glands”
   • ⁸ Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2020 Aug 18;205:111177, Letter
   • ⁹ Chest. 2021 Sep;160(3):e259-e263, Abstract
   • ¹⁰ American Lung Association, “What Are the Symptoms of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?”
   • ¹¹ GMS Hyg Infect Control. 2020 May 15;15:Doc10, Discussion
   • ¹³ BBC, March 6, 2023
   • ¹⁴ Discover, January 1, 2024 (Archived)
   • ¹⁵ Mommypotamus, How to Make Natural Laundry Detergent