Yellowed pillows usually happen because of sweat, body oils, and moisture seeping through the pillowcase over time. You can easily brighten them up with the right washing technique.
Here are 3 effective tips to wash and whiten your pillows:
1.Run a Hot Water Cycle with a Whitening Booster:Use 2 pillows at once to balance the washing machine.
Instead of standard laundry detergent alone, use a powerful stripping mixture to break down deep-set body oils and yellow stains. Fill your washing machine with hot water, then add:
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1 cup of laundry detergent (powdered works best)
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1 cup of powdered dishwasher detergent (or washing soda)
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1 cup of bleach (use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach if you are washing feather or down pillows)
Let the water agitate until the powders dissolve completely, then submerge two pillows at once to keep the machine balanced during the spin cycle.
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Verification: The water should look slightly cloudy or sudsy, and the pillows should be fully saturated.
2.Add an Extra Rinse Cycle:Crucial for preventing residue buildup.
Pillows are dense and hold onto soap easily. Leftover detergent residue will attract dirt faster and can make pillows stiff. Once the wash cycle finishes, run an immediate, additional full rinse cycle with warm or cold water (no soap).
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Verification: Check the pillows at the end of the rinse; squeeze a corner to ensure no soap bubbles or suds leak out.
3.Tumble Dry on Low Heat with Dryer Balls:Takes 1 to 2 hours.
Throw the pillows into the dryer on a low-heat setting. Toss in a couple of clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls to fluff up the filling and prevent clumps from forming.
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Verification: Check the pillows thoroughly before storing them. They must be 100% dry inside and out, as any trapped dampness can lead to mold or mildew growth.
