Why do pillows turn yellow sooner or later? It\u2019s something we all notice (and maybe pretend we haven\u2019t seen, and compensate for by popping on an extra pillowcase), but what\u2019s the story behind it? As you might expect, it\u2019s largely the result of what your pillow is exposed to during the night.\n

We\u2019re here to spill all the info on what\u2019s making your pillows turn yellow, as well as to explain how you can tell whether your pillow\u2019s a healthy sleep surface. Bottom line: if you\u2019ve had your pillow for more than a couple of years it\u2019s almost certainly past its best, and if it\u2019s covered in horrible yellow or brown patches as well, that\u2019s a sure sign that it\u2019s time for a sparkling new one; fortunately our best pillows guide can point you right at the best options available now.\n

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Let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves, though, because we\u2019re sure you want to know all the details about what causes those yellow stains on your pillows, and what you can do about them. And if you\u2019re more interested in getting rid of the stains than understanding how they happened (we can\u2019t say we blame you), head instead to our expert feature on how to wash a pillow and how often.\n

Why do pillows turn yellow?\n

There are a few possible causes behind yellow stains on a pillow, but the most likely culprit is sweat. You\u2019re probably not even aware of it but most us sweat a little in the night, and this can wick through your pillowcase and on to your pillow. It might not amount to much in one night, but over time it can build up and eventually cause yellow staining.\n

And it\u2019s not just sweat that makes your pillows turn yellow. Other forms of moisture such as your skin\u2019s natural oils, not to mention skin and hair product that you might not have washed off before bedtime, can all end up on your pillow and contribute to those unsightly yellow stains. And if that\u2019s not enough ghastly detail for you, take a look at our guide to what happens to your pillows when they aren\u2019t washed regularly.\n

It\u2019s the same with mattresses, so if yours is over seven years old and covered in stains (and shows other signs of wear and tear), consider upgrading. Our best mattress guide can help, and our roundup of the latest mattress sales can find you the best price when you buy.\n

Are pillows with yellow stains ok to sleep on?\n

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If your pillow is over two years old and covered in yellow and brown stains, we\u2019d recommend buying a new one. This is especially true if you haven\u2019t washed your pillow since buying it and don\u2019t use a pillow protector.\n

Chances are, the pillow has a build-up of other things besides sweat, oils and dead skin: dust mites might be lurking, as well as other allergens. Moisture from sweat and oil can also breed bacteria. And if your pillow is causing you neck pain or has lost its shape, then it\u2019s definitely time to replace it.\n

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Dr Karan Raj went viral on TikTok for explaining why you need to replace your pillow at least every two years and what happens when you don\u2019t. Here\u2019s what he said\u2026\n

How to stop your pillows turning yellow\n

There\u2019s nothing you can do to stop yourself from sweating completely in bed, but you can better protect your pillows from yellow stains. The most effective way is to cover your pillow with a pillow protector. These are an inexpensive way to add an extra barrier between sweat, oils, moisture and your pillow.\n

Pillow protectors can be washed weekly along with the rest of your bed linens, making them low maintenance. We\u2019d recommend having a few in rotation so that you always have one on standby.\n

Try not to sleep on wet hair as otherwise all that water will seep through and turn your pillow yellow over time. Also, avoid wearing heavy oil-based serums and creams to bed, and remove your make-up before hitting the hay.\n

Can you remove yellow stains from a pillow?\n

You can\u2019t remove yellow stains completely (especially older stains that have really bedded in), but there are ways to reduce them. Now, whenever we talk about cleaning bedding, including how to clean a mattress and how to wash a duvet, we always recommend reading the care instructions first.\n

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\nYour pillow should have a small fabric tag sticking out the side \u2013 that\u2019s where you\u2019ll find guidance on how to wash your pillows and how to dry them (never cover damp pillows with linens as otherwise they could develop mildew).\n

Spot-treat stains before machine washing your pillow (if it can be machine washed). Stain removal sprays and creams are potent but effective, while mixing your own paste of baking soda and water offers a natural approach.\n

Some cleaning experts recommend using a mix of bleach and washing detergent to remove stubborn yellow stains, but you need to be very sure that the materials used to make your pillow can withstand such a tough treatment.\n

For the most part, pillows turn yellow because of sweat and oils seeping through your linens to the pillow itself, but cosmetics, hair products, water (from damp hair) and drool can also cause yellow stains on pillows.\n

The best way to reduce staining is to cover your pillows with a waterproof, anti-allergen pillow protector. These safeguard against moisture and dust mites, and help your pillow to reach its full lifespan, saving you money in the long-run. If you are looking to upgrade and fancy an adjustable pillow that can be customized to your sleep style, read our Layla Kapok Pillow review.\n

On that note, consider investing in the best mattress protector to safeguard your mattress from stains, spills and allergens. Depending on how deep they are, you could even place one over your mattress topper to keep that safe too.\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wondering why pillows turn yellow or brown? We have all the horrible facts for you. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works. Why do pillows turn yellow sooner or later? It\u2019s something we all notice (and maybe pretend we haven\u2019t seen, and compensate for …\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":88133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88132"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88135,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88132\/revisions\/88135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}