If you’ve noticed your bedding has turned yellow, it’s likely due to a build up of sweat in the fabric – but there is an easy way to get them white again using two natural ingredients
Winter is nearly upon us, and many folks will be sprucing up their homes to prepare for the colder season, but if you notice any yellow stains, you might want to launder your bedding sooner. Pillows and other bedding items turn yellow due to sweat accumulating in the fabric, which is more common in winter as indoor humidity increases with radiators on and windows shut.
Not only does yellow bedding look unkempt, but these stains are also unhygienic – and the build-up of bacteria can lead to skin irritation and a smelly bed that’s unpleasant to sleep in. However, David Smith from the Down and Feather Company has shared a simple method to wash pillows and bedding to restore their whiteness using some “everyday household staples” you probably already have at home.
David advised: “Create a paste using lemon juice and baking soda, then gently rub it onto the yellow stains.”, reports the Express. “Let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly and allowing the pillow to dry.”
Lemon juice is a straightforward way to bleach fabric as it’s a natural bleaching agent, and will break down yellowing and any other discolouration on fabric. Baking soda is also handy as it’s mildly abrasive, which means it will loosen stubborn stains and lift any dirt from the fabric, enhancing the whitening effect of the lemon juice.
Here’s a simple way to get rid of sweat stains from fabric without resorting to bleach, which should never be used on yellow stains as the chemicals can react with the minerals in sweat and exacerbate the staining.
How to use lemon juice and baking soda to brighten up your bedding
Before you start, it’s crucial to check the labels on your pillows and other bedding items to see if they’re machine washable.
David advised: “It’s important to read care labels and test any cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area before applying it to the entire pillow.
“Different fabrics and pillow types may react differently to cleaning methods.” If your bedding isn’t suitable for the washing machine, then pretreat it by creating a paste from lemon juice and baking soda.
Smear this paste onto the stained area, let it sit for at least 30 minutes, and then wash your pillows or other bedding as usual.
Alternatively, you can add 120ml of lemon juice and 60g of baking soda directly into the drum of your washing machine along with your bedding, then run a regular hot wash.
Once the wash cycle is complete, hang your laundry outside if possible, as the ultraviolet rays in sunlight will naturally bleach the fabric and remove stains, reacting with the citric acid in the lemon juice.
David added: “Sunlight can help naturally bleach and freshen pillows. After spot treating or washing, hang the pillows in direct sunlight to dry. Rotate them occasionally for even exposure and ensure they are completely dry before using them again.”
Once you bring your pillows and other white bedding in from the line, they should be entirely free of marks, leaving you with fresh, comfortable bedding to enjoy at night.