The answer to the question of what causes yellow stains on mattresses gives you four options. Before you get squeamish, note that these four reasons for yellow staining are typical, especially with mattresses. After all, we spend a long time on our beds, and you can expect these things to accumulate over time.
We must clean our mattresses regularly to prevent stains. Not only are they visually unappealing, but low maintenance affects the mattress’s longevity. Continue reading this article to know the causes and ways to eliminate the unsightly yellow stains.
What Causes Yellow Stains On Mattress And How To Avoid Them
Body excretions
Natural body excretions such as sweat and oil are one reason we have yellow stains on our mattresses. You don’t have to experience night sweats or have a hot climate to sweat or produce natural oils every night since it’s common for everyone to have them, regardless. And while it may make you feel gross, sweat and oil will eventually accumulate on the mattress as yellow marks and even odor in some cases.
Remember that we spend a lot of time in bed with our face and head against the mattress, which is why covers are essential. What naturally leaves our skin will eventually work through the mattress, and when the oil and sweat dries, they’ll leave yellow stains. The culprit is the urea found in sweat, not the sweat itself.
Urine
Another substance with urea that ultimately leaves yellow marks on a mattress is urine. Whether a toddler or a pet, bedwetting will leave marks and discolorations on your mattress. What’s more challenging with urine is the stains also come with a musty smell that you must get rid of.
This is why it’s essential to use mattress protectors, and you know how to dry your mattress correctly. First, you must soak up the urine immediately to prevent it from seeping deeper into the material. You can also leave some baking soda on the affected areas and vacuum it off to help dry and deodorize.
Mold
Speaking of drying the mattress, mold can develop when you leave your bed damp or fail to dry it thoroughly. It doesn’t matter if the mattress is soaked or moist, as any moisture can encourage mold and mildew. These fungi are not only detrimental to health, but they also leave yellow spots on the affected areas.
Compared to the more obvious yellow stains from body excretions or urine, the yellow mold spots are smaller. However, you should quickly notice them when you inspect your mattress thoroughly. Never use a damp mattress and always dry it as soon as possible if it gets wet or spilled onto to avoid mold growth.
How Do You Get Rid Of Yellow Stains?
Now that you know how to avoid yellow stains, are there any techniques to remove them if they already developed? The good news is you can still redeem your mattress underneath these unsightly marks using a homemade solution of hydrogen peroxide and liquid dishwashing soap.
You may also add some baking soda in the mix or make a salt and lemon juice paste for spot treating your mattress. But if you’re dealing with old yellow stains that have marked the mattress deeply, opt for natural enzyme cleaners. They should also solve other stains and odors that have accumulated on the mattress.
Rub
Make the solution and scoop out the suds with a damp cloth. You’ll use this part of the mixture because you don’t want to add any more moisture to the mattress. Rub the stained areas with the cloth using a circular motion until the stains disappear.
Blot
To remove the soapy residue, blot the areas you cleaned with another cloth. This time, use a dry one until the area no longer feels moist. You can repeat the steps if you still notice the stains, or mist them with hydrogen peroxide.
Repeat
Let it sit for five minutes and repeat the blotting process. Do note that this technique might not work for old stains that have seeped through the material. You may want to hire professional cleaners if you’re dealing with stubborn stains.
How Do I Get My Mattress White Again?
Using the techniques above should help you remove yellow stains. But if you want to restore your mattress to its clean and white color, you can use a solution of water and dishwashing liquid and dab it all over. Let the soap sit for 15 minutes and repeat until the mattress turns white again.
This technique should help remove mystery stains or discolorations. If still ineffective, use white vinegar or a stain remover instead of dishwashing liquid. And for much older and stubborn stains, rent a steam carpet cleaner with an upholstery attachment to clean your mattress.
Conclusion
It would be best if you always used mattress covers to protect your bed from moisture and spills. However, you may end up wondering what causes yellow stains on mattress if your previously white bed has them. Remember that we lie on our beds for a long time, and our body oils and sweat can accumulate on the mattress.
If someone accidentally wet the bed or hasn’t dried thoroughly, which leads to mold growth, you can also expect to see yellow discolorations on the mattress. The good news is you can treat the stains with homemade removers and potentially restore your mattress to look cleaner.