Why is my husband’s pillow yellow? You may ask. Having a crisp, white pillow with a yellowish or brownish stain is the worst, and I can relate to that.
It is probably your husband’s, and you would wonder why this nasty and unpleasant grime.
Well, fret not! These are the top three reasons why is my husband’s pillow yellow. These include body sweat, drool, product breakdown & oxidation, and exposure to light.
This article will further elaborate on those and provide you tips on reducing and eliminating those yellow stains. Keep on scrolling to know more!
Reasons Why Is Your Husband’s Pillow Yellow?
Yellow stains on a white pillow are very unpleasant to the eye.
I found four main factors why your husband’s pillow yellow; that discolor on his pads might be caused by the following:
#1. Body sweat
We sweat while we sleep. It is your body’s natural response regarding maintaining and balancing your internal temperature.
However, scientists have found out that larger men (and men generally) tend to sweat more often than women.
This statement could be the reason why your husband’s pillow is yellow.
The urea found in your sweat’s chemical composition reacts to the white sheets in the pillow.
However, this process takes an extended period, and it won’t happen overnight. The yellow stains are buildups of sweat and oils that your body produces.
#2. Drool
Well, drooling is inevitable, am I right? Your husband could be doing that all night and that would stain his pillow.
Drool stains are often characterized as brownish, cloud-like patches on your pillow.
These stains are in this color because drool traps dirt and dust on a pillow’s clothing. Minimizing and quitting drooling could significantly cut down these stains.
#3. Product breakdown & oxidation
Did you know that these pillows are only synthetically white?
These textiles are subjected to chemicals that brighten and whiten the pigmentation, giving your pillows a bright white look.
It makes the pillows look clean and attractive, which is a perfect marketing strategy.
However, this optical brightener breaks down over time. It is due to exposure to oxidation from surrounding humidity, which diminishes the whiteness of that pillow.
Your husband’s white pillow could also turn yellowish.
It may be due to washing it frequently since the optical brightener wears off as it comes in contact with water often. This process affects the brightening compounds.
#4. Exposure to light
Lastly, pillows turn yellow because of exposure to light.
The UV rays from light sources (especially the Sun) break down the brightening compounds within the pillow’s surface.
It could be the reason why your husband’s pad could still be yellow despite him not sweating or drooling overnight!
This yellowing could be disheartening to the eyes, but it is expected as pillows usually don’t go white forever. However, you could still do something about it!
How To Remove Yellow Stains On A Pillow?
Removing yellow stains in your pillow is easy as 1, 2, and 3!
You only need a few materials: kitchen sponges, laundry pretreatment, salt, ammonia, one-gallon containers, and white vinegar.
You could begin by pre-treating new stains using a pre-soaked enzyme product.
However, your pillow’s fabric should not be silk, linen, or wool, as these could bleed or be heavily discolored in the process.
If there’s still a stain, never rewash it or put it in the dryer. Doing so will heat-set the stain and would make it difficult to remove.
It would help if you sponged the affected area with a mix of 1 tbsp. Ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Immediately air-dry afterward.
However, if the stains are older and impossible to remove, mix a solution of 1 tbsp: white vinegar and 1/2 cup water.
Apply the mixture and let it dry until the stains are eliminated.
What if there’s no hope and your husband’s pillow is still yellow? Well, you can insert the pillow inside a clean, reusable pillowcase and leave the pad as it is.
Otherwise, you can consult your local clothes washing shop and request a pillow cleaning. Or, if you have the budget, buy a new one instead!
Related Questions
Here are the answers to your questions:
#1. Can I use bleach to remove yellow pillow stains?
Yes! Bleach is an excellent pretreatment chemical that could eliminate those nasty yellow stains.
A drop of this could also improve your pillows’ pigmentation and coloration, which whitens them even more.
#2. Can I dry stained pillows inside a dryer or expose them outside?
No. Doing so would make the stains harder to remove, and further exposure to sunlight would affect the pillow’s coloration.
Remove the stains by pre-treating those and using laundry chemicals that improve the pillow’s pigmentation.
Final Words
Why is my husband’s pillow yellow? There are four main reasons behind this: body sweat, drool, product breakdown & oxidation, and exposure to light.
However, you could also diminish the discoloration by using laundry chemicals that make your pillow white and clean.
A great family starts with having a great connection with your husband. Knowing what’s best for you and your husband’s cleanliness and overall quality of life would make your relationship better.
Good luck and best wishes!