How to wash yellowed pillows: 3 tips to keep them white and looking new

What causes yellow pillows?

As you might imagine, the main and most common cause remains sweating. And for good reason: your pillow will gradually and irreversibly turn yellow every night because of it. Body sweat soaks into the pillow fibers before rising to the surface. But while sweating remains the most common cause, other factors, such as saliva, come into play.

The fluids we secrete contribute to the yellowing of the pillow that absorbs them. Furthermore, this discoloration isn’t just an aesthetic problem; it’s evidence that bacteria and dust mites have settled deep within the fibers. This is natural, as these creatures thrive in humid environments, which can cause conditions like asthma, allergies, or rhinitis.

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