Tips for Washing Yellowed Pillows

Before you get into washing pillows, you should read the instructions first. Not all pillows are machine washable and might have to be dry cleaned. Therefore check the tag on your pillows for instructions. If you’ve removed the tag accidentally, you can find out washing instructions from that company’s website too. Check for any seams that might open during washing and fix them before you start.

Pillows are home to sweat stains, bacteria and dust particles which turn them yellow over time. Even if you’re careful not to sleep with hair oil or makeup on, your pillows will turn yellow eventually if you do not wash them every once in a while. Yellowed pillow stains can be easily whitened but it is best to treat those stains before you put the pillows in the washing machine.
The best way to get rid of sweat stains out of pillows is to use a DIY cleaning solution. Make a solution with ½ cup vinegar, ¾ cup baking soda and water or a ready made stain removal solution. Spray it on the stained area of the pillow and leave for 10 minutes for getting all sweat stains out of pillows. Then move to the next step i.e. washing the pillows.

You can either wash your pillows at home, in your machine or go to the laundromat to ease the task for you. You can wash your pillows in a top loader and front loader machine, both. However, front loader is the best option when it comes to whitening pillows.
Try and wash two pillows at one if your machine capacity allows you to. Do not leave the machine fairly empty as that will definitely clump your pillows. The key is to use as less detergent as possible, a tablespoon would suffice. Run the machine on a gentle setting and that too for a few minutes only.

If your pillows aren't as white as they used to be, washing them with this DIY formula will leave them looking as good as new. Since pillows are supposed to be washed twice a year, incorporating this DIY trick into your laundry routine will make them look fresh all year round. Not to mention, washing them at home is much more cost-efficient than buying a whole new set. Follow these steps to achieve bright white pillows now!

What You'll Need
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup vinegar
Laundry detergent
Laundry booster
Directions
1. Toss old pillows in the washing machine and set to soak. Washing two at a time balances the washing machine so they clean evenly. Add the hydrogen peroxide and vinegar to the drum of the washing machine. (Hydrogen peroxide is a natural whitener, and vinegar tackles deep-set stains.)
2. Once the soak cycle has run, wash the pillows with your regular liquid detergent along with laundry booster. A laundry booster enhances your detergent's abilities, seriously cleaning the pillows. You can use your favorite brands, or try making your own.
3. Remove the pillows from the washing machine, and toss them in the dryer. Once they are dry, you can enjoy fresh white pillows!

Washing may not be the trickiest part of the entire process but drying the pillows sure is. Failing to dry them properly will result in clumping and breaking of feathers, defeating the purpose altogether. Therefore, it’s important that you are very cautious while doing so.
1. Run the spinner on a low setting. Make sure that you don’t run it on any auto-dry or smart setting that relies on moisture sensors, since it will leave the filling damp. You will need a few rounds and have to spare a few hours for this activity.
2. Use tennis balls while spinning the pillows dry. This will decrease the average drying time required. You can also add in white dry towels, that will absorb moisture and dry the pillows up quicker.
3. To ensure that the pillows are completely dry, hand fluff them to see if there’s any moisture present. This will also help make your pillows fluffy again and prevent it from clumping.
4. Add essential oils to leave a lasting fragrance which you can enjoy for the first few days as you sleep on your whitened pillows.
Although you should replace your pillows every now and then, stains and yellowed cases shouldn’t be a reason. Following these simple tips and precautions can get you pillows that look brand new.