Bleach 'never' removes yellow pillow stains but 2 powerful natural items do in 30 minutes

Pillows often get ignored when people wash their bedding, but they can easily gather bacteria and form unsightly yellow stains if left unattended for too long. It's crucial to clean pillows because they can attract germs and may also become home to dust mites and sweat, leading to an unpleasant odour in your bedroom.

David Smith, a laundry specialist from Down and Feather Company, claimed that a major reason pillows become soiled during the colder months is due to moisture accumulation from having the central heating switched on. He explained: "Moisture and humidity can destroy down, causing it to lose its loft and its ability to insulate properly. Moisture and humidity will create yellow stains on pillowcases, and your pillows will start to turn yellow." Eliminating these marks is more straightforward than you think, as you do not need a washing machine or resort to bleach for the job.

He claimed that bleach "never" removes the stain fully and can even make the marks "permanent". Instead, an "effective method" to remove pillow stains is by utilising simple kitchen essentials such as baking soda and lemon juice

David explained: "Create a paste using lemon juice and baking soda, then gently rub it onto the yellow stains. Let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly and allowing the pillow to dry."

It may appear peculiar, but lemon juice contains citric acid, which is not only antibacterial but excels at breaking down greasy sweat marks.

Baking soda is alkaline, so it can effortlessly lift stains when combined with lemon juice and water, whilst also absorbing odours, so your pillows will possess a fresh scent after you have finished treating them.

Simply combine lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda with a splash of water until they create a paste, then spread onto any marks you discover on your pillows.

As an alternative, you can immerse pillows in a bowl or bathtub and blend the paste into the water for a more comprehensive clean.

Allow the mixture to work or let the pillows steep for a minimum of 30 minutes to give the solution time to dissolve the stains.

After, the pillows should be "spotless and stain-free". Should any stains persist, then allow the mixture to work longer or give them additional soaking time.

When hanging pillows out to dry, consider positioning them outdoors during the morning hours, as sunlight's ultraviolet rays possess a natural bleaching effect which can eliminate bacteria whilst breaking down organic matter such as sweat.

David explained, "Sunlight can help naturally bleach and freshen pillows. After spot treatment 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."