Many people do not clean their pillows regularly but it is just as important as other bedding as they can quickly become a hotspot for bacteria and become discoloured. 

Pillows often become stained after the end of summer due to a build-up of sweat in the fabric and over time the moisture leaves behind salt that causes it to turn a greasy yellow colour.  

Luckily, Katie Berry, a cleaning expert and founder of Housewife How Tos has shared that it is simple to get pillows clean as long as you do not use bleach and use a homemade remedy instead. 

Katie explained: “Bleach doesn’t remove grease. In fact, it can make the stain more stubborn - even permanent. So here’s how I finally got my grimy pillowcases clean again. 

“This method is just as effective as strip washing but won’t leave your pillowcase thin or rough.” 

What are the best ingredients to clean pillows with? 

It may sound strange but items you have in your kitchen such as washing up liquid and baking soda are some of the most effective solutions for cleaning pillows. 

Washing up liquid has been designed to break down grease which makes it perfect for removing sweat and body oil stains that are the most common reason pillows become dirty. 

Baking soda has mild bleaching properties that will lift the yellow stains to return the pillow to its original colour. 

Plus, baking soda is a natural deodoriser which means it will break down any acidic substances causing bad smells to make the pillow smell fresh again. 

How to whiten pillows and get them clean again

You will need: 

• 60ml of washing-up liquid 
• 240g of baking soda 
• Hot water
• 480ml of white vinegar 

Method

All you have to do is fill a sink or bathtub with very hot water, then add the baking soda and washing-up liquid. 

Swirl the water around until the baking soda has fully dissolved, then submerge your pillow. 

Grab your pillow and rub it with your hand or if you have two pillows, rub them together until you’ve given them a good scrub. 

Drain the sink or bathtub, refill it with clean water and add a few drops of washing-up liquid. Leave the pillow to soak in the solution and at least an hour but preferably overnight. 

Once the time is up rinse the pillows thoroughly with hot water until there is no soapy residue and the water runs clear. 

Finally, put the pillows on a hot wash and rinse cycle with your regular laundry detergent but do not use fabric softener. 

Instead, you can add white vinegar to the washing machine detergent drawer where you would normally add the fabric softener as the vinegar is antibacterial and also helps break and dissolve stains. 

Katie said: “The vinegar in this final step removes any lingering greasy residue and kills odours so don’t skip it. If your machine has one, use a second cycle.”