Soda crystals, a natural cleaning product available at Home Bargains for under £2 per kilogram, can banish yellow stains from pillows in a single wash cycle. The product, added directly to the washing machine drum alongside a standard detergent capsule, left a yellow-stained pillow noticeably whiter after one wash.
Why soda crystals work
Many people turn to laundry bleach to whiten pillows and tackle bedding stains, but these products can be costly, aren't suitable for all pillow types, and don't always deliver desired results. Soda crystals offer a natural alternative that softens towels, brightens bedsheets, and removes brown stains from white socks. The crystals also work well with natural sunlight, as UV rays act as a natural whitening agent that refreshes fabrics without chemicals.
How to whiten and remove stains from pillows
Before laundering a pillow, check the care label to confirm it is machine washable and note the recommended temperature. One particular pillow was machine washable but restricted to a 40°C cycle. To freshen the pillow, add a scoop of soda crystals into the washing machine drum before adding detergent. Adding other white laundry items alongside the pillow helps prevent underloading and keeps the pillow filling from bunching.
Since the pillow can only be washed at 40°C, adding a laundry disinfectant to the machine's drawer helps banish as much bacteria as possible. Dettol Antibacterial Laundry Sanitiser is a reliable choice, though any comparable brand of laundry sanitiser works equally well. After washing, lay the pillow flat on a drying rack outdoors in direct sunlight. The UV rays break down any remaining stain particles, further brightening the pillow.
