I have this one set of cotton sheets that I love. They are so soft and comfortable and snuggly that I have a tendency to wash them and put them right on my bed.
Lately, I have noticed yellow stains on them. So, I researched what they are and how to remove yellow stains from white cotton sheets.
You will find all that I learned right here in this one place. That way you can keep using your favorite sheets without worrying about them staining to the point that you don’t want to use them.
Yellow stains on sheets are often caused by body sweat, beauty products, and oils that our body naturally secrets. It can be difficult to wash out. While bleach used to be the go-to product for stains like this, most people are choosing natural products instead. For example, a good soak in baking soda and a line try can remove the stains and have health benefits as well.
How to Remove Yellow Stains
There are a few techniques that will get these stains from your sheets. Some are not as easy as others. We will take a look at two tried and true methods. I will even walk you through the steps that you need to take to get it done.
The All-Natural Approach
Both Vinegar and Baking Soda come in handy with this. DO NOT; I repeat DO NOT, use them at the same time. You will have quite a mess on your hands, and that is never much fun.
If you want to create a volcano, use them together. If you want clean sheets to use either but not both.
You should know that vinegar can leave a smell on your sheets that can be hard to get out. Do not use more than a third of a cup of vinegar.
- Fill your washer with warm water. You can also use your bathtub or the soak cycle on your washer. For a front loader, you will have to do this step last.
- Add either baking soda or vinegar.
- Let it soak for thirty minutes to an hour.
- Wash as you would normally, but do a double rinse cycle if you are using vinegar.
- Line Dry
That’s it. Your sheets will be nice and clean
The Dish Soap Approach
This is fair. However, you have to know that if you do this in your washer, you will need to use A LOT less dish soap because it will cause suds and you will have enough to mop the floor of your laundry room. Or worse. I know from experience. It’s worse than the vinegar and baking soda bomb.
- Soak your sheets
- Lay them out flat and work dish soap into each stop.
- Soak your sheets for an hour
- Wash without using laundry soap. Double rinse.
- Dry as normal.
The Extended Wash Approach
This is the simplest, but it also the least effective. Wash your sheets as normal but add borax soap and bleach to your cycle and it will help your sheets get cleaner. It’s best to line dry. You may want to do a couple of cycles back to back to get them as cleans as you can.
Let’s talk about some frequently asked questions.
Can you use bleach on white sheets?
Yes, you can use bleach on white sheets. However, bleach can cause problems. For example, bleach can eat holes in your sheets, especially if you use too much.
Bleach will also cause your sheets to wear out sooner because it breaks down the fibers in cotton. Double rinse your sheets because the smell of bleach can make you sick and residues can irritate your skin.
Why do my bed sheets turn yellow?
As you sleep, your body naturally sheds oils. You also sweat. This can be absorbed into your sheets, especially cotton ones, which causes discoloring. Skin care products, lotions, and even residue left over from soaps can cause this discoloration to be worse.
Most of the time, this can’t be prevented, even if you shower before bed.
How do you wash white bed sheets?
You should always wash your white bed sheets with other white clothing or by themselves. Adding baking soda to the washer cycle can help to minimize irreversible stains. Different stains often need different treatment methods.
Of course, you can use the tips above on any stains.
How do you get sweat stains out of sheets?
Sweat stains are the same thing as the yellow stains. The methods outlined above can help you remove these stains. You can use a cooling blanket or sheets for night sweats if you would like to reduce your night sweats and help you to remain cooler at night.
Do all sheets change color or just white?
White sheets turn yellow. That is what makes it most obvious. The decolorization does happen with all sheets, but neutral shades hide it better.
Dark colors, like blue or black, often turn white or have lighter spots in them. It may not be as easy to see what the stains are. It may also take you longer to notice the sheets are changing colors because it is so subtle. A lot of times, you can’t reverse this color fading like you can with a white sheet.
Are more expensive sheets less likely to turn yellow?
Research shows that it doesn’t matter how much you spend on your sheets. There isn’t a single type of white cotton that yellows more or less than any other due to the fabric.
The way you sweat, the oils of your body, and your skin can routine all affect your sheets.
Conclusion
I hope that you found useful and informative information throughout this article. I know I learned a lot about sheets and how to remove the yellow stains from white cotton sheets as I was researching.
Now you know why your sheets turn yellow and how to fix it. Have a great night’s sleep!
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