Whether it’s from sweat accumulated at night or after spending a long time in a damp attic or closet, our pillowcases can eventually turn yellow. Unfortunately, a trip to the washing machine may not be enough in this case, even if you add a natural whitening ingredient to the drum before starting a wash cycle! In this case, we may be tempted to resort to bleach. However, this environmentally friendly cleaning product tends to damage fibers and risks yellowing textiles, so what to do? To whiten a pillowcase, we offer you an effortless, ancestral tip that will not disappoint you!
Inspired by our grandmothers who made it on their stove with a large metal basin, it allows you to de-yellow laundry naturally and effectively. Here’s how to do it step by step to find a snow-white pillowcase.
The ingredients:
-4 liters of water
-55 g baking soda
-1 generous tablespoon of salt
Also bring a large saucepan to carry out this trick. It should be able to hold all your ingredients as well as the pillowcase to detach. The combination of sodium bicarbonate and salt will help to loosen and deodorize laundry while removing yellowish stains as well as any rust or mold stains.
How to whiten a yellowed pillowcase?
1) Start by putting the water in the saucepan to boil.
2) Next, add your powders to it, making sure to mix well to dissolve them.
3) You will then just have to immerse your white laundry in this salted and bicarbonated water and lower the heat so that the water simmers without boiling. Make sure at this stage that your pillowcase soaks well in liquid.
4) You can then let your pillowcases soak in this mixture for an hour.
5) Take them out, being careful not to burn yourself, and rinse everything with cold water.
6) Finally, after a good spin, all you have to do is hang out your pillowcases. If drying in full sun is generally recommended, a full moon night can here complete the bleaching work for laundry that shines white and clean.
Optionally, you can also soak your yellow pillowcases in hot water with sodium percarbonate overnight before washing. You can then consider adding white vinegar to the washing machine rinse water to eliminate limescale which harms the shine of the laundry.
How to prevent a pillowcase from yellowing?
To prevent a pillowcase from turning yellow, it is essential to understand that yellow stains usually come from sweat, skin oil, and residue from hair or facial care products. Here are some tips to prevent this discoloration.
First of all, wash your face and hair before sleeping to reduce residues deposited on the pillowcase. Also avoid applying oily treatments before bed or wear a satin nightcap to avoid soiling the sheets. Using bedding made from breathable materials like cotton or linen helps limit the buildup of moisture and oil, especially if you sleep with wet hair. Despite these precautions, also be sure to change your pillowcase at least once a week to prevent dirt from accumulating there. This will also limit the appearance of pimples on your face. You can also use a protective pillow cover under the pillowcase .
In addition to regular maintenance, wash pillowcases with a little white vinegar or baking soda. In fact, these natural agents neutralize the fatty acids responsible for yellow stains and revive the color of the fabric without damaging it. To avoid this yellowish appearance, it is also recommended to wash the pillowcases in cold waterwhich better preserves the fibers and prevents stains from setting in. When washing, preferably avoid fabric softeners which can trap residue in the fibers. Finally, do not fold or store the pillowcases until they are completely drybecause there is a risk of maceration.