USEFUL TIPS
Best Ways To Get Yellow Stains Out of White Sheets
6 min read
6 min read
There is nothing more luxurious than the look of crisp, white bedsheets on your bed. While you can get sheets in a myriad of colors and patterns, you can’t do much better than sticking with a classic white bedsheet.
Unfortunately, you have to accept great risks to have great rewards. While white sheets look great when they’re crisp and clean, they can be prone to easier staining and yellow discoloration than other types of sheets.
Thankfully, there are plenty of solutions for getting the yellow out and whitening your sheets. Or, if you’re new to using this set of sheets and haven’t faced any problems yet, you can learn how to keep white sheets white to enjoy them for a long time.
Read on to find out how to get yellow stains out of white sheets.
What Causes Yellow Sheets?
Before we dive into how to remove yellow stains from your white sheets, let’s talk about why they may be turning yellow in the first place. There are a few different reasons why your white linens are yellowing.
Here are a few of the most common reasons.
Night Sweats
Most people sweat a little bit each night as they sleep. There can be plenty of causes for this, whether the room's temperature or simply having too many cozy blankets on the bed.
However, night sweats are a more serious and frustrating condition. If you experience night sweats, you may wake up with your clothes and sheets soaked through with sweat.
What causes night sweats? There are a few different known causes, including:
- Menopause
- Anxiety
- Medication
- Hormone Issues
If night sweats are a consistent problem for you, you’ll want to discuss potential solutions with your doctor. Not only is it uncomfortable and can ruin your quality of sleep, but it will also leave sweat stains. These stains on your white sheets will likely yellow over time if they are not taken care of properly.
Bodily Fluids
Besides sweat, your body produces other fluids as you sleep at night. These fluids can accumulate over time and cause your sheets to yellow.
While there isn’t much you can do about that, you can take steps to wash your sheets regularly and reduce the accumulation of fluids.
Natural Oils From Your Skin
Your body is doing important work while you sleep, and a lot of that work involves your skin. Your skin produces natural body oils throughout the day and even at night.
If you don’t take proper care of your skin before bed, those oils can create buildup on your pillowcases and sheets. You’re also shedding dead skin cells as you sleep, another great reason to clean your sheets often.
Lotions and Skincare Products
While not taking care of your skin can cause yellowing sheets, surprisingly, so can taking care of your skin. Certain lotions and skin care products will get onto your sheets as you lay in bed. Some of these products' chemicals and natural ingredients can cause discoloration.
Dirty Sheets
One thing all of the above problems have in common is this: dirty sheets are more likely to yellow over time. The general rule is to wash your sheets at least once a week, but many people disregard that advice.
Unfortunately, if you don’t wash your sheets, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Not only will your sheets discolor and smell, but you may also experience breakouts, as dirty sheets are terrible for your skin.
If you don’t have time to wash your sheets as often as you would like, that’s okay. However, it is important to find a solution that works for you!
Purchase an extra set of sheets so you can change your sheets sooner than you’re able to wash your first set. Or, consider getting a set of silver antibacterial sheets. These sheets stay cleaner longer, so you can wait a few extra days between washes.
How Can I Prevent Yellow Sheets?
Now that you know what causes yellow sheets, you can also learn how to get yellow stains out of white sheets. There are a few tips that may help you prevent yellow bed sheets, all while you get a good night’s sleep.
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Keep your bed cool. If you experience night sweats, you’ll want to find a good way to keep your bed cool while you sleep. However, you don’t need to do something extra to stay cool, like taking an ice-cold bath before bedtime. Instead, select sheets that stay cool and temperature regulate throughout the night.
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Shower before bed. Rid your body of as much sweat, dead skin, and natural oil as possible before you crawl into your sheets. This can help minimize what soaks in as you sleep.
- Keep your bed clean. Wash your sheets regularly to keep them clean. Additionally, make sure to wash your pajamas regularly, as the same things that get on your sheets likely stay on your pajamas as well.
How To Wash White Sheets
So, you are probably wondering how to wash white sheets and remove yellow stains. Or maybe you’re wondering how to whiten your sheets overall.
Here are a few ways:
Pre-Soak Your Sheets
Soak your sheets before putting them in the washing machine. You can use a few different solutions to soak your sheets before washing them.
Some recommend a cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water. Others say that a cup of hydrogen peroxide in cold water will do the trick. Of course, you can always stick to a classic cup of bleach.
Use the Right Laundry Detergent
Use hot water and the right amount of detergent in your washer. Adding too much regular detergent can actually cause staining on your sheets because of leftover residue. Or, don’t worry about measuring out the perfect amount.
Simplify your laundry routine by switching to detergent sheets. Powerful, eco-friendly, and just the right amount for a wash cycle, these detergent sheets will leave your sheets looking nice and crisp every time. Some regular laundry detergents just don’t do the trick to whiten sheets.
Add a Touch of Baking Soda or Lemon Juice
Add some baking soda or lemon juice to the washing machine. Don’t overdo it when you launder your sheets; a little goes a long way and can help remove the staining from your sheets.
Only use lemon juice if your sheets are cotton or polyester, as it works best on these materials. Use half a cup of lemon juice in a gallon of hot water.
Dry Your Sheets Properly
Let your sheets dry correctly to increase their longevity and crisp, clean look. Each set of sheets is different, so check out the drying instructions on the tag. Some recommend you air dry, while others have specific dryer instructions.
Generally, you should tumble dry on low heat. Don’t over-dry your sheets, you can take them out when they are still just a touch damp in order to avoid wrinkles. These tips are great for white sheets but also helpful if you’re wondering how to remove yellow stains from white clothes!
Are There Sheets That Don’t Turn Yellow?
Did you know that certain sheets out there won’t turn yellow as easily as your regular old white sheets? It’s true! You won’t have to keep searching “how to keep white sheets white” with these sheets!
New technology has been introduced to bed sheets that involve using silver fibers weaved into high-quality cotton fibers to create sheets that can kill bacteria — thereby preventing odors and stains! So how exactly does this new technology work, anyway?
Silver possesses ions with a positive charge that can attract bacteria like a magnet and trap it inside before it can reproduce and spread throughout your entire sheet. This physical reaction translates into sheets that don’t have to be washed as often as regular sheets and don’t develop nasty odors that lead to you washing your sheets more often in the first place!
When it comes to silver-infused sheets, it doesn’t get much better than our Miracle Brand line of products. We offer two different options for sheets: Signature and Extra Luxe. The Signature Sheet Set features 350-thread count cotton sheets and comes with two pillowcases, one fitted sheet, and one flat sheet in sizes twin, full, queen, and king.
The Extra Luxe Sheet Set features 500-thread count Supima cotton sheets that are incredibly soft thanks to a fabric that is known as one of the highest quality in the world. These sheets feature a sateen weave so that they feel extremely luxurious, smooth, and silky on your skin. If you’re looking for quality and luxury — these are the sheets for you!
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to get yellow stains out of white sheets; you’re well on your way to having a crisp, clean sheet set for your bed. Remember that keeping your sheets white begins with preventing staining in the first place.
Be sure to keep your room at the right temperature to avoid sweating overnight, and wash your sheets regularly. If you’re looking to revive an old set of sheets, you can take steps to remove stains during the washing process by soaking them or using a stain remover.
Or, avoid the hassle entirely by investing in a set of sheets that won’t turn yellow as easily as normal sheets!
Sources:
8 Causes of Night Sweats: Menopause and More | WebMD
What Causes Night Sweats? | Sleep Foundation
How Often You Should Wash Your Sheets (And How to Get Them Really Clean) | Wirecutter
