Have you noticed? On the side where men sleep, both the pillow and the bedsheet always have a yellowish tint. Sometimes, a bedsheet that has just been changed a few days ago is still clean on the side where women sleep, but it has already begun to turn yellow on the men’s side. Is it because men don’t wash properly or don’t pay attention to hygiene?
Of course not. Here is a share from TikTok, the issue of men’s pillow and bedsheet turning yellow is actually widely prevalent, it’s the same for adults and children, and some people even think that sleeping on such pillows is more fragrant.
Moreover, not just men, but also some women’s pillows and bedsheets are prone to yellowing, it is evident that there must be other reasons for the yellowing, let’s introduce them below.
Why Do Pillows Turn Yellow?
A third of our lives, our heads and faces are in close contact with pillows. Various liquids absorbed by the pillowcase interact with the material, oxidize in the air, and with the passage of time, they leave the marks of age – turning yellow. These liquids may come from the face, from the hair, or from the bedroom air.
1. Various “waters”
Among them, sweat is the most common. When sleeping, the body sweats to regulate body temperature, especially on the scalp. Especially children, often when they sleep at night, their heads are full of sweat.
If you wash your hair before bed and do not blow it dry thoroughly. The residual water or shampoo and conditioner in the hair, through friction and contact, are absorbed by the pillowcase. And if the humidity in the bedroom is high or a humidifier is used, the excess water in the air is absorbed by the pillowcase, which also tends to turn yellow over time.
Additionally, some people may drool in their sleep. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, drool will flow onto the pillowcase and be absorbed. Especially when you have a stuffy nose or are used to breathing through your mouth or sleeping with your mouth open, the amount of drool is greater.
2. Various oils
The face and scalp are areas where sebaceous glands are densely distributed, and the lipids(such as squalene, triglycerides, etc.) secreted from here cover the surface of the stratum corneum, forming a sebum membrane barrier. And androgens can stimulate the growth of sebaceous glands and promote the synthesis and secretion of sebum.
The pillow, after a night of friction and contact, absorbs and mixes with sweat and shed skin keratinocytes, naturally giving the pillowcase a patina.
In addition to the above natural oils, some artificial oils (cosmetics/skin care products, face masks, ointments, perfumes, pomades, hair care products) may be uncommon reasons for yellowing of pillows.
Generally speaking, the normal use of sleeping skincare products does not have much oil and does not have obvious pigment; perfumes are volatile and are absorbed and decomposed quickly; pomades are generally not used before bed; conditioners are also washed off during shampooing.
However, using some hair care oils, occasionally rubbing ointments, and some high-concentration pigment-containing essence skincare products applied to the neck can be transferred to the pillow without your awareness.
3. Dust mites, fungi
The pillowcase absorbs the aforementioned water and oil, creating a humid environment, providing a good breeding ground for microorganisms, with the support of microorganisms, it is more likely to turn yellow.
So, the yellowing of pillows is basically due to excessive sweating, oily secretion, and drooling, and men are more prominent in this regard.
What To Do If Your Pillow Turns Yellow? How To Prevent It?
From the above analysis of reasons, as time goes by, if there is no targeted treatment, it is inevitable that everyone’s pillows will gradually turn yellow. Unless, of course, you are using a yellow pillow to begin with
So how can we prevent and slow down the yellowing process? Here are some suggestions:
1. Reduce sweating:
Turn on the air conditioner when it’s hot, and use cool pillowcases.
2. Regular cleaning:
Clean the pillowcase weekly, use waterproof pillowcases; clean the pillow every 4-6 months. Because the longer the staining time, the more difficult it is to remove, clean in time as soon as you notice discoloration.
When cleaning, some can be machine washed, some need to be hand washed, and some can only be dry cleaned, it is recommended to check the cleaning label. If the pillow is not supportive enough, or there is a noticeable odor after cleaning, it’s time to get a new one.
3. Avoid residue:
After washing your face and hair before bed, allow enough time to dry or blow dry. Use skincare products and ointments half an hour before bed, so that there is enough time for absorption, which can reduce the amount transferred.
Also, pay attention to the humidity in the room, 40-60% is a comfortable state, avoid too much humidity.
Finally, how do you deal with the yellowing of pillows? Welcome to share your experience in the comments section.
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