Despite being unsightly, yellow stains on your mattress or pillows aren't anything to be ashamed of. They are more common than you think and usually result from sweat, body oils and urine accumulating over time.
Investing in one of this year's best mattress protectors can protect your mattress from stains in the first place. But if they're already appearing, it's time to pull on the yellow gloves and get to cleaning.
From baking soda pastes to alcohol and lime, here we'll walk through seven ways you can banish yellow stains to get your mattress as good as new. That said, if all fails and you decide a mattress upgrade is in order, check out our best mattress 2025 guide.
How to get yellow stains out of a mattress and pillow: 7 tips
1. Add white vinegar to your wash
Vinegar on chips is a staple, but on your bedsheets?! Who'd have thought it. Yet, this is a an easy hack for spring cleaning your pillows and bedding, no scrubbing required.
Simply add three cups of white vinegar in the conditioner compartment of your washing machine on a hot wash and, hey presto, your bedding is sure to come out brighter.
The acidity in the white vinegar breaks down and dissolves the residues of sweat and bodily fluids that cause yellowing.
White vinegar is usually a safe cleaning product for most fabrics when diluted properly. However, it is also worth checking the care label of your bedding and pillows before washing them with vinegar. Memory foam pillows, for example, should stay clear of the washing machine altogether.
2. Use shaving foam
Shaving foam does an amazing job of lifting stains from mattresses and pillows. Ingredients found in many popular brands of shaving foam will breakdown protein and oil-based stains, making it ideal for removing stains on mattresses and pillows caused by sweat and body oils.
Just grab a can of shaving foam and spray generously on the area. Rub it in to the stain and leave it for around an hour before wiping away with a damp cloth.
Whilst it’s generally safe for most mattresses, especially as the foam doesn’t create wet areas, it’s always worth testing a small amount of shaving cream in a hidden area before ensuring it doesn’t react with the fabric.
3. Use limes
Some would say limes have it all — looking to garnish your G&T? Slice of lime. Your marinade needs a little zest? Lime. Removing stains from your mattress and bedding? Reach for the lime.
Squeezing two limes on stains before popping your pillows on a hot wash can help lift them.
If it's mattress stains you're dealing with, slice the lime in half and rub it over the stained area.
Leave it to work for at least an hour before wiping away with a cloth dipped in hot soapy water. Note this won't work for super stubborn stains, but for fresh stains the lime's acidity should do the trick of lifting them.
Words of warning: don't do this with memory foam mattresses as wetting the foam material can damage its structure. And always leave to dry fully before replacing your bed sheets.
4. Use baking soda
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A lean, mean, cleaning agent, baking soda can give your mattress a refresh while removing stains and odours. It'll break down the proteins in stains making them easier to lift and neutralize any odors.
But how do you apply it? Strip your bed and give the surface a thorough vacuum (ideally with a specialized mattress vacuum), before sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda over the mattress.
Leave this for a few hours (the longer you leave it, the better it’ll work). Then return with the vacuum to pick up the powder. The baking soda alone will work with light yellow staining. But for stubborn stains, we recommend turning the baking soda into a paste (see next tip).
5. Make a baking soda paste
Baking soda can still tackle tougher yellow stains, but you've got to try a bit harder by turning it into a paste rather than sprinkling away. Worry not, it's a pretty simple recipe.
Mix together a cup of baking soda, two tablespoons of white vinegar, a couple of drops of essential oils and a tablespoon of water.
This should turn into a paste that you can apply to stains on your mattress. Leave the paste to fully dry, which may take a couple of hours and then vacuum up. If the stain is still visible then repeat the process.
6. Try hydrogen peroxide
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Sometimes we have to turn to chemicals to get rid of super stubborn stains. Hydrogen peroxide has mild bleaching properties that can help lighten yellow stains caused by sweat, body oils or even urine.
Create a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide diluted with equal parts water in a spray bottle.
Before you do this, always test the solution on a part of the mattress that you can’t see to make sure that it doesn’t react. Spray the spot with your solution, take your damp cloth and work it in. You should notice the stains lifting.
7. Use alcohol
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Like limes, alcohol is also a versatile substance that can be used to deep clean your mattress.
We recently wrote about using alcohol to clean your mattress and this tip shows how you can use a mixture of rubbing alcohol, soap suds, toothpaste and dish soap to remove yellow stains. Add all these ingredients to a spray bottle along with some warm water and shake well.
Spray the mixture over the stains on your mattress and using a soft bristle brush work the mixture in. Simply leave to dry and watch the stain lift. You may have to repeat a couple of times for set-in stains.
How to protect your mattress and pillows from yellow stains
Protecting your mattress and pillows from day one will save you the chore of removing yellow stains. Here's how to do it...
Mattress and pillow protectors
Buying one of the best mattresses protectors alongside your mattress is key to keeping your mattress fresh and prolonging its life.
Mattress protectors create a barrier between you and your mattress, stopping sweat and body oils from seeping into the mattress fibers and causing stains.
A machine-washable, waterproof protector is the best option to keep your bed fresh and primed against spills.
Pillows might not be as expensive as a mattress, but they also deserve protection. A quality pillow protector adds a protective layer between your pillow and pillow case that will absorb drool, spills and stains while barricading your pillow against general wear and tear.
Regular cleaning
Unsurprisingly, regular cleaning of both your mattress and bed sheets is key to keeping your bed stain-free.
Washing your bedding weekly will prevent sweat and oils from transferring to your mattress causing yellow discolouring.
Plus it will be easier to spot clean stains with baking soda immediately after spillages rather than letting them sink in, getting more stubborn.
Air it out
Leaving your sheets off for a few hours on cleaning day can go a long way in keeping your mattress in tip-top condition.
Let your mattress and pillows air out in a well ventilated room to prevent moisture build up. This lessens the chance of both stains and mold and mildew forming.
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