Pillows can quickly become stained, even when protected by pillowcases. After noticing the severe yellow staining on one of my pillows, I contemplated discarding it but decided to try a cleaning hack I’d seen on a Mrs Hinch Facebook page first.
Instead of using typical household cleaning products like white vinegar, baking soda and bleach, they suggested an alternative natural item that’s “powerful”. They suggested that soda crystals, when combined with your regular laundry detergent, can whiten and remove stains from pillows.
Some cleaning enthusiasts recommended soaking your dirty pillows in soda crystals and water before adding them to the washing machine, however, I chose to see if it would work when added directly to the machine. I began by measuring half a cup of soda crystals, as this is the amount recommended for stain removal.
I added the soda crystals to the washing machine along with my laundry detergent, then added the stained pillow. Alongside the pillow, I included some other white laundry, as cleaning fans claimed this is a “game-changing” method to maintain your pillow’s original shape during the wash.
I then set the washing machine to a full cycle at 40 degrees, which takes about 45 minutes. After the cycle was complete, I removed the pillow and the rest of the laundry from the washing machine, and it was hard to believe this was the same dirty pillow that went in, reports the Express.
The soda crystals had helped to remove the stains, brighten the pillow and even help to soften it. What’s more, I couldn’t believe how well this worked without the need to pre-soak or use bleach.
While there are specific laundry stain-removing products on the market, using soda crystals is so much cheaper and I already have them to hand in my cleaning cupboard. I used the Dri-Pak Soda Crystals that are sold as a 1kg bag in B&Q for £2.50 and at Robert Dyas for £4.39.
Households can pick up any brand of soda crystals as they’ll all give the same results. The 500g of Elbow Grease Soda Crystals retails for £4.99 currently on Amazon.
With it being a clear and somewhat sunny day, it was a good opportunity to dry the pillow outdoors perched on an airer. Drying laundry outside in the sun helps whiten it as the UV rays act as a natural bleaching method.
However, for those not able to dry their pillow outside due to lack of space or unpredictable weather, leaving it by a window in a well-ventilated room will have a similar effect or using a dehumidifier will also work.