Why Does My Mattress Turn Yellow?- Explained and Solved
Since a mattress is a huge investment that will stay with you for years, it’s crucial to maintain its best quality as much as possible. But despite your efforts, even the best mattresses may still accumulate dust, dirt, spills, and yellow stains.
Yellow stains are normal on mattresses, especially the older ones due to oxidation. Aside from oxidation, there are other factors that can cause the unsightly discoloration. The good thing is that you can get rid of these with items that you can find at home.
This guide will walk you through the causes of yellow stains, how to prevent them from happening, and how you can treat the existing ones.
Let’s begin.
What Causes Yellow Stains on the Mattress?
Mattress Ageing
As your mattress becomes old, it goes through the process of oxidation caused by its exposure to the sun. It can be perceived that sunlight can help you get rid of the germs and bacteria on your mattress, but it causes yellow stains, which can’t be entirely avoided. However, you can slow the process of oxidation by reducing your mattress’ exposure to the sun. When airing your mattress outside, we highly encourage placing it in shaded areas. It’s also helpful to use a mattress cover.
Note: Yellow stains caused by mattress ageing are not harmful to the health, but they cannot be removed once they are there, so the best thing to do is to prevent as much sunlight exposure as possible.
Sweat
Another factor that naturally happens when we sleep is sweating. Sweat and body oils do not leave stains on your mattress at first, but the build up can cause yellow stains overtime. You can tackle the sweat and oil stains with items you can find in your kitchen:
- Baking soda: Sprinkle baking soda entirely on your mattress. You may use a bristle brush to gently rub the baking soda. Leave it for several hours and vacuum clean the mattress.
- Mild detergent, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide: Spray the solution on the stained area and let it air dry. This is recommended for more noticeable stains.
Urine
If you have kids or pets that sleep on your bed, your mattress is more prone to bed-wetting. The best thing to do to prevent this is to use a mattress protector. However, if the stain is already there, you can try these methods:
- Vinegar and water solution: Spray the solution into the stain to get rid of the smell and pigment. Blot the solution and let the mattress dry. Use baking soda and vacuum the bed afterwards.
- Vinegar, mild detergent, and water: This will help remove old urine stains.
- Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid detergent: This solution is good for hard to remove stains. However, we do not recommend this mixture if you have a coloured mattress.
Read our guide to removing urine stains to get the in-depth instructions.
Mould
All the sweat, oils, urine, spills, even the humidity of your indoor air can cause mould that greatly affects the quality of the mattress. Mould buildup should not be ignored as it can impose health risks, especially for allergy sufferers. The best way to prevent mould is to use a mattress protector to avoid spills and dirt. A dehumidifier can also help get rid of extra moisture in your room.
If the yellow stains on your mattress are too hard to handle or are already causing you inconvenience, it’s time to get the help of a professional mattress cleaner, as mould and toxic agents can thrive on a dirty bed. In extreme cases, like having a mattress that is already too old or uncomfortable, it’s time to upgrade to a better mattress.
Upgrade to the best mattress solution for a better night’s sleep with Vesper mattress.
