How to get stains out of sheets and pillowcases

Step by step

1. 1

   Check the care label

   Note the fiber and the maximum water temperature. Cotton and linen can shrink in water that's hotter than the label allows unless they've been treated.

   Why: The label decides how hot you can wash and which bleach is safe.

2. 2

   Soak protein stains in cool water with enzymes

   For blood, sweat or saliva, soak the stained area in cool water with an enzyme presoak before washing.

   Why: Heat sets protein stains. Enzymes break the proteins into pieces small enough to wash away.

3. 3

   Rub detergent into oily soil

   Work liquid laundry detergent into greasy areas, especially pillowcases, where hair and skin-care products leave oil.

   Why: Body oils and skin-care products are oily soils, and a concentrated dose of detergent loosens them before the wash.

4. 4

   Add a bleach that suits the fabric

   Use oxygen bleach for white or colored cotton and polyester. Use chlorine bleach only on white cotton sheets labeled bleach-safe.

   Why: Bleach removes leftover color and brightens, but chlorine damages silk, wool and spandex blends and strips dyes that aren't colorfast.

5. 5

   Wash warm with enough detergent

   Wash in the warmest water the label allows with the recommended amount of detergent, and don't overload the washer.

   Why: Too little detergent, or cold water on oily soil, leaves body oils behind that yellow the sheets. Sheets need room to move and rinse.

6. 6

   Check, then dry

   Make sure any stain is gone, then tumble-dry per the label or line-dry. Take sheets out promptly.

   Why: Dryer heat sets protein stains that are still there, and prompt removal limits wrinkles.

What sheets are made of

Bed sheets and pillowcases are usually cotton (percale, sateen or flannel), linen, polyester microfiber, cotton-polyester blends, or rayon and lyocell made from bamboo or wood pulp, and occasionally silk. Blankets, duvets and comforters add fill: down, feathers, polyester fiberfill or wool.

Cotton, polyester and their blends take detergent, enzymes and oxygen bleach well. Silk, wool and anything with spandex need gentler treatment and no chlorine bleach, and fills need extra care in drying.

How stains build up on sheets

Sheets collect body oils, sweat, skin cells, saliva, blood, makeup and skin-care products every night. Most of it is either oily (body oils, lotions, makeup) or protein (blood, sweat, saliva), and each needs its own pretreatment.

When body oils aren't fully removed, they build up and turn sheets yellow. Extension guidance links this to using too little (or too much) detergent and to washing oily soil in cold water. Protein stains have the opposite problem: heat sets them, so blood or sweat needs enzymes and cool water before any hot wash or dryer.

Dust mites live in bedding too, which is why washing sheets has an allergy role as well as a cleaning one.

How often to wash, and how to dry bedding

The American Cleaning Institute suggests washing sheets every two weeks, more often with heavy night sweating, and blankets and bedspreads about monthly. For people with dust mite allergy, allergy organizations advise washing weekly in hot water, but they disagree on the temperature: the AAAAI says 130°F followed by a hot dryer, while the ACAAI lists no more than 120°F. Follow the care label first. The ACAAI also suggests keeping bedroom humidity below about 50%, and pulling back the covers in the morning airs the bed out.

Tumble-dry per the label or line-dry; linen line-dries well. Make sure down and fiberfill comforters are completely dry, or they can develop a mildew smell. For silk sheets labeled dry clean, large down comforters that won't fit or rinse properly in a home machine, and heirloom linens, use a professional cleaner. See how to clean comforters and duvets.

By situation

Blood on sheets

Rinse with cool water and soak in an enzyme presoak before washing. Keep the sheet away from hot water and the dryer until the stain is gone. See blood on sheets for the full method.

Yellowed sheets and pillowcases

That's built-up body oil. Rub liquid detergent into the yellowed areas, then wash with the full amount of detergent in the warmest water the label allows, with oxygen bleach.

Night sweats

Wash sheets more often than every two weeks, and pretreat sweat-stained areas with an enzyme product in cool water.

Dust mite allergy

Wash sheets weekly in hot water if the label allows, and dry them in a hot dryer. Allergen-proof zippered covers on the mattress, box spring and pillows help too.

Silk or wool bedding

No chlorine bleach, and no enzyme products on these protein fibers. Follow the label, and use a professional cleaner for silk sheets labeled dry clean.

Colored or patterned sheets

Use oxygen bleach rather than chlorine, which strips dyes that aren't colorfast. Test any remover on a hem first.

What not to do

• Don't wash or dry blood-stained sheets hot before the stain is out. Heat sets protein stains.
• Don't skimp on detergent or wash oily soil only in cold water. Body oils left behind build up and turn sheets yellow.
• Don't use chlorine bleach on silk, wool, spandex blends or non-colorfast bedding. Chlorine damages these fibers and strips dyes that aren't colorfast.
• Don't wash hotter than the care label allows. Cotton and linen can shrink unless they've been treated.
• Don't overload the washer. Sheets need room to move and rinse, or soil stays in them.

Other methods that work

Oxygen bleach soak

For stains or dinginess that survive a wash, soak cotton or polyester sheets in oxygen bleach dissolved in warm to hot water, then wash again.

Caution: Test colored sheets first, and keep it off silk and wool.

Chlorine bleach on white cotton

For white cotton sheets labeled bleach-safe, diluted chlorine bleach in the wash is the strongest whitening option.

Caution: Never mix it with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners.

Stain still there?

Sheets keep turning yellow

Use the recommended amount of detergent and warmer water if the label allows. Pretreat pillowcases with liquid detergent before each wash.

A blood or sweat stain survived the wash

Don't dry it. Soak again in cool water with an enzyme presoak, then rewash.

A comforter smells musty after washing

The fill wasn't fully dry. Dry it again completely, and use a professional cleaner if it's too large for your machine.

Safety

• Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or acids; use one product at a time.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Stains on sheets

• Blood on sheets
• Gum on sheets
• Slime on sheets
• Sweat on sheets