Finding yellow stains on your mattress can be alarming. These stubborn stains can be difficult to remove and make your bed look dirty and unhygienic. Understanding what causes these yellow stains is the first step to removing them and preventing future stains.
The most common causes of yellowing on mattresses include:
- Perspiration and body oils
- Urine
- Spills and liquids
- Age and normal wear
- Allergens and dust mites
- Mold and mildew
- Smoke
In this article, we’ll explore each of these common culprits and provide tips for removing yellow stains from your mattress and preventing their return. Read on to solve the mystery of where those ugly yellow spots came from!
Perspiration and Body Oils
One of the most common reasons you may find yellow stains on your mattress is perspiration. When we sleep, we perspire throughout the night, leaving behind traces of sweat and body oil on our sheets and mattresses.
As we perspire, our bodies also shed dead skin cells, which can contribute to a buildup of yellowish stains on the mattress over time. Areas where you sleep directly on the mattress without a sheet are especially prone to this kind of staining.
The stains worsen if you sleep hot and sweat profusely throughout the night. The perspiration and oil soak into the mattress fibers, causing a yellowish tinge.
These stains may start light but darken over time as the sweat continues to accumulate. They are often concentrated in areas where your body presses against the mattress, such as around your shoulders, head, arms and hips.
You can help minimize this type of yellow staining by:
- Using mattress pads and protectors
- Placing sheets on your mattress to create a barrier between your skin and the mattress
- Cleaning sheets and blankets regularly to reduce transfer of oils and sweat to the mattress
- Using an absorbent mattress pad designed to pull moisture away from your body
- Allowing the mattress to air out regularly to prevent moisture buildup
Urine
Urine stains are another very common culprit when it comes to yellow stains on mattresses. If you have kids, pets or struggle with incontinence, you may be familiar with stubborn yellow urine stains.
Urine contains urea, which breaks down into ammonia. This ammonia reacts with the materials used inside mattresses, such as foam, cotton and polyester.
This chemical reaction causes yellow or brownish discoloration over time. The urine smell also tends to linger within the mattress once this staining has occurred.
Here are some tips to prevent and remove urine stains on your mattress:
- Potty train pets and children and use protective sheets/pads to avoid accidents.
- Clean urine stains as soon as possible after an accident.
- Use an enzyme cleaner designed for urine to break down the urea and ammonia.
- Allow the mattress to dry completely after cleaning.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and vacuum once dry to deodorize.
- Use a mattress protector to shield the mattress from future accidents.
Acting quickly is key to avoid urine stains setting on your mattress. The longer the urine sits, the harder it will be to remove the stains and smell.
Spills and Liquids
Spills are another source of stubborn yellow stains on mattresses. Foods and drinks like coffee, wine, soda and juices contain natural and artificial colorings that can leave yellowish discoloration when spilled onto a mattress.
Oil-based liquids like cooking oils, lotions, makeup and grease will also cause yellow staining. These greasy substances soak into the mattress and cause yellowish-brown spots.
Bleach, hair dye, and other household chemicals can also discolor your mattress yellow if spilled. Preventing spills and acting quickly when they happen will help avoid permanent staining:
- Use a mattress protector to guard against spills.
- Avoid eating and drinking in bed.
- Clean spills immediately by blotting liquid.
- Use dish soap and cold water to pretreat the stain.
- Avoid rubbing the stain, which can spread the discoloration.
- Rinse with clean water and allow to fully dry before using.
For dried or stubborn stains, use an upholstery cleaner. Test on a small area first to avoid further damage.
Age and Normal Wear
Over time, the normal aging of your mattress can cause yellowing, even without any type of staining.
As mattress materials like foam, fibers, adhesives and fabrics slowly break down, they undergo chemical changes that cause discoloration.
Exposure to regular sunlight and air also causes the materials to gradually yellow. Normal compression of the materials from regular use weakens the chemical bonds over 5-10 years.
You may notice this type of yellowing in areas where your body rests over prolonged periods. Indentations and sagging sections will often look more yellow than the rest of the mattress.
This type of discoloration is difficult to clean, since it is due to the normal breakdown of the mattress materials. But you can slow it down by:
- Using a mattress cover to protect from UV light.
- Rotating your mattress regularly to spread out wear and compression.
- Airing out your mattress to prevent moisture buildup inside.
- Cleaning stains promptly so they don’t set.
Ultimately though, this yellowing is unavoidable over time. If the stains become too difficult to manage or sleep on, you may need to replace an older, yellowing mattress.
Allergens and Dust Mites
Dust mites and other microscopic allergens in your home can also cause yellowish mattress staining. These tiny bugs are drawn to the warm, moist environment inside your bed.
As dust mites feed on dead skin cells and organic matter in your mattress, they leave behind yellowish excrement stains. These tiny droppings accumulate in the mattress fibers, causing yellow spots.
Other allergens like pollen, pet dander and mold spores can also collect in your mattress and combine with oils to create yellow stains.
To prevent allergen stains:
- Use allergen-proof mattress covers.
- Vacuum mattress regularly.
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water to kill dust mites.
- Flip and rotate mattress to evenly distribute wear.
- Consider hypoallergenic mattress if allergies are severe.
Mold and Mildew
Exposure to moisture is another cause of yellowing mattresses. Mold and mildew growth can leave behind yellowish or brown stains.
If water or moist air penetrates your mattress, it can provide the ideal conditions for mold to colonize. Basements, humid climates and mattresses on the floor are prone to this issue.
Mold also feeds on the organic oils, dead skin and food spills found in mattresses. Over time, these organisms spread across the surface, creating yellowish mold stains.
To remove mild mold stains:
- Use diluted detergent or upholstery cleaner.
- Allow mattress to dry fully in sunlight.
- Sprinkle baking soda and vacuum once dry.
- Consider using a disinfectant designed for mold.
To prevent future mold growth:
- Keep humidity low in bedrooms.
- Elevate mattress off the floor on a bed frame.
- Use mattress protectors and sheets.
- Clean spills immediately.
- Let mattress air out regularly.
If mold is extensive, the mattress may need to be discarded to prevent health issues. Be very careful handling moldy mattresses.
Smoke
Cigarette smoke can also yellow mattresses over time. The tar, nicotine and other chemicals in smoke saturate into the mattress fibers.
Smoke bonds strongly to materials through a process called adsorption. This causes brownish-yellow discoloration that is difficult to remove.
Here are some tips to remove smoke stains and smells from mattresses:
- Air mattress out in the sun regularly.
- Use baking soda and vacuum to absorb odors.
- Clean with upholstery cleaner or diluted vinegar.
- Steam clean the mattress to draw out odors.
- Sprinkle cornstarch or charcoal to absorb smells.
- Use an ozone machine to oxidize odors.
The longer the mattress is exposed to smoke, the more deeply it will penetrate. Heavy smokers may need to replace a mattress for complete smoke stain removal.
Conclusion
Yellow stains on your mattress can have a variety of causes. Perspiration, oils, urine, spills, allergens, mold, smoke and normal wear can all contribute to yellow discoloration of mattress fibers over time.
While some yellowing is inevitable as a mattress ages, you can minimize staining by using protectors, cleaning promptly and allowing circulation. Act quickly when stains first develop to prevent permanent setting.
Rotate your mattress and clean bedding regularly to distribute wear evenly. Make sure to fully dry mattresses after cleaning to prevent mold growth.
With some diligence, you can keep your mattress fresher and prevent ugly yellow stains from accumulating. But if stains become too embedded or widespread, replacement may be necessary for ultimate cleanliness.