Pillows come out the wash whiter and cleaner if you ditch bleach for 1 natural item

Beds should be as cosy as possible in autumn so you can stay warm, but not many people realise pillows need a good wash at this time of year to stop germs building up in the fabric. Now that the heating is on constantly, we are sweating more in our sleep, and this will cause moisture to stay inside the fibres. If you do not wash pillows regularly, damp pillows can encourage bacteria, dust mites, and even mould to begin collecting inside your bed.

Sweat can also begin to look like bright yellow stains, break down the filling so pillows feel a lot more lumpy and simply make a bed smell awful. However, Amanda Rourke, an expert from Fresh Laundry, has shared that it is easy to deep clean pillows without even needing any laundry products, as you just need some lemon juice. She said: "The antibacterial and disinfectant properties of lemon are well known. This is the most effective way of whitening/bleaching pillows."

Amanda said: "The antibacterial and disinfectant properties of lemon are well known this is the most effective way of whitening/bleaching pillows."

Many people make the mistake of using bleach to remove pillow stains, but it is actually not very effective as the chemicals can react with the salts and proteins in sweat.

This can cause the sweat to bind deeper into the fabric, so the pillow will actually look worse by the time you are finished washing it. However, lemon juice contains a substance called citric acid, which can help lift sweat stains out of fabric and get them clean again.

It is also a mild disinfectant, so it can help remove germs, bacteria, mould, and mildew from pillows that have not been washed in a long time.

Lemon can also naturally whiten fabric, which makes it a fantastic alternative to bleach. It is gentle and mild, so it can clean pillows without irritating your skin or setting the stain.

How to use lemon juice to clean pillows

All you need to do is fill a basin or bathtub with warm water and around 120ml of lemon juice. If you wish, you can also add laundry detergent to help wash the pillows and baking soda, which can help deeply penetrate stubborn stains in fabric.

Add your pillows and let them soak for a few hours, but preferably overnight. After the time is up, your pillows should look white and completely clean.

Place them in the washing machine. Make sure to add an extra rinse cycle to get rid of any residue from soaking the pillows.

Hang the pillows in a room that is at least 18C, but preferably 20C, to ensure they dry properly and do not become musty. Then, your pillows should be completely free of any stains so you can enjoy a comfortable night's sleep this autumn.