What Causes Yellow Stains on Mattress? How to Clean Stains on Mattress?

If you can’t get enough facts and figures relating to sleeping habits, you’ll find the New York Post article entitled “We spend nearly half of our lifetime lying around in bed” by Tyler Schmall to be of the utmost fascination.

Schmall’s calculations and research led him to conclude that North Americans spend 36 years in bed over their lifetimes, a jaw-dropping number to be sure.

Additionally, people rarely report being happy with their beds, yet not everyone does anything about it.

When it comes to mattresses, things really get dicey. Of particular concern are unsightly stains that wind up on mattresses that come from a surprisingly long list of causations.

Reach mattress enlightenment by reviewing this information and taking appropriate action.

In this article we’ll discuss several reasons causing yellow stains on mattress, how to clean such stains using both natural and chemical methods, how to prevent these stains etc:

What Causes Yellow Stains on Mattress

Sweat:

While sweat deposits rarely show up in early stages, build up can be responsible for yellow stains on mattresses.

Every human body has between two and four million sweat glands within the skin that are connected by ducts, so when you sleep – especially if you are a restless sleeper – a buildup can collect on all bedding (pillows included) that leaves behind telltale stains.

Urine:

From kids who wet the bed to adults with incontinence issues, urine deposits also leave yellow stains that closely mimic sweat stains, but the odors left behind are unique and musty.

Urine color can indicate urinary system health; thus infections, obstructions, dehydration, and dietary changes may account for different shades of yellow left on mattresses.

Oils:

You don’t have to slather your body with cream to leave behind oil stains since the body emits oils on its own.

The stains left behind by natural bodily emissions aren’t likely to show up on sheets and mattresses until there is some degree of build-up, which can make the process of removing them even harder.

Mold:

When excessive moisture builds up in a bedroom that is compounded by humidity, molds and mildew can result for several reasons.

Mattresses subject to the aforementioned sweat, oils and urine that are also perpetually covered by linens can further encapsulate moisture.

As a result, mattresses become magnets for mold and mildew. How to identify these specific stains? By the small yellow spots that indicate the presence of active mold or mildew colonies.

Vomit:

When a regular bed morphs into a sickbed, any number of bodily emissions can launch a stain chain that leaves a mattress as sick as its occupant.

Whether the origins of vomit originate with kids, pets or ailing adults, yellow stains can build up, especially if they aren’t attended to immediately.

The odors vomit leaves on linens are particularly pungent, so stains are not likely to be your only issue.

Aging:

As people age, bathing as frequently as one did when younger often becomes difficult. Problems getting into a shower or tub, a lack of safety aids, excessively dry skin, older immune systems that more easily trigger skin infections and injuries associated with age can all result in stained mattresses.

That stated, fewer oils are emitted by seniors, so mattresses aren’t as vulnerable to natural oil stains as they are in the case of beds occupied by younger adults.

Semen:

Deposits on mattresses can lead to yellow staining, especially since sperm is basically a protein that can be tough to remove.

Try using bleach to mediate the stain and it’s likely to get even yellower! Attend to the semen removal soon as possible since this is one stain the responds best when it is tackled while the semen is fresh.

Food:

Eating in bed is the consummate pleasure – if those dining experiences are limited to food staying on the plate and napkin rather than migrating to bed linens.

The darker the color of the food or beverage (think milk and coffee), the darker the stain is likely to be, so it is best to follow specific cleaning instructions that suit the chemical makeup of the textile covering your mattress to do a thorough job of stain removal.

Cleaning Yellow Stains From Mattress

Chemical Cleaning

According to The Spruce’s Michelle Ullman, the product you choose to remove stains from your mattress is purely a personal choice, so keeping in mind the fact that your mattress is privy to more than just stains – drool, shed skin flakes, allergens, dust mites, pet dander and more — you may wish to rely upon a chemical agent to tackle the job.

According to credible resources who have lab tested a variety of products, the three most highly rated products on today’s market are:

• OxiClean Force Stain Remover Spray
• Zout Triple Enzyme Formula Stain Remover Foam
• SC Johnson Shout Advanced Stain Remover Gel.

Natural Cleaning

If you’d prefer to use a natural formulation, prepare to take out your wallet to obtain what the same reviewers call the best of the best: Biokleen Bac-Out Enzyme Stain remover that employs live enzyme-producing cultures plus plant-based ingredients to tackle the job.

The retail price for this miracle worker is more expensive than chemical cleaners, but keep in mind the amount your mattress set you back and it may look like a pittance.

Do you have a limited amount of money to get the job done? Vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are three natural ingredients you can use to remove those stains.

You’ll save money, avoid breathing in toxic fumes and it always makes sense to try a natural remedy before resorting to chemicals.

How to prevent mattress stains in the first place

The very best way to keep stains from ruining your expensive mattress is to purchase a mattress protector at the same time you buy the mattress, so it is covered from day one.

Given the long list of factors that trigger stains, you need that barrier between you and your mattress so not only is it protected, but you are, too.

Lucky for you, your choices are unlimited, cover every price range and size, so if you think about your mattress protector as “insurance,” choose the best product for your needs.

How to pick the right one? Read the small print on product labels to see if one is better than another for your unique circumstances.

If you sweat a lot and are looking for a product that cools your body in addition to protecting your mattress, limit your search to “cooling” products, though these often come with hefty price tags.

That stated, you may also reap the same benefits if you invest in cooling sheets and blankets instead.

A 100-percent waterproof mattress protector is considered ideal. Some are designed to be easy to put on and get off so it’s not a hassle removing them for washing and re-installing.

Others are hypoallergenic. Wirecutter, a newsletter published by The New York Times, turned reviewers loose for 420 hours to test 14 mattress protectors and these are the four those testers were most impressed with:

• SafeRest Premium Mattress Protector: Retains waterproofing properties even after multiple washings
• Priva Ultra Plus Protector: Easiest waterproof mattress (“aced leak tests”) to remove and reinstall
• Linenspa Waterproof Protector: Made of safer polyurethane instead of vinyl; comes in 3 sizes
• The Company Store Protector: 400-thread count waterproof cotton protector comes in sizes ranging from crib to California king.

Can you use baking soda to clean mattresses?

You bet – and the process is not just easy but Mother Earth will thank you.

No financial investment required: you’ll need a 16-ounce box of baking soda, 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil (Lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, and ylang ylang are especially soothing), and a vacuum cleaner.

Mix the oil into the baking soda, shake to mix the ingredients and to break up lumps that may form.

Sprinkle the entire box of soda/oil over the stains and work the paste into the mattress. Allow the mixture to do its thing for at least an hour and then thoroughly vacuum the surface to remove the residue.

Some experts recommend dragging the mattress to a window, so sunlight helps with the job.

Can I leave baking soda on my mattress overnight?

Experts writing for Bob Vila’s This Old House website recommend a similar stain-removing method that takes 24 hours, so if you are desperate for a solution, you may wish to give up your bed for that amount of time to do the job.

The site recommends using a mix of dishwashing liquid, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda plus a scrub brush.

Follow these directions and allow the mattress a 24-hour recovery period that can be hastened by using a fan or hair dryer set on cool the speed up the process.

Will vinegar take out stains from mattress?

According to fans of white vinegar who believe that no commercial product is as versatile, the answer is yes, and the methodology is relatively straightforward.

You fill a spray bottle with white vinegar, replace the cap, spray a light coating of the liquid over the mattress and allow the vinegar to air dry so the surface is cleaned up and disinfected.

Once dry, sprinkle a heavy coating of baking soda over the stains and allow the powder to penetrate the textile overnight.

Vacuum up the residue the following day and there’s a good chance your stains will be gone or minimized in addition to having killed bacteria, eliminated odor, and absorbed left-over moisture from the original vinegar application.

Resources

https://nypost.com/2019/03/21/we-spend-nearly-half-of-our-lifetime-lying-around-in-bed/
https://cleancare.com.sg/what-causes-yellow-stains-on-the-mattress-how-to-clean-them/
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000127.htm
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/urine/
https://myslumberyard.com/blog/how-to-clean-vomit-out-of-a-mattress/
https://www.1800homecare.com/blog/how-often-should-we-shower-as-we-age/
https://learnmethods.com/how-to-get-rid-of-sperm-stains-on-mattress/
https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
https://www.thespruce.com/clean-your-mattress-the-natural-way-350742
https://www.verlo.com/blog/the-mattress-protector-dilemma-what-you-really-need-and-why/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-waterproof-mattress-protectors-and-pads/
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Deep-Clean-Your-Mattress-29764178
https://www.hunker.com/12349099/how-do-you-clean-a-mattress-with-white-vinegar