How do I get my yellow mattress white again?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 14, 2026
If your mattress is yellowed from sweat stains, or you feel like it's looking dingy, lightly spray the yellowed area with 3% hydrogen peroxide until it's damp but not soaking wet. You can usually put a clean spray bottle nozzle directly onto the peroxide bottle. The stain will fade as the peroxide air dries.
How do you whiten a yellow mattress?
Baking soda is your friend. Combine water, salt, and baking soda in a bowl to make a mixture. Alternatively, sprinkle the baking soda directly on the bed. Don't focus only on the stained area, though use more mixture/baking soda on it than in other places.
How do you get the yellow out of a white mattress cover?
Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the empty spray bottle and generously spray the stain. As you go, blot out excess liquid with a clean cloth. Give the solution about 10 minutes to seep in before moving on to the next step.
Why is my mattress stained yellow?
The sweat, urine, and oils on your mattress can all create excess moisture and this is all that mould and mildew need to grow. Similar to other yellow stains, mould can look like small yellow spots covering a specific area of the mattress.
Can I use OxiClean on mattress?
You can't just throw your mattress or pillows in the washing machine, but you can remove sweat stains from your mattress using a solution of OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover and a clean white cloth.
29 related questions foundHow do you get yellow stains out of memory foam mattress?
For most stains, a diluted fabric cleaner, dishwashing liquid, or mild detergent is all you'll need to remove them. Pick the cleaner of your choice, dilute it in a 2:1 ratio with two parts of warm water for every one part of the cleaner, and add it to a spray bottle.
Why is my mattress cover yellow?
Mattress pads and toppers turn yellow from stains due to oil, pet dander, dead skin, dirt, urine, and sweat. They can also turn yellow due to age. You can use household ingredients to treat these yellow stains. Baking soda, vinegar, and dishwashing liquid are the most common stain removers.
What are the orange stains on my mattress?
Rust stains on mattress.
Rust doesn't appear out of nowhere—this happens when water or sweat reaches the coils of the mattress. This problem can only occur for innerspring and hybrid mattresses with springs, so if you have a memory foam mattress, you don't need to worry about rust stains.
How long should baking soda sit on mattress?
Sprinkle baking soda over your mattress, and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. Re-vacuum your mattress.
Can you use hydrogen peroxide to clean a mattress?
For very light or fresh stains:
Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide. Lightly spray the stain with peroxide, and blot it away with a dry towel. Repeat until the stain is gone. Let the mattress dry completely before remaking the bed.
Can I leave baking soda on my mattress overnight?
If you can't put your mattress out in the sun and fresh air, baking soda is the next best thing. Sprinkle a layer over the entire top of the mattress and leave for several hours (or better yet, apply before an overnight trip). Baking soda will break down acid and absorb any remaining moisture or odor.
How do you use baking soda on a mattress?
Baking soda is a really simple and effective cleaning agent for mattresses. Sprinkle enough baking soda over your mattress to cover it in an even layer. For minor odors, leave the baking soda to sit for at least half an hour. However, the longer you leave it, the more it absorbs moisture and odor-causing particles.
How does baking soda remove sweat stains from mattress?
Sprinkle a light layer of baking soda over the entire surface and let it sit for a long time — at least a couple of hours. It will absorb any excess liquid from the stain removal process, and leave your mattress smelling fresh and clean.
How do you remove yellow stains?
A mixture of baking soda, peroxide, and water applied directly to the yellow stain will remove it. Mix equal parts of baking soda, peroxide, and water in a small container. Apply the mixture to the stain and use a bristle brush to rub the mixture in to the fabric.
Can you use baking soda on memory foam mattress?
Once you have removed your memory foam, sprinkle baking soda over it. This helps to eliminate odours and absorbs any moisture which may be in the foam. Once this is done, leave the baking soda to settle for approximately ten minutes.
Can I mix OxiClean with detergent?
Is OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover a laundry detergent? While OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover is not a laundry detergent, you can use it WITH detergent to boost your detergent's cleaning power.
What do I use to clean a mattress?
Use a combination of cleaning supplies to make your mattress cleaner. Mix together dish soap, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to create a mattress stain remover. Use a spray bottle to best apply this mixture. Once the stains have been sprayed, blot or rub them using a towel or rag.
What happens when you pour baking soda into your bed?
Why use baking soda on mattresses? Baking soda is a natural deodorizer which makes it perfect for cleaning a mattress. It's also relatively mild, which means you can use it on fabrics safely without fear of damage. Combining baking soda with vinegar is a well-known cleaning tip for shifting difficult stains.
Is baking soda the same as baking powder?
Baking soda and baking powder are not the same. Sodium bicarbonate and bicarbonate of soda are other names for baking soda. Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.
Can I spray vinegar on my mattress?
Mix equal portions of water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Lightly spray the solution over your mattress. Avoid making it too wet and let it air dry completely. Then prop your mattress against the wall and spray the solution over the other side.
How do you clean a mattress with vinegar and baking soda?
Just spray a mixture of two parts water, one part vinegar, and a splash of laundry detergent onto your mattress as a cleaning solution. Once you've blotted away any remaining cleaning solution, you can sprinkle baking soda on top of the mattress to cancel out any odors.
Can you use baking powder to clean a mattress?
Then vacuumed up the powder using a handheld vacuum on the cold setting. 'For those asking why I use bicarb and what does it do, it's an odour eliminator,' she told fans. 'So any odours that may be lingering in the mattress, it just soaks them up and absorbs them. It works really, really well.
Can I use baking powder and vinegar to clean?
Adding vinegar and baking soda together creates a fizzy chemical reaction that can help dissolve stains and loosen up gunky messes. This makes them a handy cleaning combo, even though the actual solution left behind is basically salt water!