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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Keeping white pillowslips white- make-up issues

28 replies

LucindaT71 · 15/07/2021 13:08

Help!

I buy good quality, white cotton bedding. No matter how much I try, my pillowslips always end up looking a bit 'cream' where I lie and it's make-up I'm sure.

Now before you freak out, I cleanse my face twice before bed and the cotton pads look clean. However, there must be a slight residue because that's what's on the pillowslips.

I wash my bedding at 60C and soak pillowslips beforehand in Vanish Oxy but in time they still look off-white.

Any more ideas? A hotter wash?

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 15/07/2021 14:42

Not criticism, but could it be that when cleaning your make up off, residue is being pushed up to your ears or hairline? And it’s that which is rubbing off. Even a little bit goes a long way on a pillowcase.

3beesinmybonnet · 15/07/2021 14:56

I wash white bedding towels etc at 60'C in biological washing powder ie not liquid or gel. It contains bleaching agents. It also helps keep your washing machine from getting smelly. A big box is quite cheap.

twilightcafe · 15/07/2021 15:13

Pre wash and wash white towels, bedding and school shirts at 90 degrees with Bio washing powder, plus a scoop of Vanish Whites.

twilightcafe · 15/07/2021 15:14

Also, when you're cleansing your face, do you follow up with a rinse-off cleanser?

Lellochip · 15/07/2021 15:21

Could it be discolouring from a moisturiser or night cream etc?

statetrooperstacey · 15/07/2021 15:27

Surely just swap them over? So have a couple that you sleep on then hide them underneath the nice white one when you make the bed . That’s what I do, I have heavily coloured hair that leeches colour when I sweat at night, so use the same stained ones to sleep on then hide the stained one on the bottom in the morning. Easier than losing sleep over laundry.

FinallyHere · 15/07/2021 15:51

We have just swapped from coloured to white cotton bedding because I like the look you get in a hotel with crisp white sheets.

Just yesterday. I found myself saying 'these pillowcases are dingy' just like any '50's housewife.

Thanks for the tip about bio powder rather than laundry liquid. Already have vanish.

I understood that 90'C kills the active ingredients in Vanish do have been using a lower temp.

Bio powder, scope of vanish and 90'C and I'll see what happens.

Uramaki · 15/07/2021 15:52

Could it be your face cream? Or natural oils from your hair?

dun1urkin · 15/07/2021 15:55

If your face is clean, and it sounds like it is, it’ll be cream if you use it/hair/sweat

You could wrap your hair which would help a bit.

isettled · 15/07/2021 15:57

If you're double cleansing and rinsing well I doubt it's make up. It's more likely face products and sweat (gross I know) rubbing off during the night. I change my pillow cases mid week to combat this especially if it's hot.
I use ace bleach in with white bedding and it seems to stay whit, wash it all at 60 but the best stain remover is sunshine so if you can dry them outside that should help

CMOTDibbler · 15/07/2021 16:01

Napisan and Daz powder, 60' wash here, and though I'm a total slattern our white sheets and towels are still bright white

DoorMatCat · 15/07/2021 16:03

I feel your pain.

There's a certain person in my household that has ruined enough bedding, towelling and clothing items with their beauty regime that I could cry.

twilightcafe · 15/07/2021 16:29

@FinallyHere

We have just swapped from coloured to white cotton bedding because I like the look you get in a hotel with crisp white sheets.

Just yesterday. I found myself saying 'these pillowcases are dingy' just like any '50's housewife.

Thanks for the tip about bio powder rather than laundry liquid. Already have vanish.

I understood that 90'C kills the active ingredients in Vanish do have been using a lower temp.

Bio powder, scope of vanish and 90'C and I'll see what happens.

I didn't know that 90 degrees kills the active ingredient in Vanish.
Jumpingintosummer · 15/07/2021 16:33

I think hair olis are a big contributor too.

I do a 90 wash with a cap of bleach then wash at 40 with bio powder and a scoop of ‘pink stuff’.

Original poster
LucindaT71 · 15/07/2021 16:53

It's not my hair. It's not greasy and even after a trip to the hairdressers and squeaky clean hair I can see it.

I think it's left over make up. I use a long wear type of foundation and even after 2 cleans I reckon some is still there , enough to mix with my night cream ( white.) and stain the pillowslip.

It's disappointing as my sheets and duvet covers are sparkling but the pillow slips look tired.

I will try a 90C wash.

OP posts:
crispinglovershighkick · 15/07/2021 17:45

I think this was the issue that brought me to MN years ago, googling how to keep white pillowcases white.

Surpised the oxy isn't helping, I went through a phase of buying old embroidered pilowcases and it usually sorts them out. Try pouring a bit of liquid detergent directly into the centre of the pillowcase, rub it around, fold it up and leave it for a while before washing.

It may be makeup or skincare products but face/hair oils alone will discolour cotton. Even if I put away clean white pillowcases, if they sit for a long time eventually they'll discolour where heads have slept, it's the residue of body oils oxidising. Hard water doesn't help. It's the same as manky collars, the oils get rubbed into the cotton and even if they look pristine you can't remove it all.

I find linen easier to keep white than cotton, you could try linen pillowcases?

user1471542288 · 20/07/2021 08:09

My husband uses a lot of sun tan lotion over his head and face and this is leaving a lot of yellow staining on my white Egyptian cotton pillow cases - a stain is still left after a 60 degree wash. Vanish doesn’t completely shift it either. Am now wondering about soaking in Napisan before washing. Does anyone think that would work?

Paddingtonsmarmlade · 20/07/2021 08:28

Washing powder rather than liquid/pods

Sunshine really does help too

Hercisback · 20/07/2021 08:30

Do you line dry them in the sun? That's the best way to get them white again.

Woeismethischristmas · 20/07/2021 08:33

@LucindaT71

It's not my hair. It's not greasy and even after a trip to the hairdressers and squeaky clean hair I can see it.

I think it's left over make up. I use a long wear type of foundation and even after 2 cleans I reckon some is still there , enough to mix with my night cream ( white.) and stain the pillowslip.

It's disappointing as my sheets and duvet covers are sparkling but the pillow slips look tired.

I will try a 90C wash.

It’ll be your night cream even although it’s white like sun protector stuff it goes yellow on the pillow.
BusterGonad · 20/07/2021 09:44

Do you use Estee Lauder double wear by any chance?

FinallyHere · 20/07/2021 09:58

@Paddingtonsmarmlade

Bought a box of Persil bio powder and am amazed by the difference from powder plus a scoop of Vanish. DH is looking smug as he has used Vanish for his white shirts for ever while I have been strictly eco

I do just hope it doesn't make my skin itchy but the whiteness really is 50's adverts dazzling

onemouseplace · 20/07/2021 10:54

I find that suncream is usually the enemy when I get cream/ yellow marks on my pillowcases.

I've had none (and my skin has been a lot clearer) since I started using a gentle wash off cleanser/ gell and massaged it it a slightly damp face for a minute before rinsing. It gets my face much cleaner than any wipe off cleanser I've used.

Theoldwoman · 20/07/2021 15:09

Why don't you just use coloured ones to sleep on and white to keep your bed looking nice?

Mintjulia · 20/07/2021 15:19

I soak mine in a bucket of hot water and washing soda for 3 or 4 hours, and then put them in a hot wash with bio washing powder and more washing soda. Seems to work.