Baby Pillow: Hidden Mold and Yellow Spots Treated

Background

The customer had just had a new baby and took out this handy baby pillow that had been stored for a while. They only asked us to clean the yellow spots on the outer fabric cover. But we have kids ourselves, and we suspected it wasn't that simple, so we opened it up to take a look. Sure enough, besides the yellowing, there was mold. For the sake of the next generation, we decided to tackle it properly. We may be slow to return items, but we truly treat every single piece with care.

Mold Nobody Noticed During Storage

Note

Whatever the item, if you plan to put it away in storage, always make sure it's been cleaned first, whether by a laundry shop or at home. Otherwise it can grow mold over time and develop stains that are even harder to treat!

FAQ

Q: Why do pillows turn yellow and moldy after being stored for a long time?

A:

1. Leftover skin oils oxidize, so dirt that wasn't visible gradually shows color.
   Oils from skin sebum cling to fabric without always forming an obvious stain right away. Some components, such as oleic acid and squalene, oxidize over time and with environmental conditions, forming products that turn fabric yellow.
2. "Dry" doesn't mean "free of oil."
   Once a pillow dries, the moisture is gone, but the oily dirt clinging to it doesn't disappear on its own. If it wasn't fully removed during washing, the leftover oil can keep oxidizing while the pillow is in storage.
3. Not being used doesn't mean it won't turn yellow.
   Not all yellow spots come from sweat or skin oils. White and light-colored textiles can also undergo chemical discoloration such as "phenolic yellowing," which is linked to certain chemicals and reactions with the environment. So if a barely used pillow turns yellow in storage, the material, packaging and storage conditions should be considered too, instead of always blaming it on "not washed clean" or "mold."

Q: What should I do if a pillow gets moldy?

A: Many people soak moldy pillows in sodium hypochlorite (bleach). We recommend against this, because chlorine residue that isn't properly dealt with can actually harm your health. We suggest having a laundry shop assess and treat it first. Avoiding detergent residue and mold spores that can harm your health is the right approach.

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