A freshly made bed is heaven-sent, but coming up against stained pillows while swapping your sheets can be an eyesore.
Even the tidiest and most house-proud among us will have faced discoloured bedding.
While it might sound totally gross, we're all human.
Have you ever wondered how they got that way and how to prevent them from forming on a fresh pair of pillows?
The cleaning experts at Lifehacker have all the answers and you're going to want to hear them out if you want to keep your pillows looking and feeling as good as new, the Mirror reports.
Why do pillows turn yellow?
The Lifehacker gurus admit that the stains can be 'unsettling', but they're not as bad as they seem.
They state that the most common reason for yellowing pillows is sweat.
Whether we like to admit it or not, we all sweat, and when that moisture seeps through a pillowcase and onto the pillow beneath, it can cause staining.
This problem is more prevalent the more someone sweats, and can cause bigger issues during those uncomfortable summer nights when you just can't seem to cool down.
But sweat isn't the only moisture you have to look out for, as yellowing can also be caused by wet or greasy hair.
Lifehacker's experts state: "In addition to sweat, your hair may be the culprit: Specifically if it's particularly oily, or you often go to bed with wet or damp hair.
"Some types of makeup and skincare products can also be behind the yellow stains. It could also be drool. Putting a waterproof pillow protector on before your pillowcase can help prevent a lot of the discolouration."
How to remove yellow stains
Experts claim you'll want to act fast to remove stains from your pillows, as the longer they sit there, the harder they'll be to remove when you do try to clean them.
They also state you should be washing your pillows at least twice a year regardless of staining, which should help to keep the stains at bay for at least a little while.
But if you want to clean spot stains from your pillows in a pinch, there is a little-known hack you can use to quickly get to work on removing any yellowing - with a mixture of baking soda and water.
Lifehacker gurus said: "You can start off by spot treating the stains with either a store-bought stain removal spray or cream or with a paste made out of a mixture of baking soda and water."
You can also keep stains at bay for longer with the help of a waterproof pillow protector, which will stop your sweat and drool from making it onto your pillows in the first place.
Experts added: "Putting a waterproof pillow protector on before your pillowcase can help prevent a lot of the discoloration."
