Before reading this article, you might want to check if your father’s or husband’s pillow is yellow. Many women find that even though pillowcases and bed sheets are changed together, the husband’s side always ends up yellow and shiny. Why is that? Could it be that they are not clean enough?
Actually, compared to women, men wash their hair more frequently due to their short hair. However, even with frequent hair washing, pillows still end up yellowish. So, when you see a man’s pillow turning yellow, don’t rush to blame them for being unclean. There are reasons for this.
Why do men’s pillows easily turn yellow? There are three main reasons:
1. Men’s skin secretes oil at a rate four times higher than women. In the same time and environment, men produce more oil, especially on the scalp. The sebaceous glands on the scalp are more active than on the body, leading to more noticeable marks on pillows, which are mainly body oils. It may not be visible in the short term, but over time, it becomes apparent.
2. Men have well-developed sweat glands. Even though they share the same blanket, men feel hotter while women might feel otherwise. When feeling a bit hot, the skin starts sweating, though not visibly, resulting in more sweat secretion in men. Sweat consists mainly of 99% water and 1% urea, lactic acid, etc. The presence of urea is one of the reasons for yellowing pillows. If not changed regularly, the urea will keep interacting with air, turning the pillow yellow over time.
3. The last factor, though not always present, is drooling or shedding dandruff while sleeping. Many men tend to move around a lot while sleeping, and some may have the habit of drooling, leaving marks on the pillow. Continuous friction of hair can also lead to shedding of dandruff, eventually causing the pillow to not only turn yellow but also emit an oily smell.
Now, do you understand? The yellowing of men’s pillows is not necessarily because they are unclean but mainly due to physiological factors. For this reason, many jest that women are made of water, and men are fried in oil – quite amusing.
Since physiological factors like oil secretion and active sweat glands cannot be changed, how can men ensure clean pillows? The answer lies in regular replacement. While women may change pillowcases every 1-2 weeks, men are better off changing theirs weekly, especially in hot weather.
What if the replaced pillowcase is yellow? Simple handwashing may not seem effective, so give this method a try:
Soak the pillowcase in white vinegar for half an hour to dissolve the oil and stains, then transfer it to laundry detergent for 30 minutes to an hour before normal washing in a washing machine. For more severe stains, prolong the soaking time in white vinegar for better stain removal.
If the vinegar smell is too strong, you can use a saltwater solution for soaking. Mix 5% concentration of saltwater, soak the pillowcase, rub it thoroughly to remove stains effectively.
Would you still criticize yellowed pillows slept on by men? Perhaps it’s not about being unclean, but their natural oiliness. Finding the right way to wash pillowcases can ensure men also enjoy clean pillows.
