How to Get Drool Stains Out of Sheets

Stacy Randall
by Stacy Randall

It’s pretty hard to avoid getting drool stains on your sheets; people drool all night long, after all. But it isn’t just human saliva you need to worry about. If your dog sleeps in your bed, you probably have all of their slobber on there. Unless you plan to kick Fido out, you’ll likely want to know how to get drool stains out of sheets.

You can get rid of drool stains on your sheets using commercial laundry detergents, baking soda, dish soap, or white vinegar. First, pretreat the stain with your solution of choice, then wash the sheets in cold water. If you use hot water, it can cause the stain to set, making it much harder to remove.

Luckily, saliva is relatively easy to get out of your sheets with your regular laundry care routine. But, some types of drool, like excessive dog slobber, can prove a bit tougher to tackle. If you have some major spit stains on your sheets, you’ll need to go through a few extra steps.

The Best Ways to Get Drool Stains Out Your Sheets

So, you had a great night’s sleep, and the drool stains on your sheets are proof. You can use your favorite laundry detergent products for most saliva stains, but make sure they contain enzymes.

Saliva contains proteins, and enzyme cleaners specifically target these protein chains. Luckily for you, most liquid laundry detergents contain the necessary enzymes to handle these types of stains. However, if the stains are tougher, as is often the case with animal saliva, you might need to dig a bit deeper.

Using Laundry Detergent

If you’re dealing with drool stains, the most important thing to remember is to keep things cold. Typically, people often wash their sheets in warm to hot water, thinking this is the best way to clean them. Allergy sufferers especially need to pay close attention to their laundry routine, usually needing to wash sheets in hot water to eradicate dust mites.

But, if you wash your sheets in hot water when they still have drool stains, this can set the stains. Therefore, it’s best to tackle the stains first; then, you can run your sheets through a hot water wash if you’re dealing with allergens. Likewise, don’t dry your sheets until you’re sure the stains are gone, and avoid ironing them.

To get drool stains out of sheets with your laundry detergent, follow these steps:

  • Apply some laundry detergent directly onto the stain.
  • Add a little bit of cold water.
  • Work the detergent into the stain by rubbing it in gently with your fingers or rubbing the fabric together. You can also use a toothbrush; just make sure whatever method you choose doesn’t damage your fabric.
  • Let the fabric soak in cold water for about an hour.
  • Wash the sheets as usual on a coldwater cycle.

Use an Enzymatic Stain Remover

If the laundry detergent isn’t enough, you can apply a stain remover first. Follow the directions on the label, usually letting the product sit on the stain for two to five minutes. Make sure you use a stain remover with enzymes designed to tackle protein-based stains.

Get Dog Drool Stains Off Your Sheets

Dog and cat saliva can sometimes be a bit tougher to get rid of, especially if there’s a lot of it. If Fido leaves your sheets in a slobbery mess, keep the same basic rule in mind, cold water.

It’s essential to get rid of the stain first before you try washing your sheets in warm or hot water. If laundry detergent isn’t doing the trick by itself on your dog’s drool, try this homemade method using basic household products:

  • Create your own presoak with baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap. In cold water, mix one teaspoon of dish soap with ¼ cup of white vinegar and a teaspoon of baking soda.
  • Dab the mixture onto the stain using an absorbent, white cloth. Do not rub the mixture into the stain.
  • If it’s an extra tough stain, let the mixture sit on the stain for about 15 minutes.
  • Dab the stain and remove the mixture using a clean, damp cloth.
  • Launder as usual with an enzyme detergent in cold water.

Tips for Keeping Dog Drool Off Your Sheets

If you’re tired of battling dog drool, you can always try to train Fido to sleep in their own bed. But, as any dog lover can attest, there’s something about that snuggly furball cozying up to you at night.

Get an old blanket, or even better, a waterproof crib protector, for your pup to lay on at night.

You can place it on their favorite part of the bed and train your dog to stay on the mat. This way, your dog gets to sleep in the bed, but you don’t have to spend every morning dealing with drool stains.

What’s the Best Way to Get Drool Stains Off a Mattress?

Washing sheets is one thing, but what if you end up with heavy drool stains on your mattress? If there’s enough saliva in one place long enough, it can soak through your sheets and stain the mattress.

Since you can’t toss your mattress into the washing machine, how do you get rid of the drool? You can spray the stained area with an enzyme stain remover and let it sit for five minutes.

After at least five minutes, dab the area with a damp sponge or clean cloth. Keep repeating this process until you’ve successfully lifted the stain from the mattress.

You can perform the same process using a small amount of liquid dish detergent. If the stain is extra-tricky, spray the area with a vinegar and water mix before using the stain remover or dish soap. You can also create a paste with baking soda to help tackle the stain and any odor.

Of course, prevention is the best medicine. So, you might want to invest in a high-quality mattress protector. Mattress protectors are typically machine-washable and won’t let yucky stains seep onto your mattress.

Video: Getting Stubborn Stains Out Of Your Mattress

Some of the most common stains to end up on your mattress are sweat, blood, and urine. These body fluids, along with saliva and other stains can really be a bummer when they end up on your mattress.

Since a mattress is an investment you’ll hope will last you for a few years (between 7 and 10), it’s essential to care for it properly. Here’s a video that will walk you through tackling some of the most common mattress stains.

Getting Drool Stains Off Your Pillow

Pillowcases are a notorious drool collector, but you can clean the pillowcase like you would your sheets. But what about when the drool passes through the case onto your pillow? If you’re lucky, you might be able to wash your pillow in the washing machine.

But if it isn’t machine-washable, you can try any of the methods mentioned above for removing stains from your mattress.

Wrapping It Up

Drool stains on your sheets are a pain, but they’re also inevitable unless you never sleep in your bed. Whether it’s human saliva or dog drool, commercial enzymatic cleaners can help tackle protein-based stains. You can also try white vinegar, dish soap, or baking soda.

The main thing to remember is only to use cold water when treating the drool stains. Don’t use warm or hot water or dry your sheets until you’re sure the stain is gone.

Stacy Randall
Stacy Randall

Stacy Randall is a wife, mother, and freelance writer from NOLA that has always had a love for DIY projects, home organization, and making spaces beautiful. Together with her husband, she has been spending the last several years lovingly renovating her grandparent's former home, making it their own and learning a lot about life along the way.

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