Now, while it’s not the wildest story you may have heard this week – that one was debunked, don’t worry – the lad, who goes by the name Cam, sparked a lively debate after he ‘fessed up to owning the grotty item.
In a now viral post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Cam shared a photo of his incredibly yellowed pillow and said: “Gf is mad at me because I have revealed to her The Yellow Pillow. Fellas, I’m sure you all know that this thing is magic.
And it turns out that there are plenty of other Yellow Pillow devotees, who flocked to the replies to back him up, while others thought the whole thing was disgusting. I’ll let you make up your own minds about where you sit on that scale.
One commented to say they ‘legit haven’t rested comfortably since’ getting rid of their loyal Yellow Pillow, and another said their ‘life has been a downward spiral’ since they got rid of theirs.
A third chipped in to say that part of being a man was ‘using the same pillow since the age of 10 and never washing it’.
But what causes a pillow to go yellow? Well, there’s actually a few reasons but almost all of them boil down to moisture.
Pexels/cottonbro studio
First up – and probably the most grim – sweat, when you sweat during the night this soaks into your pillow turning it a shade of saffron.
Alongside this, your saliva and drool can contribute to turning your pillows yellow as well as the natural oils in your skin and hair soaking into it.
And, if you’re the type of person who has a nightly skincare regime then those oils, lotions and creams you’re slathering on before bed could also cause your pillow to take on a yellowish hue.
Time magazine also warns that you might want to make sure your hair is properly dry before you go to the land of nod, if you’d like to keep your pillow cases as pure and white as driven snow, as the wetness from your hair can end up giving you a Yellow Pillow.
The mornings feel colder, the nights are growing darker, and the knitwear is properly out. It can only mean one thing: winter is on its way.
But if you don’t fancy hiding under a duvet for the next six months, might we suggest an antidote to those winter blues: a five-star holiday to one of the world’s most incredible destinations?
Oblu Xperience Ailafushi
To mark the change of season, Travelbag is offering huge discounts on some show-stopping all-inclusive holidays, and frankly I can’t think of a better excuse to escape the cold.
As part of the offer, you can save £550 on all-inclusive stays at a jaw-dropping five-star Maldives resort with unlimited access to its famous underwater restaurant – yes, you read that correctly. Here’s our pick of the best deals on offer…
1. Eight days at the Oblu Xperience Ailafushi, Maldives
If you’ve ever dreamed about the crystal blue waters and endless stretch of white sand that the Maldives has to offer, it’s time to pack your bags. Oblu Xperience Ailafushi is home to those overwater villas you’ve seen all over Instagram with ocean access and panoramic views that will make getting out of bed something to look forward to.
OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi Island
And that’s not all. You’ll have unlimited access to the Maldives’ largest, and most surreal, underwater restaurant Only Blu, with once-in-a-lifetime views of the island’s magnificent coral reef.
How much does it cost?
£1,469, seven nights all-inclusive stay (includes flights and transfers).
2. Eleven days in Kuala Lumpur and Borneo
If a trip to the jungle is on your bucket list, then you don’t want to miss this unbelievable offer. After three nights spent at 5* Hotel Striped Kuala Lumpur, you’ll head to Borneo in search of wild orangutans.
Travelbag
Beneath the magnificent shadow of Mount Kinabalu, you’ll explore the lush rainforest spotting an abundance of wildlife along the way. The adventure doesn’t stop there, don your scuba gear to visit the island’s best dive sites before taking a well-earned rest on one of its many beaches.
How much does it cost?
£1,599, ten nights bed and breakfast (includes flight and transfers).
3. Six days in Toronto and Niagara
If Niagara Falls is at the top of your bucket list, this is the sign you’ve been waiting for. Travelbag is offering a six-day tour of Toronto with flights and car rental included.
Travelbag
After three days spent exploring Ontario’s buzzy capital, you’ll head to the famous waterfall where you’ll chuck on a rain poncho for the legendary Voyage to the Falls boat ride – yes, just like Jim and Pam.
How much does it cost?
£1,099, five nights (includes car rental, direct flights, and day tours).
4. Fifteen days in Great Ocean Road to Great Barrier Reef
If you’ve ever dreamed of travelling the Great Ocean Road, then listen up. Travelbag is offering a 15-day Aussie adventure, from Great Ocean Road to the Great Barrier Reef.
Ken Butti
For an authentic experience, you’ll travel by camper, spotting wild koalas at Kennett River and seeing the 12 Apostles up close in person. You’ll end your time down under at Hamilton Island, where you can see one of the world’s most incredible spectacles by helicopter: the Reef Heart.
How much does it cost?
£2,699, 14 nights (includes flights, campervan, and hotel stays).
For more information, visit travelbag.co.uk
But, a couple of hours aren’t on offer to you, you’ve only got about 10 or 15 minutes.
So, we roll over, flick the snooze button and then forget that it ever happened.
The problem is, when you actually then have to get up at the last minute, you feel like absolute s***.
The snooze button seems like a great idea at the time, but rarely do you ever manage to get up feeling any more rested or any more ready for the day.
Well, there’s some sleep science behind that.
DGLimages / Alamy Stock Photo
Speaking on her podcast, Mel Robbins – who describes herself as ‘one of the most respected experts on change and motivation’ – explained the scientific reason why you’re only hurting yourself by sneaking in those final few minutes.
You’re better off just getting up.
Robbins said: “You want to know the scientific reason why you should never hit the snooze button?
“Let me hit you with some neuroscience here.
“Two words sleep inertia.
“When you hit the snooze button, you’re awake, and as the alarm turns off, your brain then drifts back into sleep.
TikTok/@melrobbins
She continued: “Here’s the thing that researchers have figured out – when you drift back to sleep after you’ve woken up, your brain starts a sleep cycle.
“Sleep cycles take 75 to 90 minutes to complete.
“So, when that alarm goes off again and nine minutes and you’re like ‘oh my God’ – have you ever noticed you’re in deep sleep when you drift back to sleep?
“That’s because you’re nine minutes in to a 75 minute sleep cycle, that groggy exhausted feeling that you have, that’s not a function of how well you slept.
“That’s you and me being an idiot for hitting the snooze button and putting our brain in a state of sleep inertia.
“It takes your brain about four hours to get through that groggy-a** feeling.”
TikTok/@melrobbins
She concluded: “When the alarm rings, get your a** out of bed.”
There you have it – instead of chasing the impossible dream and expecting an extra 10 minutes to make all the difference, you’re better off just dragging yourself up and getting into the shower.
Once you’ve woken up a bit, you’ll feel better for it.
Robbins speaks about subjects such as this in great detail over on her podcast, which can be found here.
The fridge is a marvellous invention and there are few things as satisfying as opening it up to see it bursting with delicious food.
However, some of the things you keep in there probably shouldn’t be in that chilly chamber.
TikToker @neat.caroline has identified six foods which – she says – ought to belong in your cupboards and not your fridge, though not everyone is on the same page about this.
Getty Stock Photo
Chocolate
OK, I’m going to set out my stall here and say that chocolate should only be kept in the fridge if it’s actually melting in the cupboards.
Several commented to say that was their reason for sticking chocolate in the fridge and fair play to them, it’s the only acceptable reason, chilling chocolate for any other cause is pretty much one of the worst crimes possible in my book.
TikToker Caroline agrees on this, although perhaps doesn’t feel quite as strongly, saying it ‘dulls the flavour and leads to a grainy consistency’.
Those in the know agree, with Cadbury’s saying chocolate belongs in your cupboards.
Not everyone agrees, and some people who are catastrophically wrong commented to say they ‘like chocolate cold’.
Of course some people are wrong to like what they like.
Ketchup
This one’s pretty controversial too, though Caroline said it was ‘entirely safe to keep it in your cupboard’ she did concede that it was ‘totally safe to keep the bottle in the fridge’.
When you walk around the supermarket you’ll find ketchup on a shelf instead of in a fridge, so you might think the cupboard was ketchup’s natural habitat.
However, several commenters pointed out that it ‘says on the bottle to refrigerate after opening’ and Heinz have given their verdict too.
They confirmed that ketchup belongs in the fridge once it actually makes it to your house, having found that 54 percent of their customers follow their instructions while 46 percent reckon ketchup ought to live in the cupboard.
TikTok/@neat.caroline
Garlic
The TikToker explained that when it comes to garlic bulbs ‘refrigeration causes it to become rubbery’.
This is a view shared by quite a few foodies so if you want to munch on high quality garlic and make sure your nearest and dearest desire to avoid the putrid pong of your breath then avoid the fridge.
Garlic was one of the less controversial foods among the six, it seems as though people don’t have strong opinions on where to store it in the same way they do about chocolate and ketchup.
Olive Oil
Yet another kitchen staple which experienced foodies say needs to be kept well away from low temperatures.
The TikToker warned viewers that olive oil can ‘form crystals and turn solid if left in the fridge’, which understandably ruins it.
This time around she sparked a debate not on where it belonged in the kitchen but who was sticking olive oil in their fridge in the first place.
“I wanna know WHO is putting oil in the fridge,” one asked in response, while many others were curious enough to wonder the exact same thing.
If you’re one of the people who stores olive oil in the fridge know that people around you love and care for you, and will support you through whatever you’re going through.
Also take it out of the fridge.
Getty Stock Photo
Basil
A bit of shredded basil is a nice addition to plenty of meals but you might have stuck the leaves in the fridge to keep for next time.
This is apparently a bad move, with the TikToker explaining that your supply of basil is ‘best left in room temperature with the stems in water’.
Again, this is one where it helps to look at where the thing is kept on the shop shelves.
Getty Stock Photo
Pastries
You should know by now that keeping bread in the fridge is a bad idea but you should also swerve storing other baked goods in there as well.
Room temperature is best for these things as the coldness of your fridge will screw with your delicious food.
Getty Stock Photo
A baker commented to disagree and say that any pastries stuffed with things like cream or custard will do alright for short periods of time at room temperature but would be spoiled in the long run.
They warned that freshly baked goods with milk, cream or eggs ‘will go rancid’ if just left out.
Taking to TikTok, one man has sparked a debate by comparing the state of tipping in the US to the way we do it in Europe.
Content creator Christian (@cbwritescopy) went viral on the video-sharing platform after his rant on self-service tipping.
He said the way people tip in America has ‘gotten out of control’.
Meanwhile, a fancy etiquette guide published by New York magazine The Cut suggests: “At coffee shops, coffee carts, cafés, and bodegas, tip at least 20 percent.”
“Even though their pay isn’t as tip dependent as waiters’, the average salary for a barista in New York is just above minimum wage,” they argued.
TikTok/@cbwritescopy
However, Christian is fuming after comparing his tipping experience in the US with a recent restaurant visit in Italy.
In a video posted on 23 September, he explained: “Just finished dinner in Italy, had a great three course meal, paid the bill, the waiter brings out the check and he goes ‘sign here please’.
“I got to sign it and there’s only a line to sign your name.
“There’s no tip line, there’s no total line, nothing.
“You just sign your name that’s it.
“Meanwhile in America, you pay for a water bottle and they flip the screen around and ask you to tip 20 to 30 percent – for grabbing a water bottle.
“And don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to tip for great dinner service, like this guy in Italy deserved a fat tip.
“But to tip for a Starbucks employee to hand me a water bottle, like where do we draw the line? Seriously?”
TikTok/@cbwritescopy
Viewers were divided in the comments section, as some people were in total agreement.
“If I don’t sit, then I don’t tip,” one person said.
“I actually agree and I work in the food industry.” a second wrote.
“UK here. I won’t tip. Some places already add a 20 percent service charge. Not my place to pay the staff wages,” a third added.
Although, others say they don’t have an issue with tipping, as another viewer wrote: “I serve and make $2.25 in America, I rely on my tips.”
Someone else said: “I worked in the service industry in UK and got paid just over £10 an hour, I have a friend in the US. Same job and she gets paid $2 an hour so I get.”
“Service is included in the price in Europe! I always tip though! It’s just kindness for polite service,” a third person commented.