Imagine a dirty pillow with dry stains all over, it has lost its natural color and is now covered with brownish yellow wave like patterns all over it! Yes, it’s that filthy pillow you are laying your head on. It’s time to wash that pungent stink off of it. When it comes to cleaning bedding items we are very particular about our sheets and mattresses, but what about the pillow? We don’t even notice how unhygienic it has become and we keep sleeping on it night after night. This has got to stop now because pillows can accumulate a mix of dead skin and dust mites, which can have so many bad health effects.
We understand you can’t just throw your pillow in the washing machine to get it over with, in fact if you do so, you might literally get it over with. So let’s not do that, we will be telling you some safe and easy ways to shine a light on your pillow today!
How Often Can You Clean Your Pillows?
While you'll want to wash the rest of your bedding weekly, pillows have a longer grace period. At the very least, clean your pillows every six months—but to keep them in their best condition for longer, wash them "at least every three months or four times a year. As for pillowcases? Wash them with your bedding every week.
How to Wash Your Pillows?
While most of the pillows such as those filled with cotton, feather, down, and fiberfill can be cleaned in a washing machine along with some luke warm water on the gentle cycle, but it is a good idea to go through the manufacturer’s instructions on the label or the manual that comes with the product, before throwing your pillows into the washing machine. Your pillow may be one of the rare kinds that need dry-cleaning.
What Do You Need?
- A mild laundry detergent
- Some white vinegar
Down or feather
Most down pillows can be put in the washing machine. But use cool water and a mild detergent, then dry on low heat. (High temperatures can damage the down.)
Memory foam or latex
Washer agitation can break up foam, so these pillows will probably need to be hand-washed. Vacuum dust off of the pillow, then spot clean with a damp cloth and a small amount of mild detergent. Lay the pillow flat to air dry.
Polyester
Wash with warm water on the gentle cycle, preferably a few pillows at a time to balance the load. Be sparing with the detergent—use about 1 tablespoon of liquid soap.
Buckwheat
Empty the buckwheat filling onto a large cookie sheet or wide, shallow bowl. Set the buckwheat out in the sun, which will eliminate odors, and wash the shell casing using cold water and a mild detergent.
What Do You Need?
- If by some accident your pillow has gotten blood stains or or saliva residue, pre-soak it with an enzyme detergent to remove them.
- Most pillows may easily be cleaned in a washing machine, preferably with a the front or top-loading one with no agitator (the spindle within the middle of the washing machine). If you have got a top-loading washing machine with an agitator, place the pillows vertically so they are less likely to get ruined.
- Now moving on, add a mild detergent to the washing machine and set it on a gentle cycle. Pillows are soft and plush, they don’t need a hard cleaning regime. As for the water in the machine, we recommend lukewarm water, it will get those stubborn stains right off your pillow!
- After the wash cycle, dry your pillows on low heat. "To avoid pillows getting lumpy, throw two (clean!) tennis balls or wool dryer balls in the dryer with the pillow to keep stuffing from clumping
Now Let Them Dry in Natural Air
It's flawlessly great to let your pillows air-dry. You can give them some time in the dryer depending on what the instructions on the label say. (Foam pillows, as an instance, pose the risk of catching hearth when they come into touch with heat.) If you can use your dryer, we recommend putting your pillows through several cycles to make sure they dry properly.
If Your Pillow Is Beyond Cleaning…
Since pillows can accumulate bacteria, hair, and dead pores and skin cells through the years, they can be quite spendy. Since they are able to host bacteria and are used everyday, you might have to replace them every year or even every 2 years. This timeframe is in addition subsidized by using the National Sleep Foundation, even though it's essential to note that certain varieties of pillows can last longer.
