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Your cleaning bed pillow serves two important purposes. The first is to remove the pillowcase build-up that naturally occurs while you sleep – drool, sweat, bacteria, dust mites, dirt, and oils from your skin will stick to your pillow, as will the hairs pets and fluff if you have a pet. share a bed with you.
Clean A pillow also helps maintain its comfort, by restoring shine and softness, and by refreshing it. Sleeping on an unclean pillow is not only uncomfortable, but it can also worsen asthma and allergy symptoms in sufferers.
We talked to the experts about how and how often to wash your bed pillows and when they need to be completely replaced.
Logan Foley, managing editor of sleepfoundation.org“You should wash your pillows at least twice a year. If you sweat a lot while sleeping or if you sleep with pets, you should bathe them more often.”
Pillows that are used less often, such as in the living room, do not need to be washed as often. To determine if a pillow needs to be washed, Susan Lazor, an affiliated product dealer at Company storesays, “The first signs that your pillow needs immediate care include yellowing, or a slightly sour or musty smell.” Also, if pillows are no longer as soft or comfortable as they were when new, washing can help refresh and revitalize them.
“Pillows can accumulate dust mites, fungi, bacteria, sweat, and body oils,” says Foley, which Foley says cleaning removes, helping to prevent adverse health effects. “Everyone should clean their pillows, but this is especially important for people who struggle with allergies,” she says.
How to wash synthetic fabrics and replacement pillows
Synthetic and fluff replacement pillows can be machine washed and dried at home, following these steps by Lindsay Jones, product brand manager at Maytag.
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- Before washing, remove pillowcases and coverings such as pillow protectors.
- Wash two pillows in one wash to balance the washing machine.
- Use only one tablespoon of detergent to prevent too much detergent and bleach from building up inside the pillow.
- Use your washing machine’s gentle cycle and the warmest water temperature recommended on the pillow care tag.
- If your washing machine has one, choose an additional rinse cycle, which helps flush excess detergent out of thicker, bulkier items like pillows.
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- After washing is complete, immediately transfer the pillow to the dryer.
- Use the dryer ball to help soften the pillowcase and redistribute the filling while drying.
- Select the low heat setting when drying pillows with synthetic fillers.
- Make sure the pillow is completely dry before removing it from the dryer, as residual moisture can cause mold on the pillow.
How to wash feather pillows
Lazor says that most feather and down pillows can also be machine washed and dried, using the same instructions as for synthetic pillows. To protect feathers, choose a dryer setting with no heat or air.
However, if you’re hesitant about washing your feather pillows at home, or if care instructions recommend, Lazor says, “go to the dry cleaners. Most offer a dedicated pillow-cleaning service.”
How to wash memory foam, rubber and gel pillows
When it comes to cleaning pillows with a more structured filler, machine washing is unfortunately not an option. “Strong supports, memory foams, gels and latex pillows should be taken care of by hand as they cannot be washed or dried,” says Lazor.
To care for these pillows, Lazor recommends spot cleaning with mild dish soap every two to three months, let them air dry completely before putting the cans back and changing them in bed.
To make it more clear, Jones says take these steps:
- Remove pillowcases and other coverings.
- Pour a mixture of warm water and a tablespoon of detergent into a bucket, tub, or sink; The water should be deep enough to completely submerge the pillow.
- While soaking, gently massage the pillow to allow the solution to circulate through the pillow.
- Lift the pillow out of the bucket and squeeze out the soapy water; Repeat this step two to three times.
- Rinse with clean water, squeeze gently until the water is clear.
- Place the pillow between two towels and press down to squeeze out the water.
- Hang or lay the pillow flat to air dry, ideally in the sun.
While deep cleaning a pillow full of hard matter can be a chore, you won’t have to do it often. “Activated foam has hypoallergenic properties so it’s less susceptible to mold, allergens, and dust mites, so you probably don’t need to deep clean every time,” says Jones.
Jones adds that renewing a pillow with memory foam is as simple as running a vacuum. “You can sprinkle some baking soda on both sides, let it sit for an hour, then vacuum it up,” she says. “This will help neutralize odors while sucking up dust mites and dirt.”
At some point, even with the best care, a pillow will need to be completely replaced. “In general, pillows should be changed every two years,” says Foley. If your pillow is ready to be replaced, check it out A guide to the best pillows for every type of sleeper.
However, Foley says that cleaning your pillows regularly will help prolong their life, save you money and – more importantly, you won’t have to worry about having to change a new pillow! “Some pillows can last much longer than that, up to five years, with proper care.”
