Simple Tips to Help Enhance the Durability of Your Pillows
When it comes to dirty things around our
house that require regular cleaning, our list is generally the same: bed
sheets, clothes, dishes, and even blankets and curtains. Then there are
some less obvious everyday items that require cleaning on a
semi-regular basis, too, like fan vents, furniture, the washing machine,
makeup brushes, and gloves. However, there is one household item that
we use every single day but don’t really consider it for regular
cleaning. Pillows.
A pillow is essential for quality sleep. So
many of us lie on the same pillow and despite hours of use, it never
gets the care it needs. We do wash pillowcases from time to time, but
what about the actual pillow? Let’s find out exactly how often we should
be washing our pillows and also learn a few quick tips on the best ways
to do that, too.
How often should you wash your pillows? 
Experts say that, since pillows come in such close contact with our
faces and tend to breed allergens, we should be washing them at least
twice a year and even more if we live in a warm or humid climate.
Washing our pillows at least twice a year will ensure that any
unpleasant smells caused by sweat and saliva would be washed away.
Moreover, you might not be aware that dust from the air, dead skin
cells, dust mites, oil from our hair and skin, and other allergens cling
onto our pillows when they aren’t cleaned over a long period of time.
Before you go about washing your pillow,
however, you must also test its viability. Is your pillow even worth
washing? Or should it be replaced?
If there are visible lumps on your pillows, then it’s a good sign they
need to be replaced. Similarly, if your pillow is too flat, then it is
time to swap it out.
Also, while you may get rid of some of the existing bad odors after
washing your pillows, some of them can be too stubborn. If you notice
that the pillow still smells, even after a couple of washes, then it’s a
good idea to get rid of it.
One proven way to test your pillow’s
viability is to fold it in half and see if it stays folded while you're
not holding it. If it remains folded, then it’s a sign that your pillow
is probably way too old.
Handy tips on how to wash pillows
Now that you know that you have to wash your pillows at least twice a
year, the next question is how exactly do we wash them? Should we simply
dump them in the washing machine?
Here are some tips that will help you understand this better.
* The best way to wash pillows is in a
front-loading machine. This is because pillows can float to the top of a
top-loading washing machine where they don’t always get regularly wet.
* Wash your pillows in warm water on the gentle cycle with a mild liquid
detergent. Put it through an extra rinse and spin cycle on cold to get
rid of any remaining detergent.
* Wash your natural-fiber pillows on the delicate cycle in cold water,
with a medium-to-low speed.
* For feather pillows, it would be better to use powder detergent
specifically designed for it as liquid detergent may leave a sticky
residue.
* You may need to wash one pillow at a time, depending on your
pillow-to-washer size ratio. You don’t want the washing machine to be
overloaded.
* Roll your synthetic pillows like sausages and tie their ends and
middle with rubber bands. This will ensure that the material inside
doesn’t slide around too much in the machine.
* Wash two pillows at a time if you can so that the balance of your
washing machine is maintained.
* Foam pillows can’t go in the washing machine since their movement
makes the foam crumble. You can, however, hand wash them with cold water
and detergent.
When it comes to drying pillows, the best
method is to dry them on low heat, low tumble cycle, and repeat the
cycle until all the moisture is gone. Removing your pillows from the
machine when they are still damp runs the risk of mildew. Also, pillows
have a tendency to clump when washed. Adding a couple of wool dryer
balls will help redistribute the features and filling inside and also
fluff them up nicely.