When was the last time you washed your pillows? It’s one of those jobs that is easy to forget but which provides multiple benefits. Not only does it help with home hygiene, it can also help you sleep better. One study found that 10% of people are allergic to the decomposed dust mites found in older pillows, and so washing them can help you get a better night’s sleep. As a rule of thumb, you should aim to wash your pillows at least twice per year – although more regular washing is recommended in warmer climates.
Now, just sticking your pillows in the washing machine and pressing ‘go’ could actually damage them. So, here’s how to keep your pillows clean while maintaining their shape and form.
- Read the manufacturer’s label
Most synthetic and down pillows today can be machine washed with no problems – but you should still check the label inside the pillow for information on water temperature and follow care instructions.
- Use a mild liquid detergent
It’s generally recommended that you use a mild liquid detergent on your pillows, rather than a powder. The simple reason being that powder is more likely to leave a residue in the pillow’s fibers.
- Place the pillows in the machine
You should put no more than two pillows in your machine at a time. This will balance the load and ensure they get washed evenly.
How to avoid your pillows becoming deformed during the wash? The simple trick is to roll each pillow up lengthways and hold the ends together with a rubber band. This will minimize the chances of the fibers clumping up.
- Rinsing
Run your pillows through two rinse cycles at the end of the wash. Once again, this is about reducing the amount of residue soap remaining on the pillows.
- Drying
There’s a couple of different ways you can dry your pillows – depending on the time you have and weather.
If you need those pillows for sleeping on again ASAP, put them in a spin dryer. To avoid your pillow fibers from clumping, a handy tip is to throw a couple of tennis balls into the machine.
If you’re less pressed for time, you might find it easier to leave your pillows out in the sun to dry. Lie them flat and let the weather do the work.
