Did you know that washing pillows is very important? Yes! Periodic washing of pillows is essential to ensure the product’s useful life and to take care of your health.
But there is a right way to do this and in today’s post we will teach you how. Stick around and learn how to wash a pillow.
Why you should wash your pillow
Manufacturers recommend it and common sense too: washing your pillows is beneficial to your health.
But why? The pillows accumulate several types of microorganisms, such as mites, fungi, bacteria, mold and remains of dead skin. This is thanks to the constant contact between the pillow and the skin and hair.
Even using a pillowcase? Even using a pillowcase!
The presence of these microorganisms can cause allergies, such as rhinitis and sinusitis, in addition to even triggering asthma.
Therefore, the cleaning of the pillows is not freshness, it is a necessity.
But there is another reason behind the importance of washing the pillows and that reason is the durability of the product.
When you choose to wash the pillows, you end up also extending the life of the material, since it is free of agents that accelerate deterioration.
Let’s wash the pillows then, right? But first see how to do that.
How to wash a pillow: in the machine or in the hand?
Most pillows can be washed either by hand or in the machine. The difference here is in the delicacy of the process, since hand washing usually causes less friction and better preserves the fabric fibers.
But you can solve this by adjusting your machine’s cycle to soft / delicate mode.
The only exception is with foam and viscoelastic pillows, known as NASA pillows. These must be hand washed, there is no other way.
Check below the washing process for each type of pillow. If you have questions about yours, just consult the label.
Foam pillow
Let’s start by talking about the foam pillow. Here, as mentioned earlier, you don’t have much of a choice but to choose hand washing.
To do this, put the pillow to soak for about 20 minutes in a large basin or inside the washing tank with a little diluted washing powder.
Then gently rub all parts of the pillow with your hands. Remove excess water and foam and soak the pillow in clean water to rinse.
After removing all the soap, remove excess water again and put the pillow to dry in the sun. Avoid the dryer for this type of pillow.
Feather pillow
The feather pillow can be washed either by hand or in the machine. Manual washing is the same as indicated for the foam pillow.
If your intention is to wash the pillow in the machine, then do the following. Fill the machine with water and washing powder.
Do not use too much soap so that there is no residue on the pillow. If you can, prefer liquid soap that is more easily removed in the rinse water.
Set the machine for a gentle or delicate cycle. Let the machine complete the entire process.
A tip: do not place more than two pillows at a time in the machine. Although light, when wet the pillows become heavy and this can end up forcing your washing machine’s engine. It is also important to distribute them well into the washer basket.
Then, remove the pillow from the machine and set it to dry in the sun or in the dryer.
Polyester pillow
The polyester pillow is super easy to wash. It accepts both machine and manual washing.
The process is the same as indicated in the previous steps.
NASA pillow
Viscoelastic pillows, popularly known as NASA pillows, can be washed by hand, but it is recommended to avoid using washing machines and dryers.
Drying the pillow
One of the most important parts of how to wash a pillow is drying. Even if you have a dryer, prefer the sun to dry them. So here is another important tip: check the weather forecast and see if it will be sunny on the day you plan to wash your pillows, remembering that complete drying can take up to more than a day.
It is very important that the pillow is completely dry before being used again. Never store a damp pillow.
Moisture can result in mold, mildew and the proliferation of bacteria, not to mention the bad smell.
Dry cleaning of the pillow
Did you know that it is possible to dry clean the pillow? Yes, it does. In fact, it’s not really a wash, just a quick clean.
To do this, you should just vacuum the entire pillow. Don’t forget to remove the pillowcase, okay?
The vacuum cleaner is able to remove much of the dust, mites and remains of dead skin present on the pillow. Thus, between one wash and another you ensure that the pillow is always very clean.
How to remove pillow stain
Over time it is natural for the pillow to create stains and marks, especially yellowish ones.
The tip to remove this type of pillow stain is to bet on hydrogen peroxide volume 10.
Dilute about a dessert spoon of hydrogen peroxide in a cup of water. Pass this mixture over the pillow stain, wait a few minutes and then start the washing process as explained above.
Care when washing the pillow
- Do not use fabric softener to wash your pillow. Any residue on the pillow can increase the proliferation of microorganisms, not to mention that the smell of the product is also an allergy factor for many people.
- Dry the pillow preferably in the sun. Our star king has the power to dry and even eliminate mites. He’s always the best option.
- Liquid soap is more suitable for washing a pillow than washing powder, as it is easier to remove when rinsing.
- Coconut soap is the most suitable for washing a pillow, precisely because it makes washing the fibers more delicate and less aggressive.
- Always refer to the pillow washing instructions on the label. Also take the opportunity to make sure what type of material it was made with.
- At the end of the wash, before rinsing, you can make a mixture of vinegar, bicarbonate and water and let the pillow soak for approximately 15 minutes. This mixture helps to clean and sanitize the pillow, in addition to making it whiter.
- Avoid using very abrasive products for washing, such as bleach and multi-use products. These products damage the fibers of the pillow fabric and reduce its durability.
- Remember to also wash your pillow’s protective cover.
Take care of your pillow
More than just washing, you should maintain a care routine with your pillow. Therefore, we have separated some tips for you to take good care of your friend every night, check out:
- At least once a week let your pillow breathe. Remove the protective cover and pillowcase and expose it to the sun for about half an hour. If there is no sun, that’s fine too, put it on just to get some air out the window.
- Take advantage of this moment and vacuum the entire pillow.
- Daily, when making the bed, hit the pillows to remove the accumulation of dust, dead skin and mites.
- If you haven’t already, invest in a protective cover. They increase the durability of the pillow and keep it clean for longer, not to mention that they still facilitate the cleaning and washing process.
- Store your pillow in an airy place and avoid crushing or folding it. It is also not recommended to leave it on the bed all day, as this increases exposure to dust. To make the bed prefer decorative pillows, used only for this.
- Pillows should be washed every six months, on average. The replacement with a new one should happen every two years, more or less.
- Change bedding weekly, including sheets and pillowcases.
- If you have pets at home, avoid them having contact with your pillow. Pussies usually shed their hair and a bad flea is there too, right? Better not take any chances.
Did you write down all the tips? Now just put them into practice and leave your pillows always clean and fragrant.
