How to wash a pillow: complete guide to take care of your pillow
Did you know that it is very important to wash your pillows? Yea! Periodic washing the pillows is essential to ensure the life of the product and to take care of your health.
But there is a right way to do it and in today’s post we teach you how.
How to wash a pillow: in the washing machine or by hand?
Most pillows can be washed by hand or machine. The difference here is in the delicacy of the process, since hand washing usually causes less friction and better preserves the fibers of the fabric.
But you can solve this by setting your machine’s cycle to gentle/gentle mode.
The only exception is with foam and viscoelastic pillows, known as NASA pillows. These must be washed by hand, there is no other way.
Check out the washing process for each type of pillow below. If you have questions about yours, just check the label.
Foam pillow
Let’s start by talking about the foam pillow. Here, as mentioned earlier, you don’t have much choice but to choose hand washing.
To do this, soak the pillow for about 20 minutes in a large basin or in the washing machine with a little bit of well-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 the excess water again and place the pillow to dry in the sun. Avoid the dryer for this type of pillow.
Feather pillow
The feather pillow can be washed by hand or machine. Hand washing is the same as for foam pillows.
If your intention is to wash the pillow in the machine, then do the following. Fill the machine with water and washing powder.
Don’t use too much soap so there’s no residue on the pillow. If you can, choose liquid soap that is more easily removed in the rinse water.
Set the machine to the gentle or delicate cycle. Let the machine complete the entire process.
A tip: don’t put more than two pillows inside the machine at a time. Despite being light, when wet the pillows become heavy and this can end up straining the motor of your washing machine. It is also important to distribute them well inside the washing machine basket.
Then remove the pillow from the machine and place 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 hand washing well.
The process is the same as indicated in the previous steps.
NASA pillow
Memory foam pillows, popularly known as NASA pillows, can be washed by hand, but it is recommended to avoid the use of washing machines and dryers.
Pillow drying
One of the most important parts of how to wash pillow is drying. Even if you have a dryer, prefer the sun to dry them. So here’s another important tip: check the weather forecast and see if it will be sunny on the day you want to wash your pillows, remembering that complete drying can take more than a day.
It is very important that the pillow is completely dry before using it again. Never store a damp pillow.
Moisture can result in mold, mildew and the growth of bacteria, not to mention the bad smell.
Pillow dry cleaning
Did you know that it is possible to dry cleaning the pillow? Well, yes it does. It’s not really a wash, just a quick clean.
For this, you just need to vacuum the entire pillow. Don’t forget to remove the pillowcase, okay?
The vacuum cleaner can remove most of the dust, mites and dead skin leftovers present on the pillow. Thus, between one wash and another you ensure that the pillow is always clean.
How to remove pillow stains
Over time, it is natural for the pillow to create stains and marks, especially yellow ones.
The tip to remove this type of pillow stain is to bet on volume 10 hydrogen peroxide.
Dilute about a dessertspoon 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 when washing the pillow. Any residue on the pillow can increase the proliferation of microorganisms, not to mention that the product’s smell is also an allergy factor for many people.
- Dry the pillow preferably in the sun. Our star king has the power to dry and still eliminate mites. He is always the best option.
- Liquid soap is more suitable for washing pillows than powder soap, as it is easier to remove when rinsing.
- Coconut soap is the most suitable for washing pillows, precisely because it washes the fibers more delicately and less aggressively.
- 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 mix 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 in the wash, such as bleach and multipurpose products. These products damage the fibers of the pillow fabric and reduce its durability.
- Remember to also wash the protective cover of your pillow.
Take care of your pillow
More than washing, you should maintain a pillow care routine. That’s why we’ve separated some tips for you to take good care of your friend every night, check it 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’s no sun, that’s fine too, just put it on to get some air in the window.
- Take advantage of this moment and vacuum the entire pillow.
- Daily, when making the bed, beat 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 also facilitate the cleaning and washing process.
- Store your pillow in a cool 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 that.
- Pillows should be washed every six months on average. 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, prevent them from having contact with your pillow. Kittens usually shed fur and a malicious flea is there too, right? Better not to risk it.
- Did you write down all the tips? Now just put them into practice and leave your pillows always clean and fragrant.
Why you should wash the pillow
Manufacturers recommend it and common sense too: washing pillows is beneficial for your health.
But why? Pillows accumulate different 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 pillowcase? Even using pillowcase!
The presence of these microorganisms can cause allergies, such as rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as triggering asthma.
Therefore, cleaning pillows is not freshness, it is a necessity.
But there is another reason behind the importance of washing pillows and that reason is the durability of the product.
When you choose to wash the pillows, you also end up prolonging the life of the material, as it is free of agents that accelerate deterioration.
