How To Easily Clean Your Pillows
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Do you clean all your household items regularly? Well, are you sure? Okay if you’re so sure that you are cleaning all the household items regularly when was the last time you cleaned your pillows? Can’t remember, right? Well, we’re sure you must have been cleaning the pillowcases and pillow covers on a regular basis, but that ain’t enough. You also need to clean the actual pillows as well. And if you think I’ll instead replace the entire pillow with a new one every now and then, well, even that isn’t enough. We’ll tell you why.
In This Article
Why Should We Clean Pillows?
First of all, let’s remind you that when it comes to the bedrooms, there is much more to life than just those crisp, fine sheets (which also need to be changed weekly once, FYI). If you thought it was only the mattress that made you uncomfortable and you couldn’t sleep well, you could be wrong. It can be something that’s got to do with your pillow as well. Your pillows can be a storeroom for all things harmful (dust, germs, and all that you never even thought about). It could be a breeding space for all the unwanted bacteria, dust mites, dirt, dead skin cells, and even more, there could be tiny spiders or critters as well. Imagine resting your head on a pillow full of germs. Sounds like a nightmare, right?
Not cleaning your pillows regularly can take a toll on your health. You might end up developing dust allergies and maybe even be a victim of breathing problems that you never had before. Experts have said that it is mandatory to clean pillow cases every three months. And it is essential to clean the pillows themselves at least once in three months (1).
What To Consider While Cleaning The Pillows?
Make a note that if your pillows are made of feather or feather-like particles, you shouldn’t wash them by yourself. It’s best to send them to the dry cleaners. Another heads up that we’d like to give you is to always look for any labels on the sides of your pillows. You’re sure to find some information regarding the dos and don’ts there. It’s very important to read the instructions before you start cleaning. You can only wash a pillow if it’s washable, right? Also, certain pillows come with pillow protector; remove them before you go ahead and wash them.
How To Get Started With The Cleaning
Step 1: Soak Them
Remember when your grandma told you to soak the clothes before you wash them? Listen to her advice. The first prime step when it comes to cleaning pillows is to soak them in hot water. Well, soaking it in hot water will help the cleaning agents do their job better while removing the dirt from the pillows. If you have a top-loading washing machine, you can soak them in the washer itself. But, if you have a front-loading washer or a top-loader that doesn’t have a soaking option, then do it separately in a bucket (or a bathtub maybe).
Step 2: Prepare The Magic Potion
To make the magic potion to clean your pillows, first, take a large potful of water. Bring this to a boil on a stovetop. Take the pot off the stove. Now, add in the laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent along with some borax into this hot water, and stir well. Keep stirring until all the washing powders have dissolved well.
Step 3: Soak Again
Once all the ingredients have dissolved in the water, pour this magic potion into the washer where your pillows have already been soaked. Let all the pillows soak in this potion for around 30 minutes. Consider flipping the pillows on the other side after 15 minutes to ensure that they have absorbed all the soap solution well.
Step 4: Wash Them
Now, after all the soaking business is done, let’s start with the washing business. You need to run the pillows through a complete wash cycle in the washing machine. And, if you find options of “second rinse,” opt for that.
Step 5: Dry Them
Using the “air” or the “fluff” setting, you can dry the pillows in the dryer. One bonus tip for drying and making the pillows fluffy again would be to throw in some tennis balls in the dryers.
Important Notes:
Once you have removed the pillows from the dryer, double check for dampness. Any moisture left behind in the pillows can once again become a breeding field for bacteria and fungi. And when do you know that you need to throw away your old pillows and buy new ones? Fold the pillow in half. If it folds and returns to its original shape— keep it. Otherwise just toss it away.
Now you know that the reason behind your disturbed sleep is more than just your bad dreams. It could also be your pillows’ fault. No more pillow talk with germs!
