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    How to wash pillows and how often – Best Life

    Umito Posted on

    People who do household chores know that it’s a good idea to wash their bed linen at least once a week or so. Of course, this helps keep your pillowcases and sheets looking and smelling fresh while eliminating dirt and germs that build up night after night. But disinfecting your sleeping space isn’t just about replacing your sheets: Experts also warn that you may not be washing your pillows often enough. Also, you may not know how wash pillows properly.

    RELATED: How often do you wash your towels? The doctor warns that they are probably full of “infectious bacteria.”

    How often should you wash your pillows?

    Photo of a young woman making her bediStock

    “People typically wash their clothes at least once a week and probably have more than one outfit,” says Nathalie Barret, supervisor and cleaning expert at Nifty Cleaning Services. “On the other hand, many people lie on the same pillow every night, and their (pillow) never receives the same care despite hours and hours of use.”

    According to Barret, you should wash your pillow at least every three to six months, although most people can do it about twice a year. However, some sleepers may want to increase this number.

    “If you sweat more at night, have more sensitive skin, or have allergies, you should wash your pillows more often, about every three months or more if you feel the need,” says Barret.

    Even though it seems like your pillowcase is preventing your pillows from getting dirty, experts point out that’s not necessarily the case.

    “Pillows are perfect hosts for debris, dead skin cells, sweat, moisture, skin oils, etc.,” explains Alex SavyA certified sleep science coach and founder of SleepingOcean. “If you leave all that alone, it can attract dust mites. And sharing your sleeping space with these guys can cause allergies, itchy or watery eyes, rashes and even an increased risk of asthma.”

    RELATED: What Happens When You Don’t Wash Your Sheets Every Week, Doctors Say.

    How to wash pillows in the washing machine

    Turn on the washing machine by handiStock

    How you wash your pillow will ultimately depend on what it’s made of, says Barret. Down and synthetic down pillows can usually be washed in your washing machine, while foam pillows should only be spot cleaned. This is especially true for dense memory foam pillows, as they tend to absorb all the water from the wash cycle, potentially ruining them for good.

    “Read the label first, as most manufacturers offer suggestions on the appropriate water temperature and wash cycle for each specific pillow type,” Savy suggests.

    According to a TikTok released by Consumer Reportsassume that pillows with missing washing information should only be spot cleaned.

    If your pillows can be machine washed, it’s best to throw them in two at a time to spread the load, with two to three tablespoons of detergent.

    Then, toss them in the dryer with two dry bath towels to ensure they dry completely and prevent mold growth. Adding two tennis balls to the drying cycle can also help ensure they will be fluffy when finished, for example. Consumer Reports.

    How to Deep Clean Your Pillows

    full bathtub

    Shutterstock

    You want to make sure your pillows are Really do the housework? In a recent video, popular TikTok cleaning expert and life hack @BrunchWithBabs7 showed how completely “stripping” your pillows and clean them even deeper than a washing machine.

    Start by filling your bathtub with the hottest water possible. Next, add a quarter cup each of baking soda and borax and two cups of liquid laundry detergent and mix them together. Next, put your pillows in the water and submerge them by hitting them with a wooden spoon.

    A 24-hour soaking session in the video shows how the bathtub water changed from light blue to murky brown. “What you see here are body oils, excess detergent, fabric softeners, anything that your washing machine can’t remove,” she explains.

    Finally, wring out your pillows and throw them in the washing machine on the normal cycle without any detergent. She also recommends adding a few dryer balls or tennis balls to ensure your pillows plump up, too.

    RELATED: Do you hate making the bed? A doctor reveals the first reason you should avoid this chore.

    How to Know When It’s Time to Completely Replace Your Pillows

    woman sniffing white pillow with foul odor or musty smelliStock

    While regular washing can help extend the life of your pillow, there are still a few obvious signs that it may be time to buy a new one, especially if you notice that it is badly stained. permanent or dirty.

    Barret says any pillows that have taken on a yellowish color that hasn’t disappeared after washing should be replaced.

    And it’s not just about what you can see: while some odors disappear when you wash your pillow, others may linger. Savy says lingering, stubborn odors are “a good sign that your pillow is probably way too old for you.”

    Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation has a easy to see test if you need a new pillow: Fold your pillow in half and see if it stays folded while you’re not holding it. If so, you need to replace it.

    You can also look for strange shapes. Savy says visible lumps in your pillows are a good sign that they need to be replaced, and according to Barret, the same goes if your pillow is too flat.

    Always replace pillows that are two years or older

    white sheets and pillows on the bed

    Shutterstock

    Finally, finding the perfect pillow can feel like a lifelong marriage. But in a recent TikTok, Jason SinghMD, a Virginia-based physician, explains that there are one more shelf life for this particular relationship.

    “Pillows actually have an expiration date from a health perspective,” he says. “Over time, pillows become a haven for dust mites, which feed on dead skin cells that are naturally shed from our bodies during sleep. These microscopic creatures and their feces are powerful allergens. »

    “Plus, your sweat (and) saliva – all that drool you get on your pillow – creates an ecosystem of dust mites, fungi (and) bacteria, which don’t just live on the surface of the pillowcase “They colonize the entire pillow, burrowing deep and that’s why just changing the pillow cover doesn’t make it completely go away,” he explains.

    While he still recommends washing pillowcases and covers at least every two weeks, you should also completely replace the pillows themselves every two years.

    Umito
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