We all use pillows on a daily basis to sleep on, rest our backs on or maybe even to cuddle with to get a good night’s rest! But, how often do you wash your pillows? Maybe never, right?
Well, most of us do wash our pillow covers of course, but washing our pillows is not something most of us do. But it is essential we do, especially the ones which do not have removable pillow covers. They can get stained, dirty and prone to collecting dust, grime, oil and sweat, dead skin cells which is unhygienic.
So, can you wash your pillow in your machine? Or do you need to handwash them? Well, here’s everything you need to know about how to wash every type of pillow the right way!
How to clean and disinfect pillows ?
To eliminate odors, remove your pillowcase and sprinkle baking soda over your pillow. After 30 minutes, vacuum away the baking soda. Spray your pillow with a fabric-safe sanitizer to disinfect it.
How to wash different types of pillows the right way?
Pillow Type: Memory Foam, Solid Latex Foam
To wash memory foam or solid latex foam pillows, the procedure is pretty much the same. It is essential that neither of these two types of pillows are put in the washing machine, as it can damage the foam. These pillows cannot be put in a dryer either, they will have to be air dried.
Here are different ways to wash memory foam and synthetic pillows:
1. If there is a small stain:
If there are small stains on the pillows, you can treat them individually instead of washing the entire pillow.
Remove any stains, combine hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Use an old toothbrush to dip in the mixture and brush it on the stained area. Then blot with a clean damp cloth.
2. For washing the entire pillow:
You can use your washing machine to wash two pillows at a time (to create a balance) and if you do not have two pillows to wash, then you can add in some cotton bath towels instead.
Make sure to use a laundry detergent that rakes up low suds. Just a teaspoon should suffice, to wash both your pillows. Avoid using any fabric softeners, as they can make the pillow fillings lose their loft. Thereafter, set the washer to a gentle cycle and on cold water and let it wash.
Once clean, always do a rinse a second time, to make sure there is no soapy residue left. (This applies for hand-washing as well, dip in cold water and squeeze and keep repeating until all the soap suds are gone). Lastly, dry in a dryer by setting it to medium heat and also, add in some tennis balls into the dryer to help make it fluffier.
Pillow Type: Feather, Fiberfill, Polyester
For feather, fiberfill and polyester type of pillows, you can wash them in the washer on a gentle setting with cold water.
Firstly, you will have to check if any of your pillows going to be washed have any tears or rips. This is because if it has a rip, it can further open up and your washer will be filled with feathers, fluff etc.
Here are different ways to wash feather, fiberfill or polyester pillows:
1. For individual stains:
If there are small stains on the pillows, you can treat them individually instead of washing the entire pillow.
To wash those stains, you could mix a few drops of laundry detergent with a little hydrogen peroxide, dip a cloth into it, drain and blot it over the stained area. Then, use a soft-bristled brush to clean out the stain.
Then let it sit for 10 minutes and thereafter, blot with a plain clean damp cloth.
2. If you want to wash the entire pillow:
You will need to make like a bath for the pillow by filling a large sized tub with lukewarm water and then adding in some laundry detergent along with 1/2 cup baking soda, giving it a mix and then submerging the pillow into it for a few minutes and let it sit there.
Submerge the pillow and knead gently. Rinse, drain the basin, and press on the pillow to expel water, then roll it in a dry towel. You can also use a washer’s slow spin cycle to help extract water before drying.
How to dry pillows?
Adding a couple of dry towels will speed things up. You can toss in two clean tennis balls as well they’ll bounce around,
which helps keep the pillow fill from clumping. If the weather is mild, you can also hang pillows on a clothesline until they’re dried all the way through.