How to wash a pillow to extend its useful life and improve your rest

 How to wash a pillow to extend its useful life and improve your rest

Do you know that your pillow is decisive to get a good rest? We imagine so, but today we are not going to focus on how the ideal pillow should be. In this post we are going to deal with proper hygiene and maintenance of it since numerous studies, such as this one from the University of Manchester , confirm that a large number of microorganisms accumulate in it that can affect our health , especially, those with allergies.

- How to wash a pillow to extend its useful life and improve your rest and Pillows Product

To avoid the proliferation of bacteria and mites, in addition to regularly changing the pillowcases, it is necessary to wash them properly. But do you know how and how often you have to wash them? Do not worry, here are the keys so that you can obtain maximum hygiene in your pillows without them being damaged.

HOW TO WASH A PILLOW

In addition to washing the cover and sheets weekly, it is important that you wash your pillow at least twice a year . But before starting the process, it is essential that you take into account certain aspects to obtain a good result:

• - Check the manufacturer's washing instructions , the different icons will show you if it can be washed and the most suitable type of cleaning depending on its composition.
• - Make sure the pillow doesn't have any flaws or tears where the filling can come out during the wash.

You should know that most pillows allow washing, but depending on the composition of their core (latex, memory foam, feathers or synthetic), the care and cleaning will be different. Let's see each type of pillow one by one.

WASHING A MEMORY FOAM PILLOW

This type of pillows do not allow washing since if they get excessively wet the memory foam loses its adaptability properties and its memory effect. It is recommended that you wash your protective cover regularly. But as we know, it is inevitable that on certain occasions a deeper cleaning is required. In this case, you will have to do it manually.

 How to do it:

• Prepare a container with warm water and mild soap.
• Dampen a clean cloth (you should wring it very well) and rub the pillow in circular motions.
• Dry thoroughly with a clean towel

Place the pillow on a flat surface and in the shade to facilitate drying (better if it is outdoors). Before using it again, make sure it is completely dry to avoid mold and bad smells.

WASHING A LATEX PILLOW

wave shape pillowExcept for hypoallergenic latex pillows that don't need to be washed, these types of pillows are machine washable .

However, despite the manufacturer's instructions allowing it, we advise you to clean it manually to prevent the latex from losing its properties prematurely.

We explain how you should do both washes correctly. You decide which is the most suitable for you and your pillow!

Machine wash

If your pillow allows it and you opt for this option, in addition to following the manufacturer's instructions, we recommend that you follow these little tips to achieve proper cleaning.

 Use a cold water program and a liquid detergent for delicates to avoid depositing residue on the core of the pillow.

 Add small garments or wash balls to prevent the pillow from being damaged.

 To remove all traces of soap, program the rinse cycle twice in a row .

 Dry it outdoors, on a flat surface in the shade .

Manual washing

 How to do it:

• Fill a large container with cold water and add a little liquid detergent for delicates
• Dip the pillow and wash gently (without rubbing). Avoid prolonged soaking
• Rinse with plenty of cold water until you make sure no soap residue remains
• Eliminate excess water as much as possible, put it to dry in the open air (preferably in the shade) and in a horizontal position.

WASHING FEATHER AND SYNTHETIC PILLOWS

Both can be washed without any problems in the washing machine and share the same washing instructions , to obtain a perfect result.

 How to do it:

• Use liquid detergent for delicate clothes.
• Choose a program for delicate clothes and a maximum temperature of 40 degrees.
• Add a couple of wash balls to the drum of the washing machine to avoid loss of volume. Failing that, you can use a pair of tennis balls wrapped in socks or stockings.
• Choose a gentle spin cycle.

Although it is possible to dry it by machine (in a cold or low temperature drying program) we recommend that you do it outdoors, horizontally and in the shade. In the case of feather pillows, it is advisable to remove the filling from time to time to prevent the feathers from becoming caked.

HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM THE PILLOW

It is inevitable, despite regularly changing the cover, that unpleasant yellow stains appear on the pillow, mainly caused by sweating, saliva and hair oil. In these cases, to restore your pillow to its original appearance , follow the steps below.

 How to do it:

• Before washing your pillow, prepare a container with water and dissolve a little neutral detergent in it. If the pillow is very yellow, you can add a little bleach or sodium percarbonate to the water to make it easier to restore the original white.
• Gently rub the stains with a well wrung sponge or a clean damp cloth.
• Wash your pillow, depending on its material, follow the instructions that we have previously detailed.

TIPS FOR KEEPING A PILLOW CLEAN

clean pillowTo keep your pillow clean, the easiest way to do this is prevention . The role that the cover plays in this regard is really important. When you buy a pillow, it already comes with a protective cotton cover that can be machine washed as many times as necessary; In any case, protecting it with an extra cover never hurts and is advisable .

In the market you can find models that adapt to your needs (cotton, waterproof, hypoallergenic, anti-mite ...).

Our advice is to  wash the cover weekly together with the sheets to get extra hygiene and extra protection against the appearance of unwanted stains and the proliferation of unwanted beings.