How to Wash My Pillow
Ever wondered “How do I wash my pillow? How often do I need to wash it? Is it even necessary to wash it? This article will teach you all you need to know about washing pillows and keeping them in tip-top shape.
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If you are anything like me, you pay attention to the things that need your attention. Especially as a mom with little kids, I am lucky to keep my house tidy, let alone clean.
After your kid eats supper, you sweep the floor because there is a mess. You do the dishes because there’s a pile of dishes and you are running out of places to put them. When a whole box of goldfish is dumped in the car, you sweep out the car. When you see something is dirty, we clean it.
What about those things that we can’t see are dirty?
Unless someone tells you it’s time to clean something you wouldn’t normally see, you probably don’t know that you should be cleaning it. I am guilty of this.
Why do I need to wash my pillow?
A pillowcase is going to take the majority of the sweat, grime, and saliva and absorb it while you sleep. Our bodies also shed dead skin cells and some of that makes its way into the physical pillow.
Sometimes we forget how dirty things are because we cannot physically see the dirt and grime. Even if your pillow looks pristine and spotless (which mine never do), still give it a quick wash.
Let’s say hypothetically you are getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep each night. In just one week’s time, you have used that pillow 56 hours. That is a significant amount of use!
Take good care of your pillows and they should last longer!
How often do I need to wash my pillow?
Your pillow cases really get the brunt of the not so pleasant things our bodies leave behind while sleeping and should be washed at least twice a month with your other bedding. Pillow cases do a wonderful job protecting your physical pillow, but occasionally the pillow still needs a little TLC.
According to Good Housekeeping, it is recommended to wash pillows at least twice a year, or every six months.
As with most cleaning recommendations, you can take them with a grain of salt. If you wanted to go above and beyond, you would wash them four times a year, or about every 4 months. If cleaning isn’t your thing, maybe you push it to once a year. Know that twice a year is the minimum recommendation, and you can take it from there.
When to wash my pillows?
As long as you get it done roughly every 6 months it doesn’t really matter when you wash your pillows. Washing your pillows is simple. The hardest part would probably be to actually remember to do it.
However, like most businesses, or managers, they have systems in place to run efficiently. I have given myself the title of home manger as my job is to make sure our home is run well and efficiently. As the home manager of our household, I like to set systems in place for cleaning.
Tips for how to remember to wash pillows
- Put “Wash my pillows” in your Google calendar every 6 months
- Create a cleaning checklist with random items
- Pick two months of the year and always wash them. For example, I choose March and September because I can let the pillows air dry outside and get some wonderful sunshine!
How to wash pillows
I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat. You have learned why you need to wash them and how often. Now, you get to learn HOW to clean your pillow.
Types of Pillows
There are a couple of different types of pillows and therefore each one can and washed and dried differently. Memory foam pillows should not be submerged in water, and therefore need spot cleaned only. However, most pillows (such as cotton, feather, and wool) can be washed in the washing machine on a gentle cycle and in cool water.
Steps to clean pillows
- Remove pillow cases.
- Always check the cleaning label on the pillow to see if there are any specific directions.
- Wash two pillows at a time with HALF of the amount of detergent for a regular load.
- Do a rinse cycle after the wash to make sure all detergent is out.
- Air dry outside if possible. This helps ensure it gets completely dry. Not all pillows do well in the dryer. Just to be on the safe side, I ALWAYS air dry them.
What you need to know…
- Wash your pillows twice a year, about every six months.
- The material of your pillow affects how you can wash it.
- Always check the label on the pillow for specific instructions.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will come back for more!
