To keep the bedroom clean and relaxing, we make it a point to change and wash the bed sheets and pillowcases every other week (yes, you heard that right the ideal laundry frequency is every other week). Aside from regularly washing your bed linens, have you been paying attention to your actual pillows? Some us go straight to bed without taking a shower, others sleep while the hair is still wet, and let's not even get started what our little ones bring to the bed. So can you imagine the amount of germs and bacteria that can be found in one pillow alone?
In a post by Consumer Reports, pillow manufacturer Slumbr CEO and co-founder Michelle Fishberg shares, “Most people do not realize that their pillows can harbor lots of gross and icky things that build up over time —dirt, oils, saliva, sweat, bacteria, mold, and even fungi.”
Fancy resting your head on a pillow filled with bacteria? No, thanks! A research done by Good Housekeeping also reveals that our pillows and bedding absorb around 200 ml of sweat every night! Suffice to say, our pillows can make us sick, especially if we don’t wash and clean them regularly.
Do you often wake up with a runny nose and itchy eyes? According to an article published by Food Matters, “mites, fungi, and bacteria can have real implications for your health. The most common form of fungus found in pillows, Aspergillus fumigatus, has been linked with adverse health outcomes in immunocompromised individuals.” Dust mites that reside in your pillows can also trigger allergic reactions, eczema, and rhinitis.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe easiest way to avoid sleeping with germs and getting sick is regularly cleaning and washing your pillows. You can do it before you change the bed sheets and pillowcases so that by the time your crisp bed linens are ready, you’ll have clean pillows to cover and use. How often should you wash your pillows?
Good Housekeeping says you only need to clean pillows two or three times a year (or every three to six months). You also want to replace it after two years. Research has shown that after two years of use, "more than a third of a pillow’s weight could be made up of dust mites (living and dead), dust mite droppings, dead skin, and bacteria."
There are different ways to wash and care for your pillows because it depends on the types of pillows you have at home. But you can get started with these reminders.
How to clean and wash your pillows
Fluff your pillows
Before leaving the bedroom, don’t forget to fluff your pillows to help remove dust. Doing this helps maintain the form of your pillows as well.
Air them out
Can’t stand the kulob smell? If you’re pressed for time, you can air out your pillows and leave it under the sun to let fresh air work its magic. Design website Hunker suggests sprinkling baking soda all over the pillow before placing it under the sun for three hours to get rid of bad odors. “Sunlight naturally kills many types of bacteria, and the baking soda will absorb the odors,” the article states. Once you’re happy with the fresh smell, you can brush off or vacuum the remaining baking soda.
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Read the care label first and be prepared to wash your pillows
Given the materials of your pillows, it takes a bit for one pillow to dry. It’s best to start washing them early so you have enough time left for drying each. Before throwing your pillows in the washing machine, make sure you read the care labels attached to it first. There are pillows that are meant to be dry cleaned.
Vacuum foam pillows
As the name suggests, foam pillows have foam that absorb water. Make sure you dry them well to avoid mildew. To clean foam pillows, Hunker suggests attaching the upholstery cleaning attachment on your vacuum cleaner then vacuuming both sides of the pillow. To deal with stains, you can remove it using a clean towel and soapy water. Place it in the dryer afterwards or you can air it out.
Wash down and feather pillows on a warm and delicate cycle
If you have these types of pillows at home, Consumer Reports suggests washing them with a small amount of mild powder detergent. Make sure each pillow is wet and soaked in the detergent. Depending on the size of your washing machine, you can wash two pillows at once. Dry the pillows using the no-heat, air-dry setting.
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Wash polyester pillows on a gentle cycle
You can use a tablespoon of liquid detergent when washing these pillows and don’t forget to use warm water.
Invest in pillow covers
Once you’re done with the washing and drying, protect the pillows from dust and dirt using airtight pillow covers. As an alternative, you can also use two pillowcases at once.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWSources: The Sun | Consumer Reports | Hunker
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