Pillows adorn both your bedroom and living room. They get a lot of use – every night for hours at a time, sometimes when you’re clean, sometimes when you haven’t showered. You might have pets that sleep on them, too. It’s important that you regularly wash your pillows – and not just the pillowcases – to keep them from getting too dirty or gross. But this isn’t a common practice, and many people ask, “How do I wash my pillows?” So here’s a short and sweet guide to learn how to wash your pillows, courtesy of 3 Maids!
How often should I wash my pillows?
You should wash your pillows at least twice a year to ensure they stay clean for months at a time. Taking care of your pillows will extend their life and let you go longer without having to buy a new set. Besides the pillows themselves, you should wash your pillowcases as often as you wash your sheets, which can be once every week or two.
Air Your Pillows Out
In the first step, you want to make sure you remove as much surface-level dirt, dust, and grime from your pillow as possible. For regular care, simply vacuum your pillows with a hand vacuum. Fluff them at least once a week and try to place them in the sun or in a warm area to remove moisture.
Wash Your Pillows
Next, you need to wash your pillows. Depending on the type of pillows, you may need to use a specific washer setting. Let’s look at the common pillows:
- Down pillows: Down pillows should be washed with cool water and a non-abrasive detergent. Warm and hot water can shrink the fabric and potentially ruin the pillow. Rinse twice to remove leftover soap or detergent.
- Feather pillows: Feather pillows can be cleaned in the same way as down pillows. Again, be aware of shrinkage; use cold water if you want to preserve the pillow.
- Polyester pillows: For polyester pillows, use warm water and only a little bit of detergent.
- Memory foam pillows: Any agitation can break apart the memory foam and ruin the pillow, so it’s recommend to wash memory foam pillows by hand.
- Pillows with buckwheat hulls: Liquid destroys buckwheat hulls, so do not place these pillows in the washing machine! Follow instructions on the tab, place buckwheat outside on a cooking sheet to dry them out, and wash the pillow shell with cold water and a mild soap.
With all types of pillows, don’t overload the washer. If your washer has an agitator (vertical stand in the middle), place the pillows vertically in the cavity so that they are not repeatedly hit by the agitator.
Dry Your Pillows
Feather pillows and down pillows can be dried on tumble-dry on low. A good hint is to place dryer balls in to prevent the pillows from clumping. Memory foam pillows and polyester pillows should be air-dried. You can hang them on a clothesline in the sun or somewhere they can drip.
Do not bring the pillows into your bedroom until you’re sure they’re dry, otherwise, you risk them developing mildew. Pillows take a few hours to dry, so bear that in mind – wash them first thing in the morning so they can dry throughout the afternoon!
Cleaning Pillows and More!
3 Maids can help keep your home in pristine condition. We can clean the whole home, from the bedroom to the living room, so that you return to a comfortable space after a long day at work. Contact us today to set up an appointment!
