On average in the UK, adults sleep for just under 7 hrs per night, not including the time we spend chilling in bed or trying to fall asleep, so it’s a given that we should wash our bedding pretty often!
Whilst most of us regularly wash our pillow cases, fewer of us know how often to wash the pillows themselves! And we definitely don’t want to risk turning our comfortable night’s sleep into a lumpy one!
Bacteria, dirt and dust mites eventually work their way into the pillow, so it’s really important for good hygiene that we give them a wash every now and again—roughly every other month.
But what we don’t want to do is ruin the quality of our pillows. This guide will tell you how to make sure you get the best of both worlds: comfort and cleanliness!
Step One: Check the Care Label
Check the care label on your pillow to confirm that it can be washed at home. If it says dry clean only, make sure to take it to the dry cleaners and not to risk it yourself!
Step Two: Load the Washing Machine
Put two pillows in your washing machine at a time. This will make it easier for them to be evenly spread. Select a warm setting—40 degrees Celsius ideally.
Choose a mild detergent that is suitable for delicate washes. Be careful with your choice of detergent; try to avoid scented detergents if possible, especially if you’re prone to allergies, as your face and airways will be in close contact with the pillow!
We recommend going for a hypoallergenic scent-free liquid laundry detergent. Choosing a liquid detergent will mean that it will dissolve better in the wash!
Step Three: Run the Washing Machine
Now it’s time to wash your pillows – select a gentle wash cycle and add an extra rinse cycle at the end to guarantee that all of the detergent is washed off.
Step Four: Dry the Pillows
You can either air dry your pillows by hanging them outside; or you can use a tumble dryer.
If you decide to use a tumble dryer, make sure to do so on a low heat and chuck in a couple of tennis balls wrapped in white socks so the colours don’t run! This is a trick to make sure your pillows don’t get lumpy!
Lastly, make sure that your pillows are 100% dry before remaking your bed to avoid any build-up of mould. It might take 2 or 3 drying cycles on a low heat to fully dry your pillows out, so just be patient!
It’s a good idea to fluff up your pillows just using your hands between drying cycles, but don’t worry if you forget to do this bit, it’s not vital!
There you have it: nice, clean pillows without any compromise on comfiness!
Super easy steps as well, so no excuse not to chuck on a wash every couple of months. Good luck!
Hi, I’m Bron. I’m an elite endurance athlete, love the outdoors and anything involving food! All of which have the potential to make a mess! I don’t have a huge concentration span (and like to use the excuse of being too busy), so go for quick and easy cleaning methods where possible!
