How to Clean your Pillows
| January 22, 2013 | Filled under allergies, cleaning, get clean, health, laundry, shaklee |
You know those household jobs that frequently fall to the bottom of the “to-do” list, even though they probably SHOULD be done more often? Yeah…this is one of those things.
Washing your pillows is especially important if you suffer from allergies, because (get ready for gross) there are TONS of dust mites that build up over time. Add sweat, oils, etc. and…are you disgusted yet? Pillows can double in weight over time because it absorbs so much “yuck” from us.
Some people recommend washing pillows every month, but if it’s not realistic for you to remember to do it monthly, then aim for 1-2 times a year at a minimum. Why set yourself up for failure, right? :)
If you have a SYNTHETIC pillow, wash on regular cycle with warm water, using a mild detergent. Wash two at a time, especially if you have a top-load washing machine (due to the agitator). I usually add my favorite stain remover to the load as well.
You will probably need to run an extra spin cycle to get as much moisture out of the pillows as possible.
Then, dry on low with a couple of tennis balls thrown in (I put each tennis ball in a sock and tie it to prevent staining from the ball). The tennis balls also help with fluffing the pillow back up. If the pillows feel like there is any moisture still or have a damp smell, put them in for another dryer cycle.
For DOWN pillows, check your labels, but you should be able to follow the same directions above, except wash on delicate cycle.
If you’ve had your pillows for longer than a few years, it might just be time to replace them. Washing them may get them clean, but they probably won’t fluff up to where they originally were.
How often do you wash your pillows?
Wow, I had no idea that you could wash your pillows in the washing machine, particularly down pillows. That’s a really handy tip!
I definitely do not wash our pillows enough! Maybe once a year. Now, how often do you throw them out and replace them?
I have read to replace them every 3-5 years. I think we are due for some new ones ASAP, lol! :)
Thanks for the information. I was just thinking I need to do this!
Thanks for the info – it was getting to be time to do this!
I replace my pillows January every year (they are usually on sale for a good price then.) We have pets who sleep on our bed – and of course they sleep on the pillow if they possibly can – and my husband has night sweats that stain his pillow and make it so gross. I never considered washing the pillows during the year because I was concerned they would lose their shape. The tennis-balls-in-a-stocking trick sounds fantastic! I’ll have to give it a try in a couple of months. Thanks for the tip.
Good info!!
Great info. Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday’s Adorned From Above Blog Hop 36.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Nichi @ The Mandatory Mooch
this is great info to have :) I’ve pinned it so I don’t forget. Maybe time pillow washing with the time change, just like timing it with the smoke detector batteries? Love for you to share this at my party http://www.addhousewife.com/2013/01/pin-inspiration-party-time.html
I LOVE that idea!!
Great information. I love this. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this and any other posts with everyone. It runs from Tuesday night through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/01/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-blog-hop_22.html
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
Thanks for sharing at Parlo and LOGI-
I usually just buy new pillows twice a year from TJMaxx, definitely not my most frugal moments. I don’t throw them out though, I’ll use the stuffing for making things for the kids, so that’s how I justify it. But now you have me thinking how nasty I am for not cleaning them more often! lol
Never knew about the tennis ball idea. My son gets frequent nose bleeds so his pillow gets washed more often…then become flat instead of fluffy. Great tip! Thanks!
Thank you for linking up with me for Show and Tell Saturday at Sassy Little Lady!
http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/show-and-tell-saturday/show-and-tell-saturday
Kathie
Oh my goodness..I need to do this. I don’t think I’ve ever washed pillows unless we had some weird virus. Linking up from Raising Reagan!
We wash our pillows quite a bit, sometimes we lose them (they don’t hold up so well). I’ll have to try the tennis balls in the dryer! Thanks for the tips.
I’m your latest e=mail subscriber. Visiting today from Raising Imperfection.
Wow, I never wash our pillows but I put pillow protectors on them. Guess I better load up my machine.
xoxo tiffani
http://www.tiffanigoff.com
Thank you for the good info. I need to do this.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-soup-kitchen-recipes-award-winning-loaded-potato-soup
I’m going to be honest here, I can’t say that I have ever washed my pillows…ewww. It might be time to replace them after I try washing them. Such a helpful post.
Linking up from Raising Imperfection
Stopping by from Raising Imperfection! This is a helpful post. I have to admit I think I’ve washed our pillows once in the past two years–yuck!
Oh goodness…. honestly, I NEVER wash mine!! :|
Thanks for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! I’m looking forward to seeing what you share tonight!
Wow, I’ve never washed mine! Of, course, now I really want to! Thanks for the info!
Krysta, thank you so much for coming to our Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. This is such a helpful post. I love it. Stop by again, OK?
Thanks for sharing that great information! You really have a nice blog! We are just getting going with our link parties and would like to invite you to come and join us, to share some of your great ideas! The party is 1/31/13 (Thursday – Tuesday) We hope you will join us! You may link up as many of your ideas as you would like! Hope to see you there!
Thanks!
Joye & Myrna
thebusybhive.blogspot.com
Get tips! Thanks for linking up! :)
I throw mine in the dryer once in a while but I never thought of actually washing them……I am going to have to do this. Thanks for the tips!
Hi Krysta! I wash mine exactly the same way :) Probably once every 4-6 weeks or so. Found you at the Pinterest Power Party (I’m co-hosting tonight!) and am now following you on BlogLovin and Twitter! Stop by my blog sometime!
Thank-you so much for including info including all the details, like extra rinse cycle and putting tennis balls in socks. You’re awesome!