It's a good idea to wash a pillow every year or so. Mom used to take them to the dry cleaner, where the stuffing would be taken out, bathed in chemicals, and then put in a fresh, new case. But we try to avoid dry cleaning in general and it seems like an especially bad idea to put all those chemicals right next to your head every night. So, how do you wash a pillow if you're not going to dry clean it? We've got a few tips...
It's quite easy, actually. You can do it by hand or use a machine, although it's much easier to rinse in a machine.
Note: if you have a feather pillow, every time you wash it you'll remove some of the natural oils from the feathers. Eventually, they'll break down, and your pillow won't be as soft as it was. Similarly, synthetic pillows can clump when you wash them, so it's a good idea to limit this ritual to once a year or so.
If your pillows just need to be freshened, put them in the sun for several hours on a clear day, or hang them outside and let them air out.
Related Posts:
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• Roundup: The-End-All-AT-Laundry-Guide
• Test Lab: Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Detergent
• DIY Dryer Sheets
Originally published March 2008 - CB
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
Another way to kill the little creatures is to leave your pillow out in the snow for a few hours or if you are like me and live in a sunny climate put it in the freezer.
view pkswede's profile
what causes the clumping over time? is it the actual washing or is it the machine drying that causes the filling to group into clumps?
view mh330's profile
It will require more than just one tennis ball in the dryer to help plump the pillows, I'm afraid. I worked at a laundry, and we used six.
But the best thing to use is a pair or two of very clean tennis shoes.
Having said that, I have to admit that other than a spin through the dryer, or a good beating outside, I don't wash my pillows.........I just buy new ones every year. The old ones I do give a good hot wash and dry, and then use for guest or car pillows.
I change my pillowcases every other night, so I think overall my pillows stay cleaner.
view ohjodi's profile
I replace pillows after about 2yrs. The old ones go on to second-life as the bed/pillow for my sister's 100lb dog. She made a giant pillowcase out of denim material that can hold 4 pillows. Just unzip and switch out the pillows.
view bramasoleiowa's profile
Thanks for the tips, I have this little problem for a long time now, I never tried this exact combination so far and I would gladly do it step by step. I hope my Kenmore parts will do the job.
view albert31's profile
what if you are replacing those old pillows with new ones... what is the green way to get rid of them?
view witchbaby's profile
witchbaby: i donate my old pillows. towels and sheets to the local animal shelter. they really appreciate them!
view allykiyoko's profile
I give my pillows a good beating every once in a awhile. After that, I spray my pillows with a mixture of lavendar essential oil and vodka. Then I put the damp pillow in the dryer. The mixture kills a good amount of the dust mites.
I use a misting of the spray daily to keep the dust mites at bay and give my pillows, sheets, and mattress a nice scent.
view morenagirl's profile