Washing pillows is essential for removing dead skin cells, dust mites and moisture. Very often, however, this type of cleaning is completely forgotten, compared to cleaning the mattress, for example.
In reality, this is a wash that should not be underestimated: it is advisable to clean the cushions at least every three months. Furthermore, it can happen that the latter turn yellow over time, but this is completely normal.
Each type of pillow must follow a particular cleaning process, whether they are synthetic, whether they are in goose down, or in latex. If you are wondering how to wash your cushions at home, here are some useful tips to put into practice right away.
How often should you wash the pillows?
We all asked ourselves this at least once: but how often is it necessary to clean the cushions? Many forget about them until they choose to replace them, but cleaning the pillows is essential to sleep in a healthy place and to remove bacteria, humidity and dust that settles.
Some choose to do this once a month, but in general it is good practice to wash them at least once every 3 months. While their replacement should be done every 2 years or so. The washing of the cushions can follow, for example, that of the mattress, in order to perfectly sanitize the entire sleeping area.
How to wash synthetic pillows
Let’s now move on to the first type of pillows for the night: synthetic ones, therefore polyester-based. They are among the most common and certainly, if you do not have a synthetic one for the sleeping area, it may happen that you have one for the living area, for example for an armchair or for the sofa. In any case, when you need to wash synthetic pillows, just put them in the washing machine with a delicate wash and a light spin.
To make them even whiter and brighter, you can add a drop of vinegar to the detergent compartment. However, it is very important that the washing temperature does not exceed 30 ° C. Since sometimes synthetic pillows behave a bit like sponges, it is good to avoid using abundant detergent, so that at the end of the wash they are perfectly rinsed.
If your cushions have stains, you can scrub them with a damp cloth or brush before putting them in the washing machine.
How to wash goose down pillows
The goose down pillows are extremely soft and are among the most popular even for those suffering from cervical problems. However, they are also very delicate and therefore it is advisable to wash them by hand or dry.
First, check that there are no cuts in the lining because if water gets inside, it will ruin all the plumage. Then you can choose whether to remove the stains with a brush or a damp cloth and then let them take in the air and sun for a few hours, or wash them by hand in cold water.
In the second case, just take a bowl, fill it with cold water, lemon juice and coarse salt. Then you immerse the pillow, leave it to soak for a few hours, then squeeze it and put it in the sun to dry. The drying phase is extremely important because if you use a damp pillow, the risk of proliferation of bacteria and mites is very high.
In winter, if you can’t hang them out in the sun, remember that you can always use the hair dryer or dryer, but without exceeding the temperature and for no more than 15 minutes. Once dry, you will need to shake the pillow to make the feathers return to the desired position.
If you can, opt for a dry cleaning so that the feathers are preserved and do not get wet or overheated.
How to wash latex pillows
The latex pillows instead follow a different procedure than all the others. First of all, not all of them can be washed and therefore, it is necessary to check the label of each individual pillow to be sure of the ideal type of wash.
If they show stains, you can choose to remove them with a brush or a damp cloth. You can also hand wash them in a basin of warm water and vinegar. If you prefer to use the washing machine, you will need to choose a program for delicate clothes with a maximum temperature of 30 ° C.
Drying must not be carried out under the sun’s rays, but must be placed in the shade vertically. Therefore, remember that, even for your daily cleaning routine, latex pillows do not need the sun’s rays to sanitize themselves. Of all the types, the latex ones are perhaps the most delicate because the risk is to ruin the internal foam.
Useful tools for cleaning pillows
Washing the pillows is a simple and does not take much time, so it is advisable to do it regularly. You just need a few simple tools, including:
- the washing machine, in the case of synthetic and goose down cushions, by setting the type of washing and the ideal temperature;
- a brush, in case there are stains that need to be rubbed before washing;
- a damp cloth that can often be substituted for washing and is useful for removing stains, but then requires the cushions to be spread out in the sun to benefit from their sanitizing power;
- natural products such as vinegar, lemon, bicarbonate or essential oils which in addition to having an antibacterial and antifungal power, also give an excellent fragrance.
Useful tips for washing and drying
Finally, here are some useful tips that can make the difference when you choose to wash your pillows, regardless of their type.
Hand washing is always preferable, especially when it comes to delicate pillows such as goose down or latex pillows. Instead of laundry detergent, you can use soap which washes and cleans, but without attacking the fabrics. Also always remember that the rinsing phase is very important, otherwise you risk leaving the detergent or soap inside.
If you choose to use the washing machine, it is advisable to choose not too aggressive washes and with temperatures that do not exceed 30 ° C. Also the centrifuge must not exceed 1000 rpm and the dryer must not have too high temperatures.
In general, it is always advisable to check the label for each type of pillow, because the manufacturers specify the ideal washing methods for both the padding and the fabric.
Drying is a very delicate process, the latex ones cannot be exposed to the sun, while the others absolutely yes, indeed they benefit from it. You can therefore choose to dry them as an alternative to the shade, or with a hairdryer or dryer, but always paying attention to the temperatures.
Goose down and synthetic pillows should never be laid out vertically, as they risk losing their original shape when they dry. Instead, it is better to place them horizontally and turn them about every 3 hours.
One last tip: to understand when you need to replace the pillow you can do a test. Just fold it in half and let go. If it goes back to its original shape then it’s still good and you can keep using it. If, on the other hand, it remains folded, the time has come to buy brand new pillows to promote the right rest.