How to Clean Pillows
When you clean your house, do you remember to clean your pillows? We all use our pillows every night, but can sometimes leave them off our list of things that need some sprucing up. Our pillows collect sweat, oils, dead skin cells, dust mite droppings, fungi and pet dander so it’s vitally important to clean them regularly to reduce the presence of allergens that can make us feel sick.
Dr. Robert Oexman, of Sleep to Live Institute, recommends buying a new pillow once every six months, but here are some care tips to keep your favorite Contour Living pillows as clean as possible between replacements.
- Change your Pillow cases frequently! – It is recommended that you replace your pillow case every week with a clean one. It is handy to have a few extra if you aren’t doing your laundry that often. Our custom fit pillow cases can be washed in your washing machine and either line dried or placed in a dryer on a low heat setting to prevent shrinking. Changing your pillow case often is the first line of defense against allergens and acne causing dirt and oil build up.
- Cleaning a polyester or down filled pillow – Pillows filled with a synthetic or natural down filling can be washed in your washing machine. Make sure to inspect the seams to ensure you don’t end up with a fluffy mess! Use cold or warm water and only a small amount of detergent (one to two teaspoons) and select the gentle cycle. When the cycle is complete, run the pillows through an extra rinse cycle to insure that all of the detergent is rinsed away. Fluff the filling before you put the pillows in the dryer. Add wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls to help break any clumps. The dryer should be set on low to medium heat. Stop the dryer every 15 minutes and re-fluff the pillows by hand. It will take longer than a normal load to get the pillows completely dry.It is a good idea to pick a sunny, breezy day to wash polyester filled pillows so that you can put them outside in the sun for a final dry. This method would work great on your Flip or Ortho-Fiber 2.0 pillows!
- Taking care of your memory foam pillows – If your pillow is made of memory foam, your options for keeping it clean are going to be limited. Memory foam is very delicate and should not be put in the washer or dryer and should never be submerged in water. To spot clean any stains mix together a solution of cold water and a small amount of mild soap, but enough soap to produce bubbles. Starting from the outside of the spill and working your way to the center, gently dab the lather from the cleaning solution onto the spot. Do NOT rub it onto the spill, only gently dab it down. You will want to make sure that the pillow is completely dry by removing any moisture with a towel and then leaving it out in the sun or in front of a fan for at least 24 hours. If your memory foam pillow ever has a foul odor, try sprinkling baking soda and letting it sit for several hours, then using a vacuum attachment or soft cloth to remove the extra baking soda. Try these freshening methods with your CPAPMax or ContourPedic Pillows.
If you have a pillow or cushion that is made of polyurethane foam that has been stained or is older than 1 year, we suggest replacing it. Pillows made from this material cannot be cleaned with water or any moisture as they will hold liquid and can easily mold and degrade. If you spill anything on this type of pillow or cushion, it would be best to buy a new one and toss the old one. As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning cases and pillows.
Keeping your pillows clean may be something you don’t think of very often, but it is essential to the health and well being of you and your family. Make sure you’re replacing pillows and cases regularly as well as including them in your regular list of household chores.