Most of us take great care to wash our bedding regularly – that is, our sheets, our pillowcases, and our comforter or duvet. But, when was the last time you washed your actual pillows? It’s easy to disregard them during our regular cleaning routines, but when you think about all of the dirt, oils, dead skin, and so on that accumulate over time, you might want to reconsider neglecting them during your washing schedule.
Fortunately, washing your pillows is generally a straightforward process that’s not all that different from washing the rest of your bedding.
How Often Should You Wash Your Pillows?
Generally speaking, pillows should be washed, at the very least, every 6 months. Ideally, they should be washed every 3 months – that is, 4 times a year. Luckily, pillows don’t require the frequency of cleaning as the rest of the bedding, since it takes longer for them to require cleaning in the first place. The only exception would be if you’re sleeping on them without pillowcases, in which case they would get dirty much faster.
How Can You Wash Pillows without Ruining Them?
The large majority of pillows can be machine-washed, luckily. This includes the majority of down, cotton, feather, and fiberfill pillows that you’d buy at any home goods store. Of course, you should always read the care label to know for sure, and also identify the details of what kind of wash cycle and dry cycle are ideal. There are some pillows out there that may not be able to handle typical washing methods, and even may require dry-cleaning instead. That will be indicated on the care label.
What is the Best Way to Wash Pillows in the Washing Machine?
First off, it’s better to wash pillows in a washing machine that doesn’t have an agitator – in other words, the large spindle in the center of the washing machine that agitates what’s inside. That’s because a non-agitator washing machine is gentler. But, if you do have an agitator in your washing machine, you can simply place the pillow(s) vertically so that they’re less likely to get too agitated during the wash cycle.
Again, look at the care label, which will tell you which settings are ideal for the pillows that you have. It’s very likely that you will need to use a gentle setting, as again, pillows are fairly fragile, and need to maintain their shape.
When it comes to the detergent you use, this is where you gotta be extra careful. Commercial laundry detergents often contain allergens, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens that can all cause harm to our health. With our pillows, avoiding these ingredients is all the more important. Why? Because you’re laying your head on them for several hours every night. That means you’re breathing in these ingredients more than you would with, say, a pair of pants that you just laundered.
We strongly recommend using laundry products that contain no harmful ingredients, and are EPA-certified, meaning that they’re nontoxic and nonharmful to the environment. And, at Grab Green Home, we’ve got you covered, not just for your pillows, but for all of your laundry needs. Our money-saving laundry bundles provide you with our best-selling formulas, while you can also choose from a variety of products like Grab Green’s 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Pods, 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Powder, and more!
How Should You Wash Baby Pillows?
With baby pillows, you want to be even more careful about the products you use, as babies are even more sensitive to many of the harsh ingredients found in commercial laundry detergents. Grab Green Home has special laundry products just for babies. These products contain ingredients that’re very gentle, while still being fully capable of cleaning your baby’s pillows effectively.
As for how to actually wash baby pillows, again, refer to the care label. However, we know that a lot of families have antique baby pillows that are family heirlooms, or baby pillows that are handmade by a loved one. In this case, you may want to consider dry-cleaning them, or handwashing them in lukewarm water, with our gentle detergent.
What About Drying Pillows?
Most pillows respond well to air-drying, although many can, in fact, be dried in a dryer. Just know that many pillows will require multiple drying cycles to actually get dry. Again, refer to the care label to know if your pillow can, in fact, be machine-dried. Foam pillows, for example, can actually catch fire from the heat of a dryer, so you really need to be very careful.
Generally, you’ll likely need to use a gentle drying setting, so that your pillows don’t get misshapen during the cycle. And again, if you’re using antique, decorative, or fragile pillows, you want to avoid the dryer altogether.
We also recommend using dryer balls when drying your pillows in the dryer, as they can help pillows keep their shape during the cycle, while also reducing any static.
Washing Your Pillows with the Laundry Products at Grab Green Home
No doubt, our pillows need to be washed just like the rest of our bedding. Afterall, it’s easy to underestimate just how dirty they can get, especially when we rarely see them without their pillowcases. But, by sticking to washing them 2-4 times a year, you will be good to go.
At the same time, we encourage you to explore the laundry products at Grab Green Home, which are made with natural ingredients that are EPA-approved. Our laundry products are environmentally friendly, and contain zero known toxins as defined by the EPA. That means that they benefit not only the planet, but the wellbeing of your entire family. Explore our amazing collection today!