How To Wash Pillows The Right Way?

No, we are not talking about the pillowcases, bedsheets, or comforters. We are talking about cleaning the actual pillows. Yes, you have to clean them once in a while. It would be excellent if you can wash them four times a year. But the question is, how? There are a lot of things to take into consideration before actually throwing your pillows inside a washing machine. You will have to understand the material with which it is made, the mechanism of your washing machine, and so on. So let us dive deep into how to wash pillows like a pro!

Understand the type of your pillow

The first step to do before washing your pillows is to check what it is made of. They can be made of cotton, polyester, memory foam, or even feathers. The methods used to clean these differ. The stuffing of your pillow has a lot to do with how they dry as well. Feather pillows can easily be washed using a washer but this is not the case with memory foam pillows. Polyester pillows can be washed using a washing machine but gel pillows are better hand washed. Now that you know which pillows are to be machine washed and which are to be hand-washed, we will look at how to do each of them effectively.

How to wash pillows using a washer?

For cotton, feather, and polyester pillows, machine washing is completely alright. Even though washing your pillows in a machine is easier and quicker, if done in the wrong way, it can cause serious damage to them. 

Step 1: Prep your washer

The first step is to fill your washing machine with water and add one scoop of laundry detergent to it. Make sure to use warm to hot water while cleaning the pillows. You can use vinegar and baking soda to treat the stains in your pillows before you put them in the washer. You can alternatively add ammonia (household) and bleach to the washer along with the laundry detergent to get off the stains. Give this mixture a good whirl and you are good to go. 

Step 2: Add in the pillows

While adding the pillows, extra care has to be taken to make sure that they are not being tossed around too much. It is okay to add either 2 or 4 pillows at a time so that there is a balance present. Otherwise, pillows get too much movement, making them lumpy and useless. 

Step 3: Flip them 

Once one round of cleaning is done, you can take the pillows out and flip them. This makes sure that the other side of the pillows is also cleaned properly. A 360-degree cleaning is done this way.

Step 4: Put them in the dryer

The last and the most obvious step of washing your pillows is to put them in the drier. Make sure not to put the pillows in the drier for too much time. Once you feel that they are all dry, you can slip them back into your pillowcases.

How to wash your pillows by hand?

Not all pillows can be washed using a washing machine. Examples are memory foam pillows and gel pillows. There are also cases where the pillows may be too large to be put inside the washer. So let us see how to wash pillows by hand:

Step 1:Make sure there is no debris stuck to your pillows

Before starting with the process, make sure that there is no visible debris present in the pillows. It can be from your scalp, due to dust mites, or any other similar reason. Make sure to remove the dust on the surface and the rest of the bacteria can be removed in the process. 

Step 2: Soak your pillows in detergent and hot water

This step is pretty much similar to that of the washer. You can use a large basin or tub for the purpose. Add hot to warm water to the basin and then add in two scoops of laundry detergent. Give the two a good mix and soak your pillows in the mixture.  

Step 3: Start washing the pillows

Now is the hard step. Once the windows are all soaked, you can get to actually washing them. Hand techniques are important in washing pillows. Make sure to press down the pillows at different places to get all the dirt out. You might have to change the water 3 to 4 times until the pillows get really clean. 

Step 4: Rinse out the pillows and dry them

After you are completely satisfied with the way your pillows look, you can go ahead and rinse them. You can hold the pillow under running water to remove the detergent and you can gently squeeze them for a thorough clean. You can put them out in the sun for good air dry. You can also seek the help of professional mattress cleaners to help you get a thorough clean out of your pillows.