How to Wash Bed Pillows
There's not much better than resting your head on a nice, fluffy pillow at the end of a long, hard day. But over time, pillows collect the oils from your hair along with any sweat and can become a hotbed for allergens. They also can get a musty smell. Follow the proper procedure to clean your bed pillows so you can be at ease when you float off to sleep. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Read the tag on your pillows for specific care instructions, and adhere closely to the manufacturer's recommendations.
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Wash the pillows in hot water on the delicate cycle if no tag is present. Wash two pillows at a time to keep the washing machine in balance. Your regular detergent is fine.
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Run the pillows through an extra rinse cycle or two to ensure that all of the soap has been washed out of them.
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Run the pillows through an extra spin cycle or two to get out as much water as possible.
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Toss them into the dryer with several tennis balls. This will help to fluff the pillows, squeeze more water out of them and speed the drying time.
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Check the pillows for dryness after the cycle is complete. Continue running them until they feel completely dry.
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Set your pillows out in the sun for a few hours to finish drying if you're not sure you got all of the moisture out of them.
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Tips & Warnings
Foam pillows should be washed by hand in warm water with a little detergent. They should be air dried to prevent crinkling in the dryer.
Place pillow protectors on all of your pillows to limit the need for washing.
If your dryer has an auto moisture sensor, set it to high, and it will continue to run until it senses that your pillows are completely dry.
Stay close to your washer while washing pillows. Once heavy with water, they may throw your washer out of balance and need to be adjusted.
If you're washing down pillows, you should avoid using the high heat setting on the washer and dryer. This can damage the down and shorten the life of your pillows.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
