How to Clean Foam Bed Pillows
Foam pillows hold their shape and offer firm support for your head and neck as you sleep. They are available in both contoured and traditional shapes and are commonly constructed from latex or visco-elastic---both of which are derived from the rubber tree. Foam pillows wash up nicely, unlike traditional polyester filled pillows which are never the same again after being exposed to water. It only takes a few minutes to clean a foam pillow by hand, and it dries just as fast. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Washer and dryer to wash any pillow coverings
- Mild detergent
- Bathtub or deep sink
- Dish rack or flat surface for drying
Instructions
-
-
1
Take off the pillow cases that are on the foam bed pillows. Some foam bed pillows are sold with velour covers that are machine washable. If your foam bed pillows have them, just zip them off and throw them in the washer and dryer so that they are ready to use when the foam is clean.
-
2
Clean each foam bed pillow one at a time by placing each one individually into your bathtub. If you have a deep sink somewhere in your home, that will work well too.
-
-
3
Saturate the foam bed pillow with warm, running water, and massage a small amount of mild detergent into the pillow. A little less than a quarter of a capful is sufficient. Keep massaging the detergent into the foam, paying careful attention to the outside area and removing any dirt or residue that may have accumulated on the pillow.
-
4
Rinse the foam bed pillow once again with a warm water rinse. Squeeze the pillow as you are rinsing. Be sure to get all the detergent out of the foam. When all detergent is removed and there is no sign of sudsing, turn off the water and squeeze out as much water from the foam as you can.
-
5
Allow the foam bed pillow to dry thoroughly before putting its cover back on. Lay it flat outside on your patio table (out of the sun) or upright in a dish rack. The foam should only take a few hours to dry.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Add a quarter cup of vinegar when rinsing the foam bed pillow, which will help to remove any residue left behind by the detergent.
Do not put foam pillows in the washing machine. The agitator on the washing machine can damage the foam or cause it to tear. The foam may also absorb so much water it could throw the spin cycle off.
Do not put foam pillows in the dryer. The heat from the dryer could damage the foam, and because of the insulating properties that foam possesses, the center of the pillow will not dry properly no matter how long you spin it.
