How to Clean Old Bedding & Pillows
If you have some old pillows and bedding, they could be acting as a home to dust mites and stains if not cleaned regularly. Since pillows and bedding come in a variety of types, from cotton to polyester to down feathers, it is important to know the correct way to clean your old bedding and pillows to prevent damage. With proper care, you can continue using your old bedding and pillows for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Check the labels on your old pillows and bedding for care instructions. If you find instructions, follow those as they are the manufacturer's recommended cleaning instructions. You may have removed the tags, or they may be so worn that you can no longer read the instructions.
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Mix 1/4 cup of mild detergent and warm water in a tub or wash basin and hand wash your old pillows if they are foam. You can completely submerge the foam pillow. Let the foam pillow air dry; putting foam pillows in a dryer will make the foam crumble.
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Set your washing machine on gentle cycle with hot water and wash your old pillows in the washing machine if they are polyester or down filled. Use 1/4 cup of mild detergent. Place the pillows in your dryer with a tennis ball or dryer ball on a low tumble dry to fluff them up and get them dry. Keep in mind that down pillows will take longer than polyester pillows to dry.
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Hand wash old bedding with 1/4 cup of a mild soap or detergent in warm water. Dissolve the soap in the water before you add the bedding to the basin or tub. According to The Learning Channel, washing machines are too harsh and damaging to old bedding. Line-dry your old bedding instead of using a conventional machine dryer.
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Tips & Warnings
Inspect your down and polyester pillows for any holes or tears in the seams before putting them in the washing machine. Mend any rips or tears that you see before washing. For oversized bedding, use a commercial-sized washing machine, which can be found at most laundromats.
Before cleaning your old bedding, especially any down-filled bedding, test your detergent solution in a small area and blot dry to see if it causes any discoloration. If so, the detergent or soap is too harsh and you will have to try a milder one.
References
- Photo Credit colorful bed linen on a wooden bed image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
