How to Put a Bed Pillow in the Dryer to Kill Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic bugs that consume the dead skin cells shed by mammals. They live in bedding and other fabrics that are not easily washed. Pillows should be washed or replaced regularly to limit the amount of dust mites in them. People with allergies are particularly sensitive to dust mites and need to wash their pillows frequently. Dust mites can be killed with heat of a dryer but pillows need to be wet first to ensure the pillows don't burn. The pillows need to be in the dryer for at least 20 minutes to kill dust mites. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Wash pillows in the washing machine using a mild detergent and gentle cycle. Allow them to agitate for a minute or two and then set the machine to drain and rinse. After the washing machine has finished, check the pillows to see how wet they are. If they feel heavy and are holding a lot of water, put them through the spin cycle one more time.
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Put the pillows into the dryer and put them on the hottest cycle possible. Open the door and fluff the pillows with your hands a few times to keep them from bunching and drying unevenly.
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Remove the pillows and check to see how dry they are. If they feel wet, put them through another cycle, checking them periodically.
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Tips & Warnings
If you live in a hot, dry climate, put the pillows out in the sun for a few hours after they are finished in the dryer. This will ensure they are as dry as possible.
Put a couple of tennis balls in the washing machine to help fluff the pillows.
Foam pillows cannot go in the dryer. The foam will crumble.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
