When Is It Time To Buy New Pillows
No pillow is meant to last forever. Some stains won’t wash out, and your aching neck or sore back may demand a change. That’s when it might be a good idea to replace it. Sleep experts suggest replacing a pillow every few years, however these questions may be helpful in deciding when to upgrade:
- Do your head and neck feel unsupported?
- Do you wake up sneezing or congested every day?
- Is the pillow losing its shape or lumpy?
- Does your pillow have to be fluffed up for support?
- If you fold the pillow in half, does it stay folded?
These are all signs to replace a pillowand we’ve got several recommendations. Of course, your purchase will depend on your sleep positionthe best pillow for side sleepers isnt necessarily the best pillow for stomach sleepers. Your budget and material preferences will factor in, but here are some of the best pillows weve tested.
How Often Should You Wash Your Throw Pillows
How often you wash your decorative pillows really depends on how often the pillows are used. If the throw pillows you’re thinking about washing are on an often-full couch in the middle of your living room or in your bedroom, then you’ll likely need to wash them on a monthly basis at the very minimum.
However, if the pillows are found in an area of your home you don’t usually frequent, you can hold off on washing them a bit longer. Bimonthly should be fine, or as needed.
- 1Mild dish soap or upholstery shampoo
- 1Dry cleaning solution
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Can You Sanitize Throw Pillows In The Dryer
If youve identified that your throw pillows are made from materials that are safe for machine drying, then this really is the best thing to do if you want to keep them sanitized.
Washing is great for getting rid of physical dirty but when it comes to actually disinfecting them, tumble drying them may just be your best bet.
Put your pillows on high heat for about 30 minutes or so. This should be more than enough when it comes to killing most germs found in your pillows.
Visit related content like how to clean a fabric sofa and how to clean lamp shades to give you more cleaning tips.
See more
You May Like: How Good Are Zinus Mattresses
How To Clean A Throw Pillow
Throw pillows can tie together various colored accents in home décor items, carpets, and living room sofas, providing a soft edge to the interior design of your living areas. Throw pillows are both practical and aesthetically beautiful. It can be difficult to maintain your throw pillows clean and fresh because they are regularly used for neck and head support, but it doesnt have to be. So, today, I will tell you how to clean a throw pillow easily. So, lets get started!
How To Clean Throw Pillows Made Of Foam
Can you wash memory foam pillows? Yes, you can wash memory foam but not in the washing machine. If your pillows are manufactured from a solid piece of another type of foam or memory foam, spot cleaning is one way to clean them.
Never use a dryer for foam pillows as the foam is combustible. Squeezing it between two towels or setting it outside in the sun helps with the drying process.
- Buckets/tubs
Before washing a solid foam pillow, remove the cover and wash it separately. Fill a bucket or container with warm water and stir in some mild laundry detergent. Create a small amount of suds, but nothing excessive.
Submerge the foam inside the bucket, allowing it to soak up the soapy water. Let it soak in the bucket for at least 30 minutes. Gently squeeze out excess water and then rinse the foam under warm running water to remove all detergent residue.
Press out the excess water lightly and allow it to air-dry. Bathtubs or large sinks work in place of a bucket or tub.
You May Like: Can You Put A Regular Mattress On A Hospital Bed
Useful Tips And Tricks When Washing Throw Pillows
Although considered decorative-pillows, throw pillows see more use than our sleeping pillows. Most people use them for support of the head and neck in the living room while watching TV, relaxing on the couch, or reading a good book. With the use they endure, it is crucial to clean them regularly to ensure they stay looking and feeling like new.
How To Clean Throw Pillows That Have No Zipper
Posted on – Last updated: May 6, 2021
Throw pillows provide that warmth and coziness to any room that no other home decorative piece can. For cleaning purposes, you need to pick throw pillows that have covers fitted with handy zippers. Here’s the problem: how do you clean pillows without a zipper? Well, it’s not as hard as you think. We’ve carefully scavenged the internet to show you a concrete method to clean your zipperless throw pillows.
Disclosure: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Here’s a list of steps you can use to get the dirt off non-removable throw pillow covers:
These steps look pretty straightforward, but there’s more to each one than meets the eye. Lucky for you, we’ve taken our time to comprehensively expound on each one so that you gain a clearer understanding of what to do. After reading this detailed, well-researched post, we hope you’ll think twice about shopping for a new cushion cover!
Read Also: Does Ashley Furniture Remove Old Mattress
How Often Do We Really Need To Wash Our Throw Pillows
How often you wash your throw pillow depends on whether or not it has a removable cover, Mahdessian says. Covers can and should be washed more regularly, about every two to four weeks depending on how often you use them.
The filling itself, however, needs to be washed at least every other month, he adds. So if the cover isnt removable, make sure you remember to clean your throw pillow every month or so, depending on how soiled the cover is.
How To Wash Your Pillow
Consumer Reports’ experts say to fluff your pillow every day and wash it four times a year
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission.Learn more.
While youre probably in the habit of regularly washing your sheets and pillowcases, you might not pay as much attention to what lies beneath: your pillows and mattress. But both need a deep cleaning at least twice a year.
Over time, hair, dead skin cells, sweat, and drool build up on the pillow, says Neil Kao, MD, an allergist-immunologist in Greenville, S.C. And all that gunk is basically the stuff that dust mites love to munch on, which causes their population to multiply and increases your chances of having an allergic reaction to their presence.
If you watched CRs video on how to clean a mattress, we trust that youve added that to your rotation of household chores. Adding a pillow to your cleaning list should be a breeze by comparison.
You might also want to invest in a pillow protector to keep a lot of the gross stuff out and extend the life of your pillow.
Here, CR shows you how to keep your pillow fresh, clean, and ready for a good nights sleep. And if its time for a new pillow altogether, check out our pillow buying guide or head over to our pillow ratings to see which ones are up to fluff.
Don’t Miss: Does Denver Mattress Offer Military Discount
Try It Out In One Area:
If you are unsure about the material or if the pillow is built of leather, you should begin the following phase of cleaning by testing a place to see whether it needs to be cleaned more broadly.
Make use of water at the typical room temperature and combine it with some gentle detergent. The next step is to choose a random corner of the cloth, pour some of the detergent combinations upon it, and then watch to see whether or not the fabric responds violently.
Proceed to the following step if no severe reaction or stain that has been left behind. However, if there is a severe response, you should switch to a different detergent.
Start With The Right Pillows
According to Kadi Dulude, the owner of Wizard of Homes, the best way to keep your sofa’s throw pillows clean is selecting the correct iterations in the first place these poufs should be able to withstand your lifestyle. “If you have a busy home with pets and kids, it’s not wise to choose pillows that are high maintenance,” she says. That means nixing any dry-clean-only fabrics, she adds.
Also Check: What Are The Different Mattress Firmness
Wash Pillows In The Washing Machine
Most down and synthetic pillows can be machine washed and dried on low heat, says cleaning expert Donna Smallin Kuper of Unclutter.com. Note that water needs to be 140°F or higher to kill dust mites, so make sure your water heater isn’t set too low. Consider an extra spin cycle to squeeze out as much dampness as possible.
Should I Use A Cover Or Pillow Protectors
You can use a pillow protector, which is different from a pillowcase. It zips shut over your pillow to protect it from anything that might smudge on it and is usually waterproof too.
Whether you want to use this depends on your preferences. You might not like the idea of having your pillow covered up, and in this case, its better to learn how to spot clean problem areas instead.
It is a great way to protect it from many spills, stains and odors but this doesnt mean you wont ever have to clean your pillow.
Also Check: Decorative Pillows For Brown Leather Couch
What Does Spot Clean Only Mean On A Pillow
Many fragile or luxury fabric items like pillow-top mattresses, clothing, curtains, couches or pillows will often have a tag on them that says spot clean only.
Basically, this means that you need carefully treat the section of the pillow that holds the stains or odors you cant just throw them in the washing machine lest you ruin the entire pillow.
There is no way to safely wash these fragile pillows even if youre handwashing, so if you want to get it clean, you have to do a spot clean.
This means removing any stains with special spotting agents, air drying, and using clean towels to soak up any spills.
Youll need to check the cleaning code and pay attention to the pillows fabric and even the inner filling material to make sure the cleaning agents you want to use wont ruin the pillow.
| – |
|---|
| Check Latest Price |
How Can I Freshen Up My Pillows
To help keep your pillows smelling fresh and clean, begin by fluffing them each day. Fluffing helps remove any dust or dirt build-up that leads to a musty or unpleasant smell. Deodorizing sprays, commercial or homemade ones, help eliminate unpleasant odors.
Disinfecting pillows also keeps them smelling fresh. Cheap vodka sprayed onto your pillows cleans the surface, and the alcohol evaporates quickly, so there is no risk of mold or mildew developing. Vodka also works to sanitize mattress pads, covers, etc.
Also Check: How To Throw Away A Mattress
How To Keep Your Throw Pillows Clean For Long
Decorative pillows get overused, and this makes them collect dirt easily. They are also not supposed to be cleaned weekly, as that can damage them, lower their lifespan, and make them full of lint.
Image: Designing ideas
a). Vacuuming and dusting your throw pillows regularly as you vacuum your upholstery will keep them clean.
b). It’s also easier to clean throw pillow covers in matching colors, especially if they’re machine-washable because you won’t have to worry about dark dyes interfering with lighter whites.
c). keep it difficult to clean place pillows above ground and in hard-to-reach areas where dogs, cats, children, and people’s feet are less likely to soil them.
How To Clean Throw Pillows Without Removable Cover
We usually use throw pillows as a decoration and support to our couch or even in our bed. That is why, these throw pillows are susceptible to harboring dust, dust mites, and molds therefore, they need regular cleaning as well.
However, make sure that before you clean your throw pillows, you know if the cover is non-removable or removable and if it is covered with delicate material such as silk, leather, and wool.
Otherwise, you will just ruin the throw pillow therefore, to prevent that from happening, here is a quick tip on how to clean them.
The rule of thumb when cleaning throw pillows withoutremovable cover is to spot test the pillow first, especially if you are notsure what kind of material it is made from. If spot cleaning does not work, youcan consider washing your throw pillows by hand since this is the safest way toclean your throw pillows.
Unfortunately, not all throw pillows work with neither spot-cleaning nor handwashing. Some throw pillows that are made from silk, velvet, wool, and upholstery require a professional dry cleaning only.
Hence, you can see below are the guidelines on how to clean different types of throw pillows without removable cover.
You May Like: How To Fumigate A Mattress
Choose Your Stain Remover
Begin with picking out your stain remover. There are many natural options that will remove stains, but make sure you check your cleaning codes first and read the cleaning instructions carefully to ensure youre not causing more damage with a new stain.
Working to the right cleaning code is crucial you can do serious damage if you use the wrong solution. As an example- Cleaning Code X means you can only dry vacuum, Cleaning Code S means no water at all and Cleaning Code WS means a mix of water and solvents can be used.
Take note that you cant start spot cleaning your pillow if theres any dust or excess food items on it. So wipe off any dust before you get started, or scrape off any excess stains.
S Of Washing Throw Pillows
Most throw pillows come with care labels. You can find it at the right of one of the corners of your throw pillow. If it isnt there, check at the back. In some cases, it is placed inside the zipper. The label will mention whether the pillow is washable, non-washable or dry clean only. By reading the label, youll determine how to go about washing the pillow.
In case your pillow doesnt come with a care label, your first bet is to visit the website of the brand you pillow comes from. Chances are they have care instructions of their products listed on the website.
Here are three common methods used to wash decorative pillows:
You May Like: What Mattress Is Best For Me
How To Wash Down Cotton Or Synthetic Fiber
Before placing into the washing machine, remove all pillowcases and read the labels on your pillows to make sure that they are cotton, down, or synthetic material. Memory foam pillows should be spot cleaned and if necessary washed by hand in a tub, rinsed thoroughly and air dried flat.
Tools and Materials:
Instructions:
Now we can all rest easy knowing our faces will be laying on clean, fluffy pillows!
Tips For Keeping Your Throw Pillows Clean Longer
- Vacuum your upholstery regularly. This will keep dirt and debris from smearing on your pillows and will help minimize stains setting in. Grab a canister vacuum with a hose and upholstery attachment, and make vacuuming your pillows part of your standard cleaning routine. Be careful thoughpillows with beads, loops, or sequins can get ruined with a vacuum that’s too powerful. If your pillows are embellished, make sure your vacuum has a very low setting you can use.
- Look for pillow covers that are machine-washable, as these are the easiest to clean on a regular basis.
- Keep your pillows in spots that are far away from the hands of little ones or the paws of furry friends. Those two are usually the greatest culprits when it comes to dirty furniture.
Recommended Reading: Can You Buy Nectar Mattress In Store
