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You’re putting yourself ‘at risk’ if you don’t wash pillows twice a year, says sleep expert
The chances of falling sick are high if you sleep on a dirty pillow, despite using a regularly washed pillowcase.
So, The Focus spoke to a sleep expert to gain more insight into the dangers of a dirty pillow. Derek Hales of NapLab.com not only told us how often we should be washing our pillows but also explained the right ways to do it.
Sleep expert’s tips to wash pillows made of different materials
Pillows are made using different stuffings. Therefore, the same washing technique doesn’t work for all. While some pillows are safe to wash in a machine, others require gentler cleaning.
Derek Hales, the founder and editor-in-chief of NapLab details different cleaning requirements for pillows made of different materials such as fathers and memory foam. If you aren’t sure what technique works best for your personal collection, always check the law tag or the company website.
He warns, “Depending on the material construction, washing the pillow in a washing machine can end up ruining your pillow”. Although most pillows can be machine-washed, he advises removing the pillow cover and applying gentle stain remover to “unwanted spots” first.
“Place them in the machine vertically and if they are normal-sized pillows, washing them 2 at a time is a good practice to not overwhelm your washing machine,” he adds.
For pillows, gentle detergents and gentle wash with warm water suffice; you can put them in the dryer and use “tennis balls or dryer balls” which can “fluff them up and reduce drying time.”
Both memory foam and feather pillows can be machine-washed, but the latter shouldn’t have any tears or holes in the pillow cover. “The only difference for feather pillows is they need to be spin-dried to fully remove the moisture,” says Derek.
How often should you wash your pillows?
When we asked how often our pillows needed washing, Derek said it depends on your sleeping condition. Ideally, a pillow should be washed every 3-6 months.
“If you tend to sleep hot and sweat more or if you sleep with a pet in your bed, washing your pillow quarterly may be ideal,” advises the sleep expert.
He further explained that a pillow is “like a wet sponge that absorbs sweat, saliva, and other bodily fluids.” Therefore, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and allergens over time. “The longer you wait to wash or replace it, the more health risks you may face,” warns Derek.
Elaborating on the potential health risks of different types of pillows, he said:
“Clinical evidence indicates that both synthetic and feather pillows harbor multiple species of fungi, with the most common being Aspergillus fumigatus. This fungal pathogen can weaken your bodys natural defenses, contributing to infections.”
Derek Hales is the founder of NapLab.com, a sleep-testing platform located in Arizona whose mission is to help readers get the best sleep possible with bedding recommendations.
