When was the last time you washed your pillow or bought a new one? If you can’t remember, then it’s time to take on all the home cleaning. In addition to periodic drying in the sun and fresh air, pillows need cleaning of the filler. Dust, dirt, small specks are mixed together with the filler, a lot of microbes and even dust mites accumulate, for which a polluted sleeping place is an ideal habitat.
The main danger for allergy sufferers and young children is that they breathe in the pollution and dust accumulated over the long months of use. The situation is aggravated if there are pets in the house with a bed permit.
You can get rid of these unpleasant consequences only after cleaning the cover and sorting out the filler or total washing. Once every six months, such a procedure is required for all types of pillows. The corresponding procedure is also relevant for blankets, so we advise you to read a separate article on how how to wash blankets in washing machine.
Melted washing: which pillows can be washed
The subtleties and the washing process itself directly depends on the materials used. There are three basic types of pillows with the following fillers:
- feather - down, feather;
- synthetic - synthetic winterizer, polyester, holofiber, interlining;
- organic - buckwheat husk, bamboo.
Only feather and synthetic pillows can be washed. Organic analogues most often have a short service life and cannot be washed.. Such products are sorted by hand and carefully dried. The list of undesirable things for washing also includes orthopedic rollers, as they can lose their proper properties.
We wash down pillows in the washing machine
Pillows made of down or filled with down / feather are soft and fluffy classics of the genre. Only one thing confuses them - problematic and painstaking washing. Unlike synthetics, which can be placed in the drum without any problems, natural filler is sent to the automatic machine in parts.
The branded pillowcase is carefully torn from one edge and the contents are taken out. The filler is divided into parts and placed in separate covers, which can be replaced with old pillowcases. Down from a medium-sized pillow should be divided into 4-5 batches. It is allowed to place only 2-3 covers with fluff in the drum. This approach reduces vibration and ensures that there are no large clumps of fluff. Feather pillows are washed in the washing machine in the same way.
To wash the filler and the original cover as gently as possible, use liquid powders. The best option is a gel for washing baby clothes. Select the delicate mode with up to 600 rpm and a maximum temperature of 30 ºC. Don't forget to turn on the extra rinse function. After removing the covers from the machine, spread out a sheet or an unnecessary terry towel and use them to roll the covers into a roll. This method will help get rid of excess moisture.
Get ready that after washing, fluff and feathers will certainly fall into lumps, and manual and painstaking work awaits you.It is worth sending covers to dry only in a well-ventilated room or on a balcony. A prerequisite is that the fluff must be whipped as it dries. Sort and knead all the lumps by hand, distribute the fluff evenly.
After drying, the contents are transferred to new or clean and ironed old pillowcases. The seam is swept by hand in two lines or sewn on a sewing machine.
Synthetic pillows: the nuances of cleaning
The service life released by the manufacturer for synthetics ranges from 2 to 7 years and depends on the filler material. The main feature of synthetic pillows is hypoallergenicity and unpretentiousness, for which they are appreciated by hostesses.
The only thing worth paying attention to is elasticity. It is enough to dry and beat the feather fellow, but synthetics from prolonged loads lose their elasticity and bend in places of frequent pressure. To extend the life of the pillow, turn the pillow over frequently.Before washing, check its suitability: put something heavy like an iron in the center and leave it for half an hour. If the pillow is bent and does not recover, then there is no point in washing it.. The verdict is final - throw it away.
If you have a product with any type of synthetic filler, then washing the pillow in the washing machine is as easy as shelling pears. You will need liquid laundry detergent, tennis balls and an hour of free time. Select a delicate wash at a water temperature of no more than 30 ºC. Set the spin cycle to 400-600 revolutions so that the machine does not twist and “chew” the filler. Since synthetics absorb water abundantly, turn on the extra rinse. It is necessary to dry the thing on the street on a sunny day or on the balcony. Similar requirements apply to washing the sleeping bag in the washing machineMore precisely, a sleeping bag with synthetic fillers.
Washing bamboo pillows
Antibacterial and deodorizing properties, softness and resilience make bamboo pillows the best way for a healthy sleep. But you have to pay for high performance: manufacturers recommend washing such products every 3-4 months. Washing is required only to remove the accumulated bamboo fiber salts., which are formed due to the ingress of moisture and sweat on its surface. In practice, the washing period varies up to 6 months or until the casing becomes dirty.
Choose a water temperature no higher than 30-40 ºC, spin up to 500 and the maximum number of rinses.As a detergent, liquid compositions for delicate fabrics or children's things are suitable, which are also recommended for use for washing vertical blinds in the washing machine. Intensive chemicals, bleaches and rinses can damage the fiber structure. Before washing, check the trim for the smallest damage, because half of the pillow can “run away” through a small hole. To beat, place in the drum balls for washing down jackets in the washing machine.
We wash the anti-stress pillow
The anti-stress pillow is filled with polystyrene balls. This method is also used in safe soft toys for babies. The filler creates a pleasant tactile sensation and perfectly retains its original shape.
Polystyrene is not at all friendly with moisture and microbes, but only covered with dust. That's why a couple of times a year, such a pillow must be washed.
If the size allows, place the product in a mesh laundry bag or in an old pillowcase, feel free to send it to the machine, setting the temperature to 40 ºC, speed to 600. Extra rinse and mild liquid detergent are welcome. Dry the thing should be on a horizontal surface.
