Washing pillows: the best tips

Wash pillows
The best tips

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For a sound sleep, the pillow should be cleaned about once a year. Here's how to wash your pillow.

Over time it can feel in the pillow Bacteria and mites collect. So for a healthy sleep, we should wash it regularly. Only a few types of pillows need professional cleaning. Here are a few tips on how to easily wash your pillow yourself.

Wash pillows: general

  • Depending on the filling you should once or twice a year wash your pillow. Sweating at night causes bacteria and dust mites to form in the duvets.
  • Most types of pillows can take you Wash at 60 degrees. The high temperature also kills germs and mites. But to be on the safe side, follow the care instructions for your pillow and adhere to them. If you suffer from house dust allergy, you should pay attention to this when buying a pillow and choose a pillow that can withstand a 60 degree wash without any problems.
  • Your pillow needs space in the Washing machineto prevent the filling material from being compressed too much. Always wash it individually and do not put any other items in the drum. In principle, this applies to the washing of duvets.
  • Do not use fabric softener under any circumstanceswhen you want to wash your pillow! The chemical plasticizer can stick the respective filler material.

Wash pillows: down pillows

  • You should wash down pillows less often so as not to unnecessarily burden the delicate down. Depending on how much you sweat, they have to at least every two years be cleaned, as a feather pillow also provides a perfect breeding ground for house dust mites.
  • As a rule, down pillows can also be used without hesitation 60 degrees getting washed. But be sure to check the care instructions beforehand.
  • Use a special one Down detergent for your pillow. Traditional detergents and fabric softeners dry out the feathers, which can cause them to become brittle and clumpy. A down detergent is gentle on the down in your pillow and has a moisturizing effect. In a pinch you can also click on a Mild detergent To fall back on.
  • Choose that Delicates or wool wash program on your washing machine followed by Gentle spin cycle. If the speed is too high, the stems of the feathers can break, which greatly affects the quality of the filling. To ensure that the detergent is completely washed out of the feather pillow, we recommend an additional rinse.
  • To prevent the down and feathers from clumping together, you can too Put a tennis ball or two in the drum.
  • After washing the pillow must be quick and thorough tumble dry. The down does not dry quickly enough in the air and there may be residual moisture in the pillow, which promotes the development of bacteria and mold.
  • Choose a low temperature to do this maximum 40 degrees. Higher temperatures can damage the feather pillow. Run the dryer several times to make sure the pillow is completely dry. You should shake up the down pillow again and again between passes.
  • You can also add a tennis ball here to loosen the feathers and knock them through. You can find more information here: Wash down pillows.

Wash pillows: microfiber pillows

  • Compared to the sensitive down pillows, microfiber pillows are extremely easy to care for. Usually they can be any Wash program at 60 degrees and then Tumble dry do nothing. This makes them the first choice for people with house dust allergies. But to be on the safe side, follow the care instructions for your pillow.
  • Again, you should do without fabric softener. This can stick the fibers together and make your pillow hard and lumpy.

Wash pillows: neck support pillows

Caution should be exercised with more special fillings, such as those found in neck support pillows. Machine washing can damage the material and cause the pillow to lose its function and you have to throw it away. Better just clean that Cover according to the washing instructions or have the pillow professionally cleaned. If in doubt, inquire beforehand in a corresponding specialist shop or with the sleep expert.

To sleep in a hygienically clean bed, you should also wash the mattress cover, wash the bedclothes and clean the mattress. You can find more laundry tips on our Pinterest pin board.

You can find the 9 best mattresses in our Mattress test.