Nothing feels better than a good night's sleep with a cool, soft, and fluffy pillow! Getting a restful sleep plays a huge role in our mental and physical health, but a full night of tossing and turning doesn't help you get a good night's rest. Lumpy pillows can reduce your sleep quality, resulting in neck pain or worse, terrible headaches.
How Often Should You Replace Pillows?
You should replace your pillows once every 1-2 years, depending on your usage. A pillow case would definitely help keep dust away from your pillow, but as you sweat, shed dead skin cells, and drool on your pillow, even a pillow protector won't prevent your pillows from getting dirty over time.
A lumpy or flattened pillow will no longer give your head the support it needs during sleep, and you'll know when it's time to change your pillow based on your sore neck or head pain when you wake up. Fluffing your pillows may help, but it is ultimately a band-aid solution.
Ideally, you should change your old pillow when you either: feel like you have an uncomfortable pillow, smell or see grime on your pillow, or if you're having difficulties with your sleeping position due to your pillow. When the fluff of your pillow starts to lump, sag, or clump together, then you know it's time for a change.
3 Reasons to Replace Your Pillows
A pillow's lifespan can only extend so much - pillows generally lose their fluffy texture. Old bed pillows are generally good for a couple of years, but pillow stuffing tends to quickly lose their support structure over time due to the weight of sleeping on them, and as they are washed.
Neck Support
Your first consideration in looking for a pillow is to provide support for your head and your neck as you sleep. A good pillow should cradle your head, providing you with a comfortable sleep that eases on your neck joints. However, not all pillows are great for your neck.
Replace your pillow when you feel that your neck is getting sore. Even a new pillow may not provide you with the comfort you need, depending on how compatible the material is with your preferences. Replacing your pillow to a comfortable one helps ease up on your joints, and you'll have blissful sleep without straining your neck the next day!
Better Night's Sleep
A good pillow should give you a better night's sleep without you twisting and turning all night. There are plenty of options for pillow materials that would help keep your pillow cool, has antimicrobial technology, and soft interiors that are said to provide ample support for any sleeper - even stomach sleepers!
Replacing your old, worn out pillow with a new one helps you get a good night's rest, which is essential in maintaining our mental and physical health. Sleep is what recharges you, and you can't go long without a proper sleep habit.
Prevent Allergies and Mites
The longer you put off replacing your pillow, the more allergens and dust mites accumulate on your pillows. Replace pillows when you start to notice that you tend to sneeze, itch, or scratch as you sleep, particularly near your face. Replacing your pillows and your pillow covers frequently would help prevent allergens.
Mites love to hide in damp, dark places like carpets and pillows. These pests can bite and cause itchy rashes on your skin. If you suspect that your bed has mites, you will need to clean and replace your mattress, sheets, and pillows to halt the infestation.
The Importance of Replacing Your Pillows
Is replacing your pillows really necessary? The short answer is no - if your pillows are fine, clean, and provide your neck with proper support, then there's no reason you need to replace your bed pillows immediately. However, when your pillow starts to affect your sleep, then you need to seriously consider replacing them.
Similar to how we replace our home appliances when they no longer work as functioned, pillows should be replaced when they no longer do the job they're supposed to do: which is to provide you with comfort and support as you sleep.
The importance of replacing pillows lies in your overall well-being. It is not healthy to have to wake up in a roulette of whether your neck will hurt today or not, and those allergens are attacking your immune system as they get into your body. Replacing your pillows
How To Maintain Your Pillows
Memory Foam Pillows
Depending on the foam material, a memory foam pillow should be washed by hand and not in the laundry machine as the latter can cause the foam to crumble. Definitely do NOT throw your memory foam pillows in the tumble dryer!
Instead, give your pillows a good vacuuming, and use the wet setting of your vacuum to suck up any excess moisture after washing the pillows by hand. Let the pillow air dry completely before using to prevent mold growth and foul odors.
Feather Pillows
Little known fact that you can actually wash a down or feather pillow in the laundry machine! Simply toss the pillow into the laundry machine with some gentle detergent, and let the machine run on a gentle or delicate setting.
Latex Pillows
A latex pillow would often be made of latex foam, or strips of latex that give the pillow a soft texture. Much like memory pillows, latex foam pillows should not be washed in the laundry machine as the pressure of the water would severely damage the foam. Instead hand wash or vacuum the pillow to clean it.
Polyester Pillows
Polyester pillows, which are typically filled with polyester fibers, can be easily cleaned in the laundry machine for a convenient deep cleaning. Let the machine run on a gentle cycle, and be sure to use a mild detergent when washing your pillows. You can also wash these by hand to remove stains.
Dry your pillow in the tumble dryer, or allow the pillow to air dry and fluff up the pillow to regain the soft, fluffy texture. A wet vacuum can help regain the fluffy texture after washing as well, especially before hanging up the pillow to air dry.
Gel Pillows
Gel pillows are not made with fiber or cloth material, and the clean up of these pillows is generally simple - just wash with some soap and water! Pat the pillow dry, and you can use the gel pillow as usual once completely dry.
To remove stains, follow the manufacturer's instructions on proper cleaning as the different gel materials may react to certain cleaning solutions and chemicals.
A Clean Sleep
Can't get a good night's rest? Maybe it's time for you to do some deep cleaning around your bedroom! At Luce, our experienced professional cleaners will ensure that your bedroom is dust and allergen free so you can enjoy a full night of restful sleep! Check out our full list of cleaning services on our website!
