How to machine wash pillows

The pillow is an important household item used daily. However, she does not always receive proper care, including, in particular, periodic washing. In order to prevent the multiplication of dust mites, various microorganisms and mold, and also not to spoil the pillow, you should be careful when washing it. In this article, we'll show you how to machine wash your pillows.

What does the pillow consist of?

Modern pillows can be made from a variety of, sometimes unexpected materials. The options are as follows:

• Down and feather. The most common filler, which is used as down and feathers of waterfowl. It is warm, soft, light and comfortable, absorbs moisture and regulates air and heat exchange. Down pillows have a long service life and easily regain their shape.
  

  Note! The most expensive are eiderdown pillows. The addition of feathers reduces the cost of the product, but increases its rigidity and decreases the elasticity.

  The disadvantages of this filling material are frequent allergic reactions and the need for special care and periodic drying. This is required to prevent the multiplication of dust mites, for which favorable conditions are created in the pillow.

  

• Wool. Usually it is wool from camels, sheep, Australian merino, Angora or Kashgar goat. These pillows are moisture resistant, breathable and comfortable. Wool conducts heat well, does not accumulate dust, does not cake due to the crimp of the fibers and has a long service life. The disadvantages include the risk of allergic reactions and the need for dry cleaning, since automatic washing for such pillows is undesirable.
  

  Important! Six has insufficient elasticity to support the head, and therefore in pillows it is used only for the outer layer. Holofiber or ecofiber is used inside.

  

• Natural silk. This filler is characterized by hypoallergenicity, elasticity, excellent moisture absorption and complete absence of odor. It does not fall off and regulates body temperature, which gives a cooling effect. The only drawback of these pillows is their high cost.

  

• Eco-fiber. It is a high-tech fluff substitute that has all its advantages and eliminates disadvantages. It is hypoallergenic, does not accumulate dust and does not require special care. The disadvantage can be considered the accumulation of static electricity, which is easily solved by using antiseptic impregnations for the cover.

  

• Buckwheat husk. The free-flowing structure of the filler more accurately adjusts to the position of the head, providing a massage effect and preventing perspiration.The disadvantage of such pillows is a short service life (about three years) and the need for special care.

  

• Seaweed. Their fibers are resilient and elastic, absorb moisture and allow air to pass through. They allow you to harmoniously distribute the load to support the neck.

  

• Bamboo. This material absorbs moisture well while remaining dry, regulates body temperature and provides a cooling effect. It is hypoallergenic and is an unfavorable environment for the life of microorganisms. Bamboo pillows are soft, tactile and easy to clean.

  

• Kapok. It is the fiber of the cotton fruit of the ceiba tropics. It is light to airiness, does not fall off and does not get wet, due to which moisture-loving microorganisms do not multiply in the pillow. The material is hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly.

  

• Natural latex. It is used for the manufacture of orthopedic pillows. It is resistant to odor absorption, does not lose its shape and perfectly adapts to the characteristics of the human body, providing relaxation to the neck. It is permissible to wash it.

  

• Artificial latex. It is quite comfortable, elastic and hypoallergenic material, but it is tougher than its natural counterpart. Also, such a filler wears out about twice as fast.

  

How to properly wash your pillow

Preparatory phase

Regardless of the type of filler, the pillow must be cleaned of dust before washing. This is done by knocking out. If you ignore this stage, then during the washing process all the dust will remain on the pillow, but in the form of stains, which is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get rid of.

For feather pillows, special preparation is required, which consists in purchasing special covers for washing. If they are not available, you can use old pillowcases, which must be firmly fixed. These covers are loaded with the contents of the pillow, divided into several parts. After washing, it is dried, mixed and poured back.

Handwash

Hand washing the pillows is fine. Moreover, for feather products, it is even more preferable, since it prevents fluff from churning. The rules for hand washing are as follows:

1. Water should be at room temperature (no more than 30 ° C).
2. A powder or a gel-like agent thoroughly dissolved in water is used as a detergent.
3. It is better to use a bath as a container, in which the filler is soaked for three to four hours.
4. After the end of washing, the material is carefully wrung out using a sieve and distributed into small bags.
5. The bags are placed in the open air until completely dry.

Note! It is more convenient not to lay out the bags, but to hang them. If they are nevertheless decomposed, then they should be periodically turned over.

Machine wash

You can wash the pillows in an automatic machine either as a whole or with the removal of the filler. The second option is more preferable, as it allows for better washing and drying. Separate washing also makes it possible to apply various modes to the cover, including the use of bleaches.In this case, the product is neatly unpicked along the seam, and the material is placed in small portions in special covers.

When washing with a machine, a gentle or delicate mode is selected - 30-40 ° C and reduced speed (no more than 400-600). This will prevent the filler from warping and rolling.

Important! Do not use the drying mode when washing the pillows, as the hot air will render them unusable.

As a detergent, it is worth choosing not washing powders, but various liquid products, since they are easier to wash out. Additional rinsing will be useful. Bleach should be used only for covers, since they act in a detrimental way on fillers.

For proper balancing, it is best to wash a couple of pillows at the same time, or spread the filler over several covers. It is also recommended to place some tennis balls in the drum to prevent the material from rolling.

Pillows are dried in a horizontal position, for example, laid out on clotheslines or in a dryer. The room should be warm and well ventilated, ideally with a supply of fresh air. The pillow must be periodically whipped, shaken and turned over, which will help to avoid caking of the filler and knocking it into a single lump.

Steam cleaning

This cleaning is preferable for feather pillows, especially those made from chicken feathers, as moisture affects it negatively. Steam cleaning requires a steam generator, a handheld steamer, or a steaming iron. These devices will help to clean the cover, get rid of linen mites and bacteria, and eliminate unpleasant odors.

Note! This method is not a complete alternative to washing, but it allows you to clean and renew the cover and filler, giving them a pleasant aroma and freshness. It is advisable to carry out such cleaning after previous illnesses.

The cleaning process is as follows:

1. Heat the water to the lowest possible temperature.
2. Place the pillow in an upright position. It can be placed on a chair, suspended from a rope, or secured to the rungs of the bed.
3. Steam the product two to three times on both sides.
4. Dry the pillow in a warm and well-ventilated area. Every half hour or hour, it must be straightened and the filler must be pushed.
5. Put on a pillowcase after completely dry.

Features of washing depending on the filler

Down or feather

It is recommended to wash such pillows only in parts, laying out the filler in bags. The product should be torn apart along the seam on one side, carefully pouring the contents into a dry container. It is necessary to distribute the filler into the bags freely so that the feather extends well. If these are homemade bags, then they must be carefully sewn up.

Important! When opening the bag during washing, there is a high risk of damage to the motor or drum of the machine.

Pillow covers are washed separately or replaced with new ones. For them, it is permissible to use a variety of chemicals such as bleach, stain remover and conditioner, as well as more aggressive washing modes.

Liquid soap or washing gel can be used as a detergent. There are also special detergents for washing natural fillers. Formulations for woolen products or delicate wash are also suitable.

After washing the down pillows in the washing machine, shake and knead them thoroughly.Further, to eliminate excess moisture, they can be wrapped in a sheet or terry towel and left for 10-15 minutes. After that, the covers with filler are placed in a warm room, best of all - sunny, but not in direct light.

Any exposure to high temperatures (from batteries, fireplaces or open sun) will damage the filler. Pillows dry for one and a half to two days. It is not recommended to dry near sources of strong odors, as feathers and down absorb them perfectly.

Synthetics

It is recommended to wash pillows with a synthetic composition only by hand, as during machine washing, fluffy fibers roll, which leads to a loss of elasticity.

Do not twist the pillow after washing. If the filler was washed separately from the cover, then before assembling the product, it can be fluffed by combing with a special brush to comb out the fluff.

Bamboo

Bamboo pillows should be washed no more than three times a year, since the salts of human sweat are the only source of contamination. Before washing, you should pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions located on the tag.

Bamboo items can be washed whole by loading several pieces into the drum. Before washing, they must be knocked out to get rid of dust, and also checked for damage to the cover. If the pillow is very large, and the machine has a small load, then the bamboo fiber can be removed and divided into several parts.

Cashmere shampoo is the best choice for washing. If it is absent, you can use a detergent for woolen clothes, but not a washing powder, which is very difficult to wash out.

After washing, the pillow must be carefully wrung out with your hands, without twisting it. You can wrap the item in a fluffy towel that will absorb a lot of moisture. It should be dried in the same way as feather.

Wool

Woolen pillows need to be washed quite often, as dust mites accumulate in them. When washing, the temperature should be set to the lowest possible or wash in cold water. It is also necessary to turn off the spin mode to prevent irreversible deformation. You should not be zealous when manually spinning, avoiding twisting and tension.

Sintepon

Before washing pillows made of this material, pay attention to the washing instructions on the tag. Some synthetic winterizer products cannot be mechanically cleaned.

Note! To check how the product will tolerate washing, it is enough to put a weight on it for five to ten minutes. If the pillow quickly regains its shape, then the wash will go well.

Synthepon pillows need to be pre-soaked in cold water. Then they are loaded into the drum along with the tennis balls. When washing, the spin function is not used, but an additional rinse is used.

Antistress

Their filler consists of expanded polystyrene beads. Most often, it can be easily removed through the zipper provided in the case. It is better to wash the filler in special bags to exclude the possibility of spilling during the process.

Any children's liquid detergent compositions and a delicate mode without using a spin are suitable for washing. The filler material does not absorb moisture, and therefore dries up in just a few hours.

Feature of the orthopedic pillow

If the pillow is made of natural latex, then it will lose its properties during washing. For cleaning, it can be wiped with a soft sponge moistened with warm water and a little liquid detergent. These products cannot be wrung out and dried in the sun. Instead, blot them with a towel and leave to dry indoors.

Faux latex pillows can be machine washed, but no more than once every six months. Recommendations for choosing a washing mode are indicated by the manufacturer. In the case where the pillow contains a mixture of artificial and natural latex, it is not washed.

How often can the pillow be washed

The washing frequency is determined by the filler material and is indicated on the label of each item. In general, when using pillows with a cover, they must be washed once every six months, without a cover - once every one to two months. Also, the frequency of washing increases with oily scalp or face or occasional use of lotions and hair masks applied before bedtime.

How to care for your pillows

You can give the following recommendations for care:

• It is worth storing the pillows in the manufacturer's case, which is well breathable. Do not send them dry or in a damp room for storage.
• Regardless of the type of filler, you should use a pillowcase that needs to be changed weekly.
• After sleeping, the pillow should be fluffed to distribute the contents evenly. You should not make the bed right away, as the product should ventilate a little.

Before washing a feather or any other pillow at home, you should carefully study all the washing recommendations given by the manufacturer. This will allow you to achieve the best result while maintaining all the original properties of the product.

Video: how to wash a pillow in a washing machine