How Often Should You Change Your Pillows?
A good pillow can do you wonders. Your pillow should feel comfortable and offer support for your head and upper body. It should also keep your spine in neutral alignment. The wrong kind of pillow could lead to back problems and thus prevent your body from healing during sleep.
People always remember to clean their bedsheets and duvet covers, but it easy to forget that pillows should also be replaced from time to time. Let’s face it, nobody wants to spend 10 years sleeping on an old, lumpy pillow every night!
So, how often should you change your pillows? We will outline everything you need to know in this article.
Read more content about pillows
We at Bedding Comfort Store regularly update our blog with articles to help you find the answers to frequently asked questions on topics including duvets, pillows, baby bedding, and more.
Click here to read our articles on:
- How to protect your pillows
- How to choose the perfect pillow
- Affordable soft large cushions for sofas and beds- Must Have 2023
- How to use a V Pillow
- The ultimate pillow guide
- When to put a duvet and pillow in a cot
How often should you change your pillows?
At Bedding Comfort Store, we recommend replacing your pillows every 1 to 2 years.
Buying fresh, new pillows to replace your old ones will greatly enhance your comfort and quality of sleep.
Over time, there will be a build-up of dirt and germs in your pillow, from daily grime such as dust mites, saliva, your dead skin cells, sweat, oils, makeup and food crumbs.
In fact, getting rid of your old pillows has great health benefits. Did you know that your pillow is the perfect breeding ground for nasty bacteria, mould, mildew and fungi?
American researchers studied the pillows of 50 university students and found that the average pillow had over 100,000 potentially live yeast and mould colonies on the surface, some of which are known to be highly toxic and even fatal.
Even drooling, coughing and sneezing during sleep can transfer viruses onto the pillow. This shows how your pillow could actually be a contaminated surface, which is why it needs to be disinfected regularly, and replaced after no more than 2 years.
If you like cuddling with your furry friend at night, then just know that they will also be bringing its germs into your bed. Your pet can shed hair or dander, transfer infections to you, and even leave traces of fecal mater in your bed- which can transmit parasites and bacteria like E. coli.
Hence, it is super important to clean your pillows and change them regularly, to keep your bedroom germ-free and protect your immune system from harmful pathogens.
What are the signs that you need a new pillow?
There are several tell-tale signs that you may need a new pillow:
- The pillow feels hard, stiff, lumpy, or uncomfortable to sleep on.
- You wake up with a headache, neck pain, or shoulder pain.
- The pillow is no longer springy to touch.
- The pillow has lost its shape, bounciness or firmness.
- The pillow stays folded when you fold it in half, when it should spring back to its original shape.
- The pillow is full of stains.
- The pillow has a foul odour.
- You find yourself sneezing a lot during the night or when you wake up- because the pillow has accumulated allergens such as dust mites and bacteria.
- You have recurring acne breakouts on your face.
How often should you clean pillows?
We recommend washing your pillows every 3 months. So, with every season, your pillow will look, feel and smell sparkling clean and fresh!
Cleaning your pillows regularly will also help them last longer.
How do you clean pillows?
Firstly, check the care label on your pillow to see if it is machine washable. If it is, then you can put your pillows in a washing machine.
Before washing your pillows, shake off any debris from the surface.
Always wash your pillows in a separate wash from your clothes and other items. Add a small amount of washing powder and select a gentle cycle, using warm water.
To see if your pillows are tumble dryer compatible, again, check the care label. If your pillow is suitable for tumble drying, then select a low heat setting. Stop the dryer a few times throughout the cycle to fluff the pillows by hand.
If your pillows are not machine washable, then they can be gently washed by hand. Simply soak the pillow in a tub of lukewarm water and sprinkle in a few drops of washing powder.
Gently knead the pillow and flip it over, to clean off the dirt all over the surfaces. Don’t scrub harshly or wring the material, as this could cause the pillow to lose its fluffiness. Rinse and repeat the previous steps, until your pillow is clean.
Allow the pillow to dry fully, either outdoors in the fresh air, or in a well-ventilated spot indoors.
Why do you get yellow stains on pillows?
Have you ever seen yellow stains develop on your pillow? Does this happen, even though you wash your pillows and pillow cases regularly?
Well, not to worry, it is normal to see those yellow stains. These are simply sweat stains, that seep into your pillows because we all sweat and release body oils during sleep.
Using beauty products can also contribute to yellow stains on pillows. Whether it is moisturising cream, lotion, makeup, damp hair, or hair products, these can all leave residue and stains on your pillowcases and pillows.
How do you remove stains from pillows?
Here are handy hacks to treat stains on your pillow:
- Simply add a single dishwasher tablet in the drum when putting your pillow in the washing machine- this will cut through the tough grease and whiten your pillow.
- Don’t use chlorine bleach to whiten your pillows, as this can cause further yellowing.
- Spot treat the yellow stain with a home-made paste of baking soda and water. Use a toothbrush to work the paste into the stain gently, and then rinse. Then, wash the pillow in warm, soapy water and allow to fully dry.
How often should you change your pillows’ cases?
You should change your pillow cases at least once a week.
If you suffer from acne breakouts, eczema or asthma, then you would benefit from changing your pillow cases 2 or 3 times a week, if you can.
Where can I buy pillows?
At Bedding Comfort Store, we offer a variety of high quality pillows, no matter what type of sleeper you are. From hotel quality pillows and soft pillows, to luxury pillows, we have the best products to give you a blissful night’s sleep.
Click here to shop our collection of Pillows.
Below, we have recommended some of our favourite pillows in our collection:
Hotel Quality Pillows
Our Luxury Hotel Collection Supremely Washable Pillows (Pack of 2) offer amazing support to the body. Naturally hypoallergenic, our pillows are comfortable, durable and machine washable, so they are built to last for years. They also look super luxurious, to replicate that level of hotel comfort in your own home!
If you thought that sounded terrific, just know that you can also choose the feel of our Luxury Hotel Collection pillows:
- Choose our soft pillow (700g) if you are a tummy sleeper
- Choose our medium pillow (850g) if you are a back sleeper
- Choose our firm pillow (1,000g) if you are a side sleeper
Shop our Luxury Hotel Collection Supremely Washable Pillows (Pack of 2) here.
Are you looking for luxurious pillows with another layer of padding? Then, browse our Luxury Hotel Pillow with Quilted Protection (Pack of 2). These lovely polycotton pillows come with soft, quilted protectors- these protectors have a wavy design with a zip fastening, and both sides are quilted for a luxurious feel with every flip.
The quilted protectors help keep your pillows fresh for longer- you won’t even have to wash the pillows, just wash the protectors!
Shop our Luxury Hotel Pillow with Quilted Protection (Pack of 2) here.
Maternity Pillows
What’s more, if you are an expectant mum-to-be, or you have a pregnant spouse or friend, then you will love our Soft Touch Bolster Maternity Pillow and our Soft Touch V-Shape Maternity Support Pillow.
Pregnant women know all too well how much pregnancy disrupts their sleep, as it often brings uncomfortable symptoms such as back pain, aches, fatigue and the difficulty of resting with a growing baby bump.
That is why we offer the most comfortable sleeping aids, to bring support to the pregnant mum’s body when she lays down and ease any discomfort.
Our maternity pillows are designed to maximise comfort, with a soft, but sturdy structure.
Choose our V-Shape Pillow if you need help with sleeping on your side and to alleviate back pain caused by low elevation.
Alternatively, if you need additional support for your legs, then simply slide our Bolster Pillow between your knees, so the pillow cuddles up against you.
You can even use our maternity pillows for support after your little angel arrives, when feeding or during cuddles!
Click here to shop our Maternity Pillows.
We hope we have answered the question ‘how often should you change your pillows?’
At Bedding Comfort Store, we sell duvets, pillows, bedding sets, mattress toppers, mattress protectors, cushions, nursery bedding, fabric, upholstery & insulation and towels.
To purchase our nursery bedding, click here.
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