Pillows can often be one of the trickiest bedding items to clean, but it is important to wash them regularly in June as they are a hotspot for bacteria. Sweat, pollen and dust can build up in pillow fabric as the weather heats up so they need to be cleaned it you want to sleep more comfortably on a hot summer night.
If you do not clean pillows, then not only will your bed smell musty, but it can cause skin issues like acne and cause allergies to flare up. In extreme cases it can also cause bright yellow staining on pillows which will make them dingy and unhygienic.
However, it is very easy to get your pillows white and sanitary again as Johnno, an expert from Mind the Bed, has shared all you need is a few ingredients in your kitchen cupboard.
Johnno said: “You can wash a yellow pillow in the washing machine to make it white again. To do this, mix three cups of warm water with one cup of liquid dish detergent, half a cup of white vinegar, three-quarters cup of baking soda and the normal dose of your laundry detergent.”
It may seem easy to just wash pillows with bleach to get rid of any stains, but this chemical product can react badly to the oils in sweat to cause more discolouration.
Any residue from bleach can also irritate the skin which is why it is highly recommended not to use it since pillows are used close to your face.
Instead, simple white vinegar is naturally antibacterial so kill any germs on the fabric and its acidic properties also help make pillows feel softer.
Washing up liquid is one of the best ways to break down sweat and body oils in pillows as it has been designed to easily be able to remove grease.
Baking soda is highly absorbent to will help remove sweat or any other moisture making fabric smell musty and also boosts the effectiveness of laundry detergent to make pillows cleaner.
How to make pillows cleaner and fresher
If you pillows have any yellow stains on them, then rub a little washing up liquid onto the stained areas, then let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
Next, check pillows to see if they are machine washable and if they are stick them in the washing machine.
Add the baking soda and laundry detergent to the detergent drawer. Then, add the white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment and add a tiny amount of washing up liquid, about one teaspoon, to the drum.
Place on a warm cycle, but check the pillow label to see the best washing instructions. Make sure to put the pillows on a extra rinse cycle to make sure they dry properly.
Once your pillows are done, hang them outside or place them on a drying rack inside. Do not put pillows in the tumble dryer as it damage the filling and cause it to clump together.
When the pillows are dry they should now be fresh, bright white and completely clean so you sleep this summer on the most comfortable bedding possible.