When people strip their beds to do laundry, they often overlook their pillows, but it is incredibly important to wash them regularly, as they can become a hotspot for bacteria.
Pillows collect sweat, body oils, drool and exfoliated skin on a nightly basis, which can build up into unsightly yellow stains if you do not wash them at least a handful of times a year.
Many people like to deep clean their bedding before spring arrives, and you can easily clean your bedding without using harsh chemicals or expensive products.
Lona Praytor, a housekeeping expert and founder of Making Lemonade, has shared that cleaning pillows is incredibly easy as all you need as two simple items.
She said: “Believe it or not, you just need two ‘ingredients’. The two ingredients I use are ALL Free and Clear and white vinegar. Yes, that’s it!”
What to use when cleaning pillows
White vinegar is a fantastic cleaner as it contains acetic acid, which can naturally break common pillow stains down like sweat and body oils.
White vinegar has antibacterial properties, so it can help disinfect the fabric and kill dust mites lurking in your bedding.
It also helps break down any detergent build-up on laundry, softening the fabric, which will make your pillows more comfortable and fresher.
ALL Free and Clear is a laundry detergent that does not contain perfumes or dyes, but you could use any detergent if you wish.
It may be better for pillows to use a sensitive skin laundry detergent as it will leave less soapy residue build up on the fabric.
How to clean pillows and remove stains
To clean your pillows, make sure to only load them in two at a time into the washing machine and check the care label to make sure they are safe to wash.
Only use a small amount of laundry detergent to avoid soap residue buildup. Then, place the pillows on a gentle, warm water cycle and leave them to be washed.
Once the pillows have been washed, put them on a second rinse cycle setting and add the white vinegar to the washing machine where you would normally put the fabric softener.
Make sure to also put pillows on a spin cycle to get rid of most of the water in your pillows.
Next, hang your pillows up to dry or put them in the tumble dryer on a low heat setting. Check the care label again to make sure they can be dried this way, and never put foam pillows in the dryer.
If you are using a tumble dryer, consider adding wool dryer balls. They will help fluff up your pillows and prevent them from bunching up while being washed.
When your pillows have dried they should be stain-free and fresh so can have a comfortable sleep in a completely clean bed.
