Pillows accumulate dead skin cells, oils, and sweat from our bodies as we sleep so they must be regularly cleaned.
A study conducted by Amerisleep has shown that even after just one week of use, an unwashed pillowcase can harbour 17 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, with up to three million colony-forming units (CFUs) per square inch.
However, not all pillows can be safely washed in a washing machine, especially those with delicate materials or special filling.
Plus, in line with the cost of living crisis, people are looking for cheaper hacks for cleaning items in their homes, many of which include avoiding using washing machines as this can be costly.
Luckily, there is an alternative method you can use to effectively clean your pillows without the need for washing, claimed Allen Civlak, cleaning expert and owner of Mary’s Kitchen Flour Sack Towels.
This cleaning solution uses two of the cheapest cleaning products on supermarket shelves – baking soda and vinegar.
This cleaning hack will cost you less than 80p. The prices are based on supermarket-branded products that come in at around 50p for a 200g packet of baking soda and 29p for a 500ml bottle of vinegar.
To clean pillows, start by taking off any pillowcases, covers, or protectors before giving the pillows a generous sprinkle of baking soda. Ensure that both sides are covered.
The next step is to spray the baking soda with the vinegar solution. To make this, mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
Lightly spray the pillows with the vinegar solution. The reaction between baking soda and vinegar helps “break down odours and lift stains”.
Allow the pillows to sit with the baking soda and vinegar for at least 30 minutes.
This gives the ingredients time to work on removing odours and freshening the pillows.
After the waiting period, use a brush or vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove the baking soda and any loosened debris. Ensure that both sides of the pillows are thoroughly cleaned.
If the weather allows, you can place the pillows in the sun to air dry. Sunlight has “natural disinfectant properties” and can help “eliminate lingering odours”.
Give the pillows a good fluffing and rotate them to ensure even cleaning and drying.
Allow the pillows to air out for a few hours before putting on fresh pillowcases or using them.
Allen concluded: “By using baking soda and vinegar, you can naturally clean and freshen your pillows, leaving them smelling clean and revitalised.”
