Pillow Cleaning for Healthy, Allergen Free Sleep
by: Charles Kassotis
Do you think it is important for your family's hygiene to
regularly clean blankets and sheets, towels, bed and couch covers? Of course!
Pillows also need to be cleaned regularly, at least every six months. That's
because a pillow that hasn't been cleaned recently contains high amounts of
sloughed skin, mold and mildew, fungus, dust mites and dust feces. Nobody wants
to sleep on that! Let's see how we can effectively clean our pillows, depending
on their material, and what tricks we can use to keep them clean longer. Cotton
and down pillows can be cleaned in various ways. You can hand-wash,
machine-wash, or dry-clean them. If you choose hand-wash use a mild detergent
instead of soap, as soap may leave residues. Wash gently using warm water, in
maximum 40c. Rinse well in cold water squeezing the pillow constantly to ensure
that there is no residue left.
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Try the
Softlux Pillow
which is therapeutic and hypoallergenic.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In machine-wash you should make sure that detergent is completely diluted in
water before placing the pillows inside. You can do that by letting the machine
run for a few minutes with after adding the detergent and before adding the
pillows. Then stop it, squeeze the air out of the pillows and put them inside
the washing machine. Set your washer on a gentle wash cycle. An extra rinse
would be ideal but if your washing machine doesn't have that button, simply put
the pillow through the final rinse cycle once or twice to fully rinse out any
residue.
Do not use softener in the rinse. Instead choose vinegar to help in the
removal of the residue. Very little, two or three drops is enough. Add a tennis
ball to keep the down from bunching-up into a corner during the spin cycle. Hit
the spin dry feature twice to ensure that most water has been removed. Synthetic
Fiber pillows can also be hand or machine-washed the same way as before. Lower
quality fiber pillows may bunch up after cleaning.
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For comfort, sport and temperature controlled try
the Softlux Pillow.
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If that happens, pull out the fibers and redistribute them after drying. In
synthetic pillows use the spin dry feature only once, so that the fibers bunch
up as little as possible. Feather pillows can be washed by hand or dry-cleaned.
Hand-Wash them exactly as you would with a down pillow but using less detergent.
Also keep in mind that feather pillows are harder to get wet because feather
tends to repel water. Don't forget to use a little vinegar during the rinsing.
Foam pillows can only be hand-washed very gently with mild detergent. Mix water
and detergent first, then gently squeeze the soapy water into the pillow by
pressing smoothly on the pillow repeatedly. Don't wring or twist them, they are
very delicate. Rinse well using vinegar during rinse. Wool pillows should be
dry-cleaned because of their material, which makes it very difficult and unsafe
for them to be cleaned in any other way. It is important that before attempting
to wash your pillows you should read the care instructions on the package. Use
some of these tricks to keep your pillows clean longer. Use two pillowcases on
your pillows to resist the accumulation of dust and bacteria, sweat, and other
body fluids. Use a pillow protector as an additional barrier against dirt.
Change your pillowcases often as dirt penetrates the fabric and will end up on
your pillow. Now that you know the steps, clean your pillows as often as they
need to be, to prolong their life and ensure a healthy sleeping environment,
free of skin irritations and allergies for you and your family.
About the author: For free daily articles, decoration ideas and tips using
pillows, cushions, shams and comforters visit The Pillowcart.com at
http://www.pillowcart.com
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