At the end of each day, our pillow is our best friend. It’s always there when we need it. It’s pretty safe to say we wouldn’t be able to live without him.
Regularly replacing your pillows will not only prevent allergen build-up, but will also enhance your sleep quality. Do you know how to replace your pillows? The general rule of thumb is to replace your pillows every 1-2 years. You will know it’s time to replace your pillows when they don’t provide enough support.
Although washing your pillows often can extend their life, there is a limit to how long they can support you. You may experience sleep disturbances and health issues if you keep your pillows for longer than 1 or 2 years.
Here are some reasons why you should replace your pillows
1. Promotes Hygiene
Pillows absorb sweat, hair, saliva, body oils, and dead skin cells. Even if you have a pillowcase, it may not be enough to protect your head. Mold, mildew, and other allergens can accumulate because of these fluids and flakes. Washing your pillows and pillow covers can get rid of odors, but not always allergens.
2. Prevents Pain
Pillows should keep your spine neutral, along with your mattress. The pillow ensures that your head and neck are supported while your spine is aligned. Each night, the weight of your head wears out your pillows.
Over time, pillows flatten and develop soft spots. In addition to causing neck pain, a worn-out, flat pillow can’t support your head and neck.
3. Reduces Allergies
We provide the perfect environment for dust mites to grow and multiply because they feed on dead skin cells and thrive in a warm, humid environment.
Allergy-prone people may experience watery eyes, itchy throats, runny noses, sneezing, nasal congestion, and breathing difficulties from dust mites. These symptoms can worsen over time, resulting in poor sleep quality.
The University of Manchester found 16 varieties of fungi in a single pillow in 2005. Pillows don’t just attract dust mites. Additionally, there may be a host of other microorganisms there. Regularly replacing your pillows may help prevent allergens from building up.
When to Replace Your Pillow
If you notice any of the following signs, change your pillows
– You wake up with neck pain often
– Your shoulder muscles feel crampy in the morning
– You have trouble sleeping due to headaches
– Itchy throat, runny nose, watery eyes, rashes on your skin, or breathing difficulties keep you awake all night long because of allergies
– Lump in your pillow because of allergies
– You notice tiny yellow spots or stains on your pillows despite washing. Marks may be caused by sweat, body oil, or dust mite droppings
– If you can easily fold your pillows in half
– If your pillow feels flat
How To Maintain Your Pillows
1. Drying
You can tumble dry your pillows on a low heat setting in your dryer or let them air dry on a clothesline. Once the pillows are completely dry and have no traces of moisture, you can put them inside your pillow covers. Moisture can damage your pillows because it encourages mold growth.
2. Washing
Wash your pillows in hot water once every four to six months if they can be machine washed. Hot water kills allergens on pillows. Pillows with down or down alternate synthetic stuffing can usually be machine washed.
Wash your pillows with a mild liquid detergent. Do not wash them with any other clothes or bed linens. By washing two pillows at once, you eliminate the risk of overloading your machine.
3. Pillow Cases
Pillowcases protect your pillows while making them look pretty. In most cases, they come with your bedsheets. If you want an extra layer of protection, you can use pillow protectors made of waterproofing fabric.
You can use the pillow protectors underneath your pillowcases. While your pillowcases match your bed sheets, making your bed visually appealing, the pillow protector beneath prevents moisture from soaking in. Unless otherwise stated on the care label, you should wash your pillowcases and protectors every three to four weeks.
Source: amerisleep.com
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