When the inside of your pillow turns discolored, don’t rush to throw it away. There is still a very quick and easy way to whiten them.

Not only washing the pillowcase, the inside of the pillow itself also plays an important role in “protecting” your sleep and health. Here’s how to clean pillowcases and tips on when you should get a new pillow.

You should regularly wash your pillowcases about every 3 months to protect your family’s health

How to wash pillowcases?

The reason the pillow inside often turns yellow after a period of use even though we still cover it with a layer of pillowcase is because the pillow inside absorbs sweat from the scalp, face and other dirt. During use, sweat stains, when absorbed through the fabric for a period of time, will form yellow stains.

If you do not wash your pillowcases regularly and use them for a long time, it will cause some dermatological diseases such as acne, skin fungus… which are very dangerous, can lead to more serious diseases such as allergies, asthma…

On the other hand, many people often throw away pillowcases when they become stained, which is a waste. You can bleach the pillow insides in the washing machine about every 3 months at home very simply.

Prepare:

– Hot water

– 1 cup of laundry detergent

– 1 cup dishwashing liquid

– 1 cup bleach (if possible, use natural, low-chlorine bleach)

– 1/2 cup borax powder

The more precise the ratio of ingredients to add to the pillowcase, the more effective it will be.

Perform:

– You should read the instructions on the pillow inner label to choose the appropriate washing mode.

– The first step is to choose the hot water washing mode and fully rinse the washing drum. Next, you add all the prepared ingredients: laundry detergent, bleach, dishwashing liquid, and ½ cup of borax powder into the washing machine.

– Next, once you have put everything in the washing machine, start the machine to mix the above mixture.

– Then, depending on the volume the washing drum can hold, put 2-3 pillowcases in and run the washing machine with the normal washing cycle.

– If you wash the pillow by hand, mix the above laundry mixture together and let the pillow soak. Then, you just need to gently squeeze the soap and detergent in the above mixture to remove all the dirt. Repeat until you see a white pillow inside. After rinsing several times to remove the soap, put it in fabric softener to soak in the scent of the pillow.

Before you start washing your pillow, don’t forget to check to see if the pillow’s label says hand wash or machine wash.

Note

If you have a pillow filled with feathers, each wash means you’ve removed some of the feathers’ natural oils that give the pillow its softness. With a filling made from synthetic cotton, washing and drying many times will cause the cotton to shrink. Therefore, you should only wash the pillowcase 1-2 times a year to avoid changes in cotton or feathers.

To feel more secure about a clean pillow, dry the inside of the pillow in the sun for a few hours and at the same time use your hands to smash it vigorously to remove dirt and odors. Doing this every weekend is best.

How often should you change your pillow?

There has never been an exact scientific opinion to help determine the right time to replace a head pillow. Here’s something you can try to decide what to do with your pillows. “If you have a latex pillow, fold it in half,” says Nancy Rothstein, a consultant and educator who calls herself a “sleep ambassador.” It’s time for you to let it go.”

If you are using a stuffed pillow, replace it after 6 months of use to avoid unnecessary harm to your body.

Even pillows that are not deformed when folded in half or still look clean and have no yellow stains still contain dirty things such as oil or body fluids, dead skin, and dust from the air. Furthermore, after about 1/3 of the day you lie on the pillow, twisting it all over, the stuffing inside the pillow gradually deteriorates. Therefore, replacing old pillows is necessary to protect your health.

Dr. Michael Breus, psychologist, author of the book Good Night says: “If you have a cheap pillow filled with artificial stuffing, you should change it every 6 months. A pillow made from memory foam (a highly elastic material that automatically curves when you lie down) or any other type of pillow that helps support the body, should be replaced every 18 to 36 months.