We often spend so much time choosing a perfect pillow for ourselves. The one that can provide us comfort and support simultaneously along with improving our sleep.
However, after a while, you might witness your pillow isn’t as clean and fresh as it used to be, and this happens due to the dead skin cells, sweat, and dust mites intact on your pillow, which can affect your health and sleep quality.
According to research, not cleaning your pillows can cause significant skin issues such as breakouts and acne.
Although memory foam pillows are hypoallergenic, they can still trap sweat and dead skin, which makes it essential for us to wash the pillow every two to three months.
In this article, we discuss all the ways through which you wash your memory foam pillow.
How To Clean Your Memory Foam Pillow?
Washing your pillow can be a difficult task as pillows are exceptionally delicate, and we don’t want that softness or quality to reduce in the process.
Here are some useful methods that can help you wash and eliminate those unpleasant smells and stains without causing any harm to your memory foam pillow.
Top methods to clean your memory foam pillow include spot cleaning, deodorize, and deep cleaning your memory foam pillow while ensuring the quality of the pillows is intact.
Deodorize A Memory Foam Pillow
Deodorization is excellent for getting rid of the unpleasant smell caused due to sweat in your pillow. To follow the deodorize method, start by removing the pillowcase along with the protective pillow cover (if it’s removable).
Then keep your pillow down on a flat surface, and gently sprinkle some baking soda on one side of the pillow, and leave it on with exposure to sunlight for around one or two hours.
Now using an upholstery attachment, remove the baking soda by vacuuming the surface of the pillow. Then continue the same process on the other side by flipping the memory foam pillow over.
This way, you can make your memory foam pillow clean and remove the unwanted smell.
Spot Cleaning
If you have fresh stains on your pillow, then you should follow the step of spot cleaning. Start by removing the pillowcase and the pillow’s protective cover. Then take a paper towel or a clean, dry cloth to blot the stain in your memory foam pillow.
Make sure you avoid using any dark-colored cloth while removing the stains from your memory foam pillow. A dark-colored cloth might release its color and cause a disaster to your pillow.
Then mix detergent with lukewarm water and, using circular motions work over the stain. Dip the cloth in the mixture, and then work on the stain in gentle movements until you witness most of the stain removed.
Use a new cloth and dip it onto clean lukewarm water and then wring it out to remove excess water from the cloth.
Then lay your memory foam pillow on a flat surface, allowing it to dry completely, or you can also place in an open area and place it near sunlight for drying. Once your memory foam pillow is dried, it is ready for use.
Things To Avoid While Spot Cleaning
- Don’t use hot water. It can cause damage to the pillow and might affect the firmness of the pillow so, only use lukewarm water.
- Also, don’t rub the cloth over the stain as it won’t help reduce the stain but instead spread the detergent and water well and use gentle circular motions to remove the stain.
You can also use this spot cleaning method to treat stains issues in your memory foam mattress. Take the mixture of lukewarm water and detergent in a spray bottle. Then spray this solution on the stain areas and gentle work with a cloth in circular motions.
Once the stain is eliminated, use a clean damp rag to remove the solution through circular movements.
You can either use a dry rag to help absorb the excess water or place it under the fan for drying the mattress.
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning often becomes essential when stains get tough. You should start by either filling your bathtub or your sink with lukewarm water.
Then you can combine a little amount of mild detergent to the water and gently squeeze to ensure the cleaning solution moves through the foam. This helps in allowing the soapy water to remove the stain by penetrating the pillow’s materials.
Make sure you avoid wringing or soaking the pillow in soapy water as it can affect the memory foam. Instead, majorly focus on the area of the stain.
Once the stain is removed, you can sink it into the water before by refilling the bathtub or the sink with clean water.
Then gently squeeze the pillow (don’t put too much pressure as it might affect the firmness) until the water runs out of your memory foam pillow. Once it is out of the water, place it in a dry towel and roll it up.
To remove the excess liquid, keep squeezing the pillow gently. After this process, your towel might get wet, so use another dry towel, lay the pillow on top of it, and let it air dry. It might take around 24 hours to get completely dry.
Things To Avoid While Washing A Memory Foam Pillow
Now that we have discussed things that you should do for cleaning your memory foam pillow, let us discuss things that you should avoid while cleaning a memory foam pillow.
By following the below-mentioned things, you can extend the longevity of your pillows and ensure you have a safe pillow cleaning.
- Avoid using harmful and toxic chemicals like bleach to get rid of stains, as this might break down the memory foam.
- Don’t use a dryer on your memory foam pillows unless it is specified. A dryer contains heat which might cause damage to the memory foam.
- Avoid any contact of the pillow with hot water as it can damage the layers of foam. So always use either lukewarm water or cold water for cleaning purposes.
FAQs
1. What is the correct time to replace a memory foam pillow?
You should replace a memory foam pillow after two to three years of use.
2. Should I use a washing machine to clean my memory foam pillow?
No, you shouldn’t use a washing machine to clean your memory foam pillow as the machine’s spin cycle might get too harsh for material like memory foam and end up damaging the foam and the quality of your pillow.
3. Can I use the spot cleaning method for tough stains on my pillow?
You can use the spot cleaning method for treating tough and dark stains. However, it won’t be as effective as deep cleaning because spot cleaning is majorly for new stain issues.
You May Also Like To Read:
How To Store Your Memory Foam Mattress?
How To Take Care Of Your Mattress?
Conclusion
Memory foam mattresses are great for providing support, comfort and improving your sleep quality. However, it is essential for us to take care of our pillows as well.
By regular cleaning and washing, you can keep your pillow healthy and trouble-free. Here we have mentioned all the beneficial methods through which you can clean your memory foam pillow easily without damaging the pillow.
If you have any doubts about the cleaning methods of memory foam pillows, then tell us in the comments.
