Proper care will determine just how long your bed and couch pillows will continue to look and feel great. Even the best pillows will rapidly deteriorate in a matter of weeks if appropriate measures are not put in place to reduce wear and tear. Once you compare different pillows and eventually buy a set, here’s how to care for your pillows:
- First, when you buy a pillow, purchase two or more pillow protectors of the same size as the pillow. A pillow protector is essentially a white coloured pouch with a zipped opening. The protector provides an extra barrier against oil, dirt and thus reduces the frequency with which you need to clean the pillow. You need two of them so there is always one that is clean and can be used when the other is in the laundry.
- Have at least 2 sets of pillowcases for each set of bed pillows preferably of different designs. It is remarkable just how much you can change the atmosphere in a room by simply changing the pillowcases. Ideally, you should purchase each set of pillowcases as part of a larger bedding set comprising bed sheets and/or duvets. Remember that regularly changing pillowcases is important for face and hair hygiene hence having several extra sets ensures you have a relatively fresh place to rest your head each time. If you went for low cost alternatives when purchasing pillow protectors, pillowcases are the items you should spare no expense on if that is what it takes to get high quality fabric. Cotton pillowcases with a high thread count are not only long lasting but are also gentle on your face.
- Clean the couch and bed pillows as per manufacturer’s instructions. Your pillows packaging or labels will have instructions on care and cleaning. Read and then stick them somewhere convenient like the linen closet door. That said, the best pillows can be cleaned using an ordinary washing machine with just a few precautions. The washing machine ought to be set on ‘gentle wash cycle’ before pressing the ‘extra rinse’ control.
- The ‘extra rinse’ is to make sure that the pillow is completely rid of soapy and bubbles that may be trapped inside it. Then use ‘spin dry’ twice to remove as much moisture as is possible before placing the pillow in the dryer. The dryer phase is what will take the longest time – up to several hours – depending on the filling used for the pillow.
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