{"id":2325,"date":"2021-12-29T11:51:13","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T11:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebeddingplanet.com\/?p=2325"},"modified":"2022-04-29T06:56:50","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T06:56:50","slug":"how-to-wash-and-dry-a-cotton-pillow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebeddingplanet.com\/how-to-wash-and-dry-a-cotton-pillow\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Wash And Dry a Cotton Pillow: Step by Step"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This post is part of\u00a0the\u00a0complete cotton pillow buyers guide<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you want to clean your beddings, you will most likely grab your bed sheets, pillowcases and head out to the laundry room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pillow is usually forgotten, yet it is the one that arguably needs the most cleaning. It is advisable to deep clean your pillow at least twice a year to keep it safe from bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time you use your pillow, it absorbs sweat, body oil, and makeup from your skin. If it stays in the same condition throughout, you will have to deal with skin breakouts, allergies, and many other conditions that would have been prevented by cleaning your pillow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes people keep dirty pillows because they are not aware they need to be washed. Cleaning your pillow is not about keeping you healthy but also prolonging your pillow’s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, you must understand how to clean your cotton pillow and keep it in good condition. If you are ready to learn about ways to wash and dry your cotton pillow, you are in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Before Washing The Cotton Pillow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most cotton pillows in the market today are machine washable, but some are quite delicate and need utmost attention. The first thing you should do before washing your pillow is read the tag for instructions on cleaning it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few things to note about cleaning instructions;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry clean only<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your pillow tag bears these instructions, you should take it to a professional dry cleaner to wash it. \u2018Dry clean only\u2019 means submerging the pillow in water will affect the cover and the cotton fills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This also applies to tags with the instructions ‘DO NOT WASH.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spot clean only<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Such instructions indicate that you should only clean out stains and spots on the pillow surface. Do not be tempted to wash the entire pillow because you will be damaging it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hand wash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you see these words on the pillow tag, then it is safe to wash them by hand. It means that the pillow is safe to submerge in water without affecting or degrading the cover and cotton material. However, it would help if you did not try washing it in the machine because the spin cycle may displace the cotton fibers making your pillow lose its shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Machine washable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any pillow with a tag that says \u2018MACHINE WASHABLE\u2019 can be washed and dried in the machine. Users need to be keen on the additional instructions to ensure they follow all the necessary guidelines to keep the pillow safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading the additional instructions will let you know about the best spin cycle, whether you need to use bleach, and the amount of detergent to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Wash a Cotton Pillow by Hand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Once you determine that your pillow is washable by hand, you must assemble the necessary cleaning tools. You will need water, detergent, and soap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Take out the pillow from the pillowcase<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have a pillowcase over your pillow, you need to unzip it and take out your pillow because they need to be washed separately. If possible, you can wash the pillowcase by hand or toss it into the washing machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-treat your pillowcase if it has any stains on it before you toss it into the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Fill the bathtub or sink with hot water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are washing in a tub or sink, be sure that it is spacious enough to accommodate the pillow. Plugin the bathtub or sink before running the hot water. Once the sink is half full, please turn off the water and ensure it is not flowing out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are advised to use hot water to kill dust mites<\/a> and other organisms living in the pillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Add some laundry detergent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even when washing your cotton pillow by hand, you can still add some standard laundry detergent. Add 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of detergent into the bathtub and double the amount when washing two pillows. Swirl the hot water using your hands until it becomes bubbly. Laundry agents with low suds are much better because it is easier to rinse the pillows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Insert the whole pillow in water and squeeze for some minutes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pick the pillow on both ends and push it down the soapy water until it completely submerges. The pillow should absorb all the water, and once it is all soaked up, squeeze the pillow and massage it to reach all ends of the fillings. Do this for 10 minutes to ensure all filings are reached by soapy water. If the water is too hot for your hands or the soap becomes too irritating, get yourself a pair of gloves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Rinse the pillow until it runs clear water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remove the pillow from the sink or bathtub and squeeze out the soapy water until it stops feeling soggy. Drain out the dirty water and run clean water on the pillow using a faucet. Hold the faucet over the pillow until it feels soaked. Squeeze the soapy water out again until it you get clear water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you leave soap residue on your pillow, it will stain and take time to dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 6: Drain excess water with a dry towel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you have taken your pillow out of the water, proceed to squeeze it with your hands. Place a dry towel over the wet pillow and fold the towel to remove any water residue. You can also twist the pillow to get most of the water out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Wash a Cotton Pillow in a Washing Machine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"pillow-in-washing-machine-bamboo\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Experts have recently advised pillow owners to use top- or front-loading washing machines without an agitator\u2014the spinning center that rotates the clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is not the standard procedure; hence you can proceed to wash your pillows in any machine of your liking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Remove the pillowcase<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you placed a pillowcase over your pillow, you need to remove it. If your pillow cover has a zipper on the side, take out the cover and wash the insert separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Place your pillows in the washing machine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When loading your washing machine to clean cotton pillows, you should place two of them at once to balance the load. This step aims at preventing the pillows from being thrown around and getting damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pillows should be placed vertically to prevent damage and only agitate once or twice on the gentle cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3:  Add some detergent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Add a scoop of detergent to your washing machine for more detailed cleaning. If you want your pillows to maintain their whiteness, you can add a small amount of bleach. You should not use too much detergent because it can damage your cotton fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Start the wash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Set your washing machine to run hot water and on a two-cycle rinse. Set it to the bulky\/large cycle if your washer has the options. Press start and let the machine do the work, and check on your pillows after 10 minutes so that you can take them out to dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Wash Your Cotton Pillow to Remove Odors, Stains, and Mildew<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Step 1: Add baking soda to the washing machine to eradicate bad smells<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Washing your pillow can eradicate bad smells, but if you need to do away with the stink completely, you should add \u00bd cup baking soda to the water. Wash your pillow and rinse completely until there is no odor. Baking soda naturally deodorizes fabric, and you can use it for other laundry purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Add a few drops of essential oil when rinsing the pillow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adding 2 to 3 drops of essential oil to your laundry water while rinsing can give your pillow a nice scent. This solution will also cover some foul smells that make your pillow uncomfortable to sleep on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these essential oils are;<\/p>\n\n\n\n