The Clever Time-Saving Cleaning Trick That Keeps Your Pillows Perfectly Plump

After a long day, little else is as satisfying as flopping into bed onto a plump pillow. And little else is as disappointing as laying your head down onto a lifeless one. Although you can remedy a flattened pillow by buying a new one, there's still hope left, even for the lumpiest, frumpiest pillow. The secret to keeping your bed pillows clean and fluffy is simpler than you think. 

Molly Maid President Vera Peterson told CNET that pillows should be washed two to four times a year, depending on the climate. If your pillows are machine washable, Peterson advises washing two at the same time, vertically, to keep them from clumping in the washer. Not only will this save your pillows' shapes, but it will also save you time. "Be sure to read the care label before washing and follow the instructions," Peterson told the outlet. "However, if the label is no longer on your pillow, wash both of your pillows at the same time in hot water on a gentle cycle."

Before tossing your pillows into the washer, though, consider their filling. Latex or memory foam pillows aren't machine-friendly. Foam pillows need to be hand washed or risk permanently damaging them. 

If you don't have time to care for and clean your bed pillows fully but still want to bask in their pillowy goodness, you can put them in the dryer with tennis balls or dryer balls and set them on low. When doing this method with just the pillows, it's good to put at least two in the dryer to keep the machine balanced. Casper recommends using the ball method for lumpy down or down alternative pillows to break up the clumps and make the pillows fluffy again. 

For an even quicker fluff, you could turn to the trusty accordion method. Here, you'll just need to hold the individual pillow up with a hand on each end and squish it together like you are playing an accordion. Do this until you can feel the clumps breaking up, allowing your pillow to fluff up once again. 

Even the best intentions may make fluffing a pillow difficult, though. Vice president of marketing for LUXOME, Susan Dettloff, told Better Homes & Gardens that the composition of a pillow and its age will dictate how fluffy it can be. "Be conscious of the construction of your pillows and what will best keep the original and intended form," Dettloff told the outlet. "You also don't want to be too rough on your pillows as they could weaken seams or any other enclosures or details." There will ultimately come a time when you should replace your pillows.