The Best Method For Washing Your Body Pillow

Body pillows are a fluffy treat to snuggle with at night, but if you're not washing the cushion every three to six months, then you're probably cuddling with oils, sweat, and dirt. The large pillow might seem daunting to launder, but it's rather simple to give your pillows a much-needed deep clean. Throwing the bedding in the washing machine is the easiest method to refresh your body pillow. Handwashing is a close second for pillows that aren't machine washable.

If there is only a minor stain or two and the entire pillow doesn't need a wash, rinse, and dry cycle, then a spot treatment can take care of the mess. Use warm water and detergent for dried stains like coffee, or baking soda and cold water for bodily fluid soils like blood. Just saturate the stain with the cleaning mixture, use your hands or soft-bristle brush to scrub the soil, and rinse. For the major clean, pillows made with down, feather, and cotton are generally safe to launder in the washing machine. On the other hand, foam pillows, like memory and latex, should be hand-washed. Always check the care tag on your bedding for specific laundering instructions. You can tailor this cleaning plan to your pillow's need to ensure it's not damaged in the process. Both methods are easy to follow, don't require any special products, and leave you with a fresh pillow.

To machine wash your pillow, remove the pillowcase and place the cushion in the washing machine. If the pillow is too large for the drum, consider a trip to the laundromat. It's best not to overstuff the machine, otherwise the detergent won't evenly coat the fabric and you'll have a half-washed pillow. Then, simply launder with surfactant-only laundry soap (detergent without bleach, chlorine, or fabric softener) and warm or cold water. While hot water can kill bacteria, it can also break down the pillow's filling and deform it. Unless the care label says hot water is okay, keep it cool. Powder detergent is preferred, as it's easier to rinse out and there's no risk of it clumping the filling together as with liquid soap. Once the wash cycle is over, let the pillow tumble dry. Add tennis or dryer balls to the dryer to revive any flat pillows.

The same water temperature and detergent are recommended for the handwashing method. Fill a large container with soapy water and submerge the body pillow. Then, use your hands or a soft brush to scrub the cushion. Pay particular attention to any stains. After, rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out the excess water and avoid wringing the pillow, as this can misshape the filling. If needed, use a clean towel to help absorb more of the excess water. Finally, air dry your laundry in a well-ventilated room or (preferably) in direct sunlight to help kill bacteria. Now, you can snuggle a clean pillow without any dirt or dust getting in between you.