The Best Way To Clean Your Memory Foam Pillow

Memory foam pillows are made from a solid piece or shredded fragments of memory foam that compress to the contours of your head and neck, providing much-needed support. Memory foam is a type of polyurethane foam, making it hypoallergenic; this means that these pillows are resistant to bacteria, according to Nature's Sleep. However, despite being hypoallergenic, memory foam pillows are still susceptible to holding onto your dead skin cells and sweat.

To keep your memory foam pillows clean, it is recommended to wash them every two to three months. You can prolong this time frame if you take extra steps to cover them with a case and perhaps a cover. Nature's Sleep recommends cleaning them every six months if you use both a regular case and a cover. Using a pillow cover will prevent as much sweat and skin cells from dirtying your pillow, so it won't need to be washed as often.

Washing machines are memory foam's worst enemy. You should never put memory foam pillows in a washing machine for two reasons. The first is that the washer's spin cycle would rip apart the memory foam. The second is that submerging memory foam in water would damage it since it acts like a sponge, absorbing all the water and then crumbling into tiny pieces. A waterlogged memory foam pillow is also at a high risk of growing mold and mildew if it isn't able to completely dry before it is used again. Dryers are also not good for memory foam pillows because the heat can melt the fluff inside.

Another thing to look out for when cleaning memory foam pillows is what type of cleansers you use on them. According to Eachnight, harsh cleansers can cause memory foam to disintegrate. Thus, ensure you never use any chemicals that have bleach in them. Instead, use a mild cleanser like dish soap or a gentle laundry detergent.

Cleaning a memory foam pillow doesn't have to mean deep cleaning it every time. For example, if there are only small stains on it, you can spot clean the pillow rather than deep clean it. This will prolong its life as it isn't frequently submerged in water and at risk of damage. To spot clean a memory foam pillow, take a cloth or paper towel and dip it into a solution of hot water and the mild detergent of your choice, then scrub the stain away using circular motions. When the stain is gone, use a clean cloth to dry any excess water or soap from the area and leave the pillow to air dry before using it again.

When it's time to deep clean your pillow, you will need a mild detergent, a dry towel, and a large sink or bathtub (via Eachnight). First, fill the sink or tub with cold water and add a mild detergent. Add the pillow to the water, submerge it and gently hand wash it by squeezing the foam. Then drain out the soapy water and repeat the process with clean cold water. When all the soap is gone, it's time to dry the pillow. Place the pillow on the dry towel and squeeze — this will remove the excess water. After repeating this step a couple of times, you can leave the pillow outside to air dry.