Easily Deep-Clean Your Pillows With Two Household Staples
By JAHAIRA ARTHUR
While your pillow may be the unsung hero of your day-to-day life, it’s probably not at the top of your laundry list, so follow these tips to keep it clean for daily use.
Pillows are the most important bedding item to wash because they absorb dead skin cells, body oils, sweat, allergens, and residue from evening skincare routines.
It’s best to wash pillows every three to six months and perform a deep clean or “strip” annually to extend their lifespan, maintain their fullness, and remove any unwanted grime.
Before stripping pillows, check the tag for laundering instructions. Then, make a mix of ¼ cup baking soda, ¼ cup borax, and 2 cups liquid detergent or ½ cup powder detergent.
Dissolve the stripping mix in a bath or large container full of the hottest water available, and submerge the pillows. Soak for up to 24 hours, turning them occasionally.
Squeeze the excess water out of the pillows, wash them on a normal cycle without detergent, and then machine dry with tennis or dryer balls to make them fluffy.