Body pillows are a wonderful medium of relaxation, perfect for sleeping and resting. The thorn in this particular rose is the process of washing it when it inadvertently becomes dirty. Body pillows are large and made of sensitive and fluffy material that may be tricky to wash that can easily be damaged if not washed with care. It is advisable to wash body pillows not more than three times monthly.
Points to Note Before Washing Your Body Pillow
The first thing to do before washing your body pillow or any other laundry material is to check the tag/care label for the manufacturer’s specific guidance on the cleaning procedure. Some types of body pillows will require hand washing by a professional dry cleaner, such pillows are those with feather fillings, tempurpedic and memory-foam pillows. Using a machine to wash any of these types of pillows would make them lose structural integrity.
To prepare your body pillow for washing, first remove the cover, close the zipper and make sure it fits into the washer.
Steps on Washing Your Body Pillow
Essential Materials
First, these are the materials you will need:
- Mild detergent
- Two clean rags
- Washing machine
There are two ways of washing your body pillow:
- Spot cleaning
- Full body washing
Spot Cleaning
Sometimes your body pillow may have a stain on a spot, in this case you don’t need to wash the entire both pillow in a washing machine. You can take away the stain by spot cleaning it by hand. To do this, soak a clean rag in mild detergent and rub of any dirt and stain, after that dampen the second rag in clean water and pat the detergent out. Then, allow the pillow to air-dry.
Full Body Washing
Although most cotton pillows can be washed easily, it’s important to note that low quality ones will fall apart of handles incorrectly.
Step 1 – Set the water to the appropriate temperature
Always ensure that you use the appropriate water temperature when you’re washing your body pillow in a washing machine: warm or cold water, NEVER hot.
Step 2 – Do not wash together with other laundry or pillows
Never put your body pillow in the washer with any other clothing material or pillow, it needs a lot of room in the washer because it’s large.
Step 3 – Use a Mild Detergent
Use a little quantity of mild detergent that does not contain chlorine or bleach and wash with gentle cycles.
Step 4 – Tumble Dry
The most advisable way of doing this is using a low setting or tumble drying, never use high heat.
Step 5 – Fluff
After washing and drying, fluff your pillow with your hands to restore its original springiness, structure and shape. Wash your hands before doing this to avoid getting the pillow dirty again, or alternatively, use a pillow cover.
Remember that nothing supersedes the manufacturer’s instructions, so endeavor to go through them properly before attempting to clean the pillows yourself!
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