What and how to properly wash and dry pillows made of different materials?

If a few years ago pillows were traditionally filled with down, today new types of fillers have appeared: bamboo, chlorofiber, anti-stress. However, not every product contains instructions on how to wash pillows made from innovative material. For this reason, some housewives are forced to throw away a relatively new item after the first treatment in the washing machine. To avoid such an outcome, you need to correctly assess the characteristics of a household item, select the optimal impact option and carry it out strictly according to the instructions.

What pillows can be washed in a washing machine and how to do it correctly?

According to experts, any pillows can be washed in a washing machine, and this approach is the simplest. Depending on the type of filler, you need to remember a number of nuances:

• Pooh. The water temperature should not exceed 40ºС. Manipulation is only possible if the device has a hand wash or swan down processing mode. Spinning is permissible, but at a minimum number of revolutions (no more than 400). It is better if the rinsing is double. Before as wash a down pillow, it must be placed in a special bag. Next, the recommended parameters are set and the cleaning process is carried out. After that, we rip out the napkin, dry the fluff and sew it into new fabric.
• Sintepon and chlorofiber. The difference between the approaches is only in the temperature of exposure.For padding polyester it should not exceed 40ºС; for chlorofiber this figure can be raised to 70ºС. It is better to turn off the spin cycle on the washing machine; if the filler gets stuck in a lump, it will be difficult to straighten it out. Liquid washing powders are ideal for cleaning such pillows; they will not leave streaks on the products and will not settle in the structure of the filler. It is advisable to place several tennis balls in the drum; they will prevent the pillow from losing its shape. After processing, we squeeze the item by hand, but do not twist it, and send it to dry.

Tip: Regardless of the type of filler, the use of bleaches is highly discouraged. Even the softest and most gentle products can negatively affect the structure of the fibers, which will very soon lead to damage to the product.

• Bamboo. The most unpretentious material that withstands all conditions and temperatures. Usually the instruction label will indicate under what conditions it can be washed. If there is no such information, then we adhere to the same parameters as in the case of natural down filling.

Processing pillows in a washing machine should be carried out not only when the filling becomes dirty, but also for preventive purposes. Experts recommend that household items be thoroughly processed at least once every 3-4 months, and they need to be changed every 3-4 years.

Features of hand washing pillows depending on the material

If using a household appliance is impossible for some reason, you will have to carry out manual cleaning. This is quite troublesome, and a positive result is possible only if the following rules are observed:

• Pooh. Pour water into a basin, the temperature of which should not exceed 50ºC, dilute a little liquid powder or soap in it.We rip the pillowcase and put the fluff in the water. There is no need to arrange it; it is better to use several containers. After two hours, use the same principle to prepare a new solution, soak the settled fluff in it and begin to carefully wash it with your hands, using kneading movements. Clean fluff balls are washed twice under running water and the composition can be sent for drying.
• Bamboo, padding polyester, chlorofiber. For the procedure, water at temperatures up to 70ºС is used. Unlike processing in a washing machine, in the open air the liquid will cool quickly and will not have time to harm the material. Dissolve liquid detergent in an aqueous medium and soak the product. When the water temperature drops to a tolerable level, you can lightly knead the pillow with your fists, turning it over several times. Then we rinse the item, changing clean water several times. We wring out the item and send it to dry.

You not only need to know how to properly wash a pillow, but also how to dry the product after cleaning:

1. When working with fluff, you need to constantly break up the lumps, otherwise the sticky formations will quickly ruin the new pillowcase, and even cause a lot of unpleasant moments during use. It is best to lay the filler on a paper backing in as thin a layer as possible, place it on a sunny windowsill and shake the lumps regularly.
2. Bamboo and chlorofiber practically do not go astray, so they are the easiest to use. After processing by hand or in the washing machine, we blot the item, wrap it in a warm terry towel and simply place it on a horizontal dryer. A balcony or a well-ventilated room is best for drying. From time to time we turn the product over and lightly knead it with our hands.
3. We do the same with padding polyester as in the previous case, but in addition to this, we also go over the surface of the object with a vacuum cleaner. This effect will help the filler to distribute evenly. In extreme cases, you will have to take out the material and restore it manually.

Regardless of the type of filling, pillows will get dirty more slowly if you wrap them in chintz pillowcases, maybe even two.

How to properly wash anti-stress pillows?

Pillows, like toys with anti-stress filling, require a special approach. The specifics of cleaning depend on the origin of the “filling”. Today, more and more people prefer anti-stress pillows based on organic ingredients (buckwheat, berry seeds, flax seeds). Such items are not washed, they are simply replaced.

Everything is much simpler if polystyrene balls are used as filling. We take the anti-stress pillow, rip out the pillowcase and wash it separately in the traditional way. We do not touch the balls themselves unless they are dirty. If the problem is in the filling, then wash the small parts in a basin with water and liquid powder. It is important to remember that balls for anti-stress products are very sticky and can fray your nerves. As a last resort, you can wash the entire item without removing the pillowcase. But in this case, the item must be additionally placed in a bag so that in the event of a tear in the fabric, small parts do not clog all the openings of the device.