Points For Pillows

Some people only need one, others can’t sleep unless they are surrounded by them. Some people fold them, hug them, tuck them under their backs and even chuck them between their legs. Sounds like a lot of abuse…but that’s what pillows are built to withstand. Pillows are the coup de gras of bedding and they are just as important to your bed as the mattress itself. Pillows have come a long way over the years in terms of design, fabric and size. You have to take care of your pillows, of course if you want them to last long, but there are several conflicting arguments about just how long you should keep a pillow. Some people say years is fine, once you wash it or change the cases frequently, other people will not tolerate the same pillow in their bed for over two months. The fact is, it all depends on the kind of pillows you purchase. While foam pillows and feather pillows are the most popular and affordable historically, there have been developments in fabric and materials that solve the numerous problems originally faced by the primary materials. Latex has been particularly popular as it retains it shape very well and offers soft support. Another big hitter is the soba or buckwheat pillows which use the natural fiber as a filler – it conforms to the shape of your head and neck and the material is extremely breathable meaning you will sweat less and supposedly feel refreshed when you wake up. A good start would be getting some quality pillows and casings from BedBathStore and then follow up with a couple of our useful tips:

Protect your pillows!

Pillows are very sturdy but equally delicate and susceptible to damage – not just being punched into shape, but chemical and biological transfers can really take the fluff out. Much like mattress protectors, you can now purchase pillow protectors that act as a breathable barrier that prevents stains and absorbs liquids before they can damage the pillow. Get a couple of them for every pillow you have so while one is in the wash you can have the pillow protected. Another good idea is to have an extra stash of pillowcases for sleeping. The sleeper pillow cases will be the ones that take the wear and tear and can be washed more frequently than your luxurious silk and satin ones.

Change your stuffing!

For pillows that are foam filled, please make sure to change out the foam or batting every few months. Even with a pillow protector, foam and batting can absorb beauty products, liniments, sweat, drool and every other bodily fluid you can produce. This makes your pillow a veritable petri dish that you’re sleeping in every night. Purchase fresh foam or batting and make sure you throw out the old stuffing, wash your pillow shell, stuff with new fluff and in no time, you have brand new pillows. Between changing out the batting and foam, give them the benefit of fresh air and the antibacterial properties of sunshine by setting them out on your clothes line for at least a day to get the full effect.