What do you do with your bed pillows when they become flat as a pancake and not so fresh smelling?
Do you toss them in the garbage and go buy new?
If so, then you are like me.
I have always chucked the old ones in the garbage and bought new.
But, not anymore!
I never realized how easy they were to wash.
Not to mention the fact that they smell so good, look so clean and are all nice and fluffed again.
In our household we have a total of 12 pillows. Now keep in mind there are five of us so we each have two a piece but Mark and I have three each. Anyways if you have as many as we do then be prepared to spend ALL day washing and drying pillows or split them up over a period of a few days.
I placed two pillows per load in my washer to keep the load balanced. I added my laundry detergent to the water and filled my Downy Ball with my favorite smelling softener (Downy Clean Breeze). Toss all of the above in and let it do it's magic.
When the load was finished I took the pillows out and placed both of them in the dryer. Then I took two tennis balls and two tube socks and placed a ball in each sock. Then I tied each sock in a knot so the balls would not fall out. Toss the sock balls in the dryer with the pillows and dry on a low heat for 45-50 minutes. (The balls help to fluff the pillows up.) I thought they felt a little damp so I threw them back in for another 45-50 minutes and that seemed to do the trick. You want to be sure to dry them thoroughly so that they don't mold after you place them back in a pillowcase.
Most of the pillows that I washed were made of cotton/polyester.
They don't recommend washing the foam filled pillows but I had one of those too and I decided to give it a try. I figured I'd throw it away if it got ruined. I'm happy to say that it was washed and *line dried* (in it's own zippered pillowcase) and it survived. I wasn't sure about putting the foam pillow in the dryer so I just hung it outdoors on my clothesline for the whole day.
I now have freshly washed and fluffed pillows on each and every bed in my house.
Next time you need to freshen your pillows don't just throw them away. Give this a try and see how it works.
I've always thrown them away but I have one of those curved pillows that was pricey so i am probably going to be washing it, I can almost smell all your clean pillows...:)
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing with mine. I even do my down comforter the same way!
ReplyDeleteTFS
Prim Blessings
Robin
I wash mine in the washer too. Like you, I had a lot, so the last time, I took them to my mom's and put them in her larger heavy duty one. I got six in two loads, only because I wanted to make sure they were clean. I used a dryer sheet..next tome I'm following your lead! Thanks for the good tip! Loretta
ReplyDeleteI have a really old pillow (probably antique! haha). I throw it in the dryer to fluff it back up, but have never washed it. Just Febreezed it ocassionally. It is a feather pillow, and is so thick with feathers it weighs almost 5 lbs. I have never found another pillow like this, which is why I still have it! It could really use washing, but have never tried it. What do you think the chances of it surviving a washing machine? lol.
ReplyDeleteI always buy news one, but this ideal is great. Will try it in a few weeks!
ReplyDeleteI was mine too! Love the fresh smell.
ReplyDelete