We often talk about cleaning and replacing our mattresses, but when should we do the same for our pillows? It’s recommened that we get anywhere from 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night and for teenagers up to 10 hours. That equals to 2,555 to 3,650 hours of time we spend on a pillow.
Your pillow doubles in weight over time. Why? Dust, sweat, mold, bacteria, dead skin cells and body fluids get into our our pillows. Disgusting right?! All of those things could make us wake up feeling pretty crummy because we are sleeping on a filthy funky pillow.
Lets talk about washing and drying our pillows. You should wash your pillowcases weekly and your pillows every 3 months or at the change of each season. Wash them in a mild unscented detergent on a warm to hot setting. You can also add a half cup of baking soda and one cup of white vinegar to get rid of any lingering smells. It’s a good idea to rinse your pillows twice. Make sure you dry your pillows on a low setting and make sure they are completely dry to prohibit mold and bacterial growth.
Also Related: Reasons to Switch to Essential Oils for Cleaning + DIY Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe
To protect your pillows invest in a good protector. They cost around $10 to $15 dollars depending on what kind you want and need. You can also do a simple test to let you know when to replace your pillows. Fold your pillow in half. If it stays folded it’s time to replace. If it flips back over into its original position, then your good.
We also like our linens and sheets to smell good. Stay away from the chemical laden fabric refreshers and disinfectant sprays because they can cause contact dermatitis, respiratory problems and many more problems. Making your own linen and room spray is very simple. See recipe below. In the meantime get to washing those pillows and replace them if necessary. Happy sleeping!
Do you have any tips for keeping other areas of your house fresh and clean?
DIY LAVENDER LINEN AND ROOM SPRAY
MATERIALS
2 tablespoons of witch hazel or vodka
6 tablespoons of distilled water
15 drops of lavender essential oils (you can use your favorite scent)
4 ounce spray bottle
Jar or bowl for mixing`
Small funnel
(I used a glass liquid measuring cup therefore I didn’t need the funnel or mixing bowl/jar)
Directions
Combine the witch hazel or vodka and the essential oil and mix thoroughly because the essential oil won’t mix with just water. Add the mixture to the water and mix well. Pour into your spray bottle. Spray on linens, sheets, mattresses or use as an air freshener. Store in a cool dark area. Enjoy! (Do a patch test to make sure the solution doesn’t stain)
2 Comments
Christine St.Vil
June 21, 2016 at 10:13 PMOMG Rita, I’m officially disgusted and ready to throw out all of our pillows (except for the two we just bought last week lol). WOW, I had no idea. Thanks so much for the tips and I can’t wait to make this room spray!
Rita
June 21, 2016 at 11:19 PMYou’re so welcome. I had to throw out a couple as well . You’ll love the room spray.