How to wash pillows
Most traditional pillows — so those with feather, down, cotton, wool and fibrefill — are machine washable. Pop two pillows in the same load (this helps circulate detergent and balance the load) and wash them on a cold or warm gentle cycle every three to six months. You may want to run a rinse or spin cycle afterwards to ensure all the detergent is removed, then dry according to the care instructions.
If they can go through the tumble dryer, use a low heat setting, unless your pillows are filled with feathers/down, in which case use a no-heat setting. You can also air-dry pillows but be sure to choose a warm day and either hang them on the line or lay them out in the sun.
However, a lot of modern pillows are filled with latex or memory foam which often have different washing instructions (and it’s these options which tend to be more beneficial for neck pain). These pillows generally come with machine washable covers — just unzip and chuck them in the machine according to the label instructions as needed. Every three to six months is probably a good wash schedule to stick to.
Why do pillows turn yellow?
Yellow-tinged pillows are usually the result of a build-up of moisture, be it from sweat, drool, skincare products, oils and even wet hair. Try to limit the amount of moisture your pillow is subjected to by ensuring your sleep environment is cool, going to bed with dry hair, giving your skincare time to sink in before your head hits the pillow and addressing any issues you may have that lead to drooling — for example grinding your teeth, allergies or breathing through your mouth at night.
Other things you can do to prevent your pillows from turning yellow include using a pillow protector and a good quality pillowcase — we love Piglet in Bed’s linen options — to help prevent moisture ingress.
How often should you change your pillows?
We audibly gasped when we first heard you’re ‘supposed’ to replace your pillows every one or two years. That feels incredibly frequent (and not to mention decadent) when you factor in the cost of some of the best pillows. But different fill types plus how much use your pillows get all factor into how often you should change your pillows, so really there’s no hard and fast rule.
Generally, you should be able to tell when you need to replace your pillow, as it will no longer be offering you adequate support. However, memory foam pillows should last longer (phew — see below for more on this), and many brands that offer adjustable fill levels sell extra filling separately, so even if your filling goes flat, if your cover is in good nick you can keep the pillow for longer. Hurrah!
How long should memory foam pillows last?
Expect your memory foam pillow to give you at least two years of nightly use. Check whether it needs replacing by folding it in half and seeing if it springs back or stays folded. If the latter, it’s time for a new one. Likewise, swap it out if it gets lumpy or you start waking up with neck pain again.
How many pillows should you sleep with?
Yes, carefully stacked rows of pillows look gorg atop your carefully-chosen bedspread, but really, no matter what your sleeping position, you should only be sleeping with one pillow. In order to maintain the best posture and support, if you sleep on your front, your pillow should ideally be on the thinner side, while back and side sleepers can opt for thicker options — side sleepers can also up the firmness and place a pillow between their knees to aid hip alignment too, if that’s comfortable.
What is the best rated pillow?
Women’s Health UK found the Emma Original Pillow and the Simba Hybrid Pillow the best pillows for neck pain with adjustable fill levels, making them ideal for years of use and any sleeping position. We also found the REM-Fit 500 Cool Gel Pillow the best memory foam pillow as it moulds to support your head, no matter your sleeping style.
