Things that are indispensable in the home, such as pillows, can be divided into two categories: those that provide comfort and convenience for the body (for sleeping, for the back, for the neck, supporting pillows for pregnant women, massage, etc.).), and decorative. Despite the huge variety in size, composition and purpose, they are all made of certain materials that wear out, get dirty, lose their shape, and require maintenance during use.
But the most important thing about pillows is hygiene. It is especially relevant for rooms where there are constantly children, expectant mothers, people with various allergic reactions. Therefore, users often wonder if pillows can be washed, because this is the most common way to keep things clean. The possibility of hygienic processing at home is determined by the composition of the filler used to manufacture the product. It depends on him whether it is possible to wash the pillow in the washing machine.
Types of fillers
For those who do not yet know whether pillows can be washed in a typewriter, first of all, you need to decide on the type of filler. Depending on the nature of origin, they are natural and artificial.
Natural are subdivided into:
- of animal origin (down, feather, wool, silk);
- vegetable (bamboo, various herbs, eucalyptus, algae, buckwheat husks, corn, peas, cherry pits, etc.).
Artificial (synthetic) fillers are:
- volumetric (ecofiber, holofiber, hollow siliconized fiber and others);
- orthopedic (latex, polyurethane foam, gel, memoryform).
There are pillows with a combination of different fillers, for example, a soft down pillow or a silk one can have an orthopedic insert in the core.
Both natural and artificial fillers are widely used, each of which is good in its own way.
Briefly about popular fillers
Most often, consumers choose pillows with the following fillers:
- Bamboo. Unique material for its antibacterial properties.
- Buckwheat husk. High strength filler. Has an orthopedic effect, takes the shape of the body.
- Comforel (a lot of elastic balls). Good breathability, retains heat, does not absorb odors, resistant to biological influences.
- Swan down (artificial) - bulky polyester microfiber coated withsilicone. Has the form of balls. Forms a soft elastic structure.
- Polystyrene (balls). Is it possible to wash the pillow in the washing machine from this filler? Yes, but it is important to observe the temperature regime - not higher than 40 degrees. Balls stick to everything that touches them. Therefore, before washing, a pillow with a filler of this type is additionally placed in a bag of dense fabric and carefully tied. They do this to protect the machine from breakage if the pillow breaks and the filler gets inside the drum.
- Polyester. Restores shape after prolonged compression, does not absorb odors.
- Fluff. Very soft material, retains heat, quickly restores shape. The question of whether down pillows can be washed will be discussed in more detail below.
- Sintepon is a soft, short-lived material. Can these pillows be washed? According to the manufacturer's recommendation, this process should be carried out at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees, without the spin function, since the filler can stray into a lump. When washing a padding polyester, tennis balls are placed in the drum of the washing machine - they will not allow it to go astray.
- Fiberlon (plates). Breathable, quickly restore shape.
- Hollofiber (100% polyester impregnated with silicone impregnation). Soft, airy material keeps you warm. Does not absorb moisture and odors. Not hot. Withstands heat up to 70 degrees and can be spun after washing.
- Sheep wool. Eco-friendly material. Soft, breathable, excellent heat retention.
Which pillows are allowed and which are not?
Proper handling of the filler directly affects the durability and appearance of the product, ease of use and quality in general. But no matter how neat the operation process is, over time the fabric of the pillow gets dirty, dust accumulates inside it and conditions are created for the active development of mites. In the end, there comes a time when the product needs to be cleaned and washed.
You can wash pillows with organic filler of animal origin and synthetic. Products with vegetable fillers are not washed, but replaced with new ones. Cleaning orthopedic products is best left to professionals, especially memory foam pillows.
Can the pillow (down/feather) be machine washed?
Before starting the procedure, the product must be "disassembled". To do this, you should carefully open the bedclothes and remove the fluff (feather) from it. Arrange the filler in several pre-prepared fabric bags. This is to the question of whether the feather pillow can be washed. Given that a small volume will clean better and dry faster, they should be filled no more than 2/3 of the volume.
Can a feather pillow be washed without tearing? Small decorative items can be washed in their own pillowcase. As for pillows of standard sizes, it is better to use the above method of preparing the product for washing.
Before starting, it is important to choose the right machine program. It should be a delicate or hand wash withtemperature not more than 30 degrees. It is recommended to use liquid detergents designed for woollens.
To prevent fluff from sticking, you can put special laundry balls in the drum or replace them with tennis balls. It is desirable to set the number of rinse cycles as high as possible. If additional spin is possible, this function should also be activated. During the spin cycle in the washing machine, the filler will inevitably clump into lumps, which should be kneaded with your hands before drying.
Drying bags with fluff is carried out in the air, periodically turning over, shaking and whipping the fluff. It is possible to carry out drying on warm batteries. This filler dries for about 2 days. If possible, it is best to dry the feathers by taking them out of the bags and spreading them under the rays of the sun on a horizontal surface, covered with gauze. The more often you rake the feathers, the better. The well-dried filler is collected in a new thick coarse calico and sewn up. This completes the pillow update process.
Sheep wool pillows
Such products are very convenient and easy to use. Can sheep wool pillows be machine washed? Yes, but it doesn't need to be split. The pillow is laid in the drum of the machine as a whole. Select the mode for washing wool or delicate. The procedure is carried out at a temperature of 30 degrees, without spinning. At the end of washing, dry in the open air, under the influence of sunlight, in a horizontal position.
Latex pillows
Producers do notIt is recommended to machine wash latex pillows. Natural latex reacts to UV radiation and temperature. Having considered the properties of latex, it can be argued that washing in hot water with detergents will lead to a change in its properties. It is allowed to wash the latex by hand, without wringing. This only applies to 100% natural latex.
You can distinguish genuine latex from a fake by dipping part of the product into a container with a small amount of water. Natural latex does not absorb water, while artificial filler absorbs it like a sponge.
When hand washing, add a small amount of detergent to a container with warm water (not higher than 30 degrees). Gently wipe the surface of the pillow with a soft sponge and rinse with clean water. Dry the pillow with a towel. It is impossible to wring out in order to avoid losing the shape of the product. Dry hanging upright in a well-ventilated area, away from heaters and sunlight.
Synthetic pillows
Synthetic filling wears out over time, so before deciding whether to wash an existing product or buy a new one, it is advisable to check its quality characteristics. Putting a small object, weighing about 1 kg, on the pillow and removing the load after a while, you should evaluate the ability of the pillow to restore its original shape. If the dent remains, then it is better to replace such a pillow. If the test is successfully passed, then the next step is to try to determine the type of filler.
Data about him is most often placed on a label attached to the pillow, or contained on the accompanying product packaging. There may also be instructions on whether the pillow can be washed, in what way and in what mode. If it is impossible to establish such data, one should be guided by the general information from the manufacturer. We can assume that the mode for all synthetic pillows is the same, but in the absence of information about the filler, washing is allowed at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.
In the typewriter
During this procedure, the main thing is to choose the right temperature and set the appropriate mode. Previously, it was considered whether a feather pillow can be washed in a typewriter and how to do it. What are the rules for products with artificial fillers?
Manufacturers of synthetic pillows recommend washing with liquid detergents, since powdered products are poorly washed out of the filler. Do not use bleach to avoid damage to the structure of the filler.
Washing mode should be chosen gentle, suitable for synthetic fabrics. For some types of synthetic filler, it is forbidden to use the spin mode at the end of the process. Also, pillows with synthetic fillings cannot be twisted.
Dry such products in a well-ventilated area, away from any heating devices, laying them horizontally, periodically whipping and turning over. Do not dry in washing machine. The drying process can be accelerated by using absorbent wipes or cloths, howeverthis is not necessary at all as synthetic pillows dry quickly.
Manual
It takes a lot of effort to do a good wash by hand.
Having drawn warm water into a spacious container, it is necessary to dissolve liquid detergent in it. There should be enough water to completely soak the product. During soaking, the pillow is gently sunk, pressed with hands, taken out several times and turned over with the other side.
The washing process consists in moving the detergent between the elements of the filler structure by tapping the surface of the pillow with the palms of the hands. The duration of the process is 30-40 minutes. It must be remembered that the pillow must not be wrinkled or twisted.
At the end of washing, the product is rinsed with plenty of water. Rinse the filler well, just leaving it for a long time under running water will not work. It is necessary to rhythmically press on the pillow, intensively pumping water through the filler. At the end of the rinse procedure, let the water drain on its own.
To speed up the process, you can absorb moisture with a towel. The drying process is the same as described for the machine wash process.
Useful information
If at the end of drying it is noticeable that the synthetic filler has gone astray, then you can try to level it with your hands or lightly tapping with a beater. A radical method that allows you to get directly to the filler - to cut open the protective fabricand then comb the synthetics with a wide toothed comb.
When machine washing, it is recommended to wash two pillows at a time. This is necessary to evenly distribute the weight in the volume of the drum and increase the efficiency of cleaning products.
Conclusion
Having considered the question of whether it is possible to wash pillows made of fluff and other fillers, it is worth summarizing that in carrying out this procedure it is important to observe the temperature regime and the manufacturer's individual recommendations. The whole process will depend on the filler material.
