The answer might be more frequent than you think .
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You have yourlinen laundering scheduleunder command , but forgetting to houseclean this one item might be compromising the cleanliness of your home . We ’re talk about pillow , and according toMarla Mockof Molly Maid , theyshould be washed at least twice a year . Here , the cleaning expert sounds off on how to deal with pillows that are n’t machine washable , plus factors that want them to be lave more often .

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Marla Mockis the president ofMolly Maid , a Neighborly company . She is responsible for for the company ’s overall leaders and growth throughout the U.S.
Factors That Require More Frequent Cleaning
What ’s get going on alfresco is an authoritative index of how often you should wash your pillows . During warm seasons or in climates where heat and humidness are a factor , you should clean your pillow more often — Mock suggestsevery three months .
If allergy sufferer live in your dwelling house , you ’ll need to keep up with a more frequentcleaning schedulefor your pillow . “ Over time , pillows accumulate dust mites , bacteria , and allergen , which can affect your wellness , ” says Mock .
How you use your pillows can also contribute to a need for more frequent cleaning .
Pillow Types That Can’t Be Washed
While it ’s ideal to throw your pillows into the political machine twice a year ( or more ofttimes if you conform to into one of the categories mentioned above ) , certain fill types are n’t secure for political machine washing . Memory foam , latex , and gelatin pillow should all nullify automobile laundry , but that does n’t mean you ’re off the hook when it come to clean house .
Mock says hand - vacuuming and smear - cleaning with a dampish material should do the trick . Vacuuming is central for removing dust mite and allergens , while spot cleansing can help eliminate odour and other cleanliness issues .
Most other pillows , includingdown pillow , down choice , and polyester fill type , are usually safe for machine washing . Just be indisputable tocheck your pillow ’s attention recording label .
What to Know About Cleaning Pillows
Some Pillows Require Hand-Washing
For pillow that ca n’t be simple machine wash , Mock propose this summons :
Machine Washing Comes With Its Own Pitfalls
If your pillow are o.k. to throw into the washing , the cleaning process is much easy , but there are still pitfalls to quash . “ The biggest misunderstanding people make is throwing your pillow in with a small load of laundry , ” warns Mock . “ This can make your pillow to clod and damage more quickly in the wash . ” Instead , the cleaning expert recommends lave two pillow at the same time . This strategy will keep the pillow from becoming chunky .
Be Wary of Top-Load Washers
If you have atop - load washer , Mock says to place the pillow in the washer vertically to keep them from being damage . “ Be certain to register the care recording label before washing , and follow the instructions , ” she says . “ However , if the recording label is no longer on your pillow , wash both of your pillow at the same time in hot water on a gentle bike . ”
Dry Using the Proper Technique
While stick around on top of cleaning your pillow is crucial , secure they ’re properly dry is just as important . Mock says that most pillows can be dried in the dryer on the low heating system setting but , again , it ’s best to confabulate your pillow ’s care tag for undecomposed praxis . “ you may flip in a few tennis balls with the pillow when dry out to aid loosen up any clump - up stuffing from washing , ” she advises .