How to Tell If Your Pillow Is Dead
A restful night’s sleep depends on several factors, and the pillow itself is important. Pillows support the alignment of the spine and are an essential factor for comfort while sleeping. The thickness and firmness of the pillow you need or prefer will vary from person to person, but any pillow can harm your sleep once it dries up. Here are some signs that the time has come to trade this pathetic old pillow for a newer model.
How old is too old for a pillow?
Based on the timely replacement of pillows, Sleep Foundation experts recommend replacing pillows every one to two years, depending on the makeup of the pillow. Some pads do have an expiration date – according to the company a Land of the Sleep , have cushions of polyester has an expiration date printed on their tags. The Sleep Foundation says polyester pillows last for about a year and latex pillows last three. Of course, you don’t need to smash it right after the “expiration” date, but if you are past the expiration date the pillow has lost some structural integrity and this is probably a good time to start thinking about replacing it.
What does the pillow look or smell like?
Like sheets and bedspreads, pillows need to be cleaned regularly to avoid the accumulation of dirt and dust. When you sleep, your pillow absorbs substances such as sweat, hair, and skin cells, which can attract dust mites and worsen symptoms in people with allergies .
If your pillow has stubborn stains or an unpleasant odor even after regular washing, it means that sebum and dandruff have penetrated too deep into the pillow and you need a new one. As Jillian Kramer writes for MarthaStewart.com :
You don’t want to know what might be living in your pillow . But since you’re here, we’ll tell you. It is a mixture of insects, dead skin, house dust mites and their feces . Gross. (Pillowcases can be even worse. A study by Amerisleep found that after just a week, when the pillowcase had not been washed, it contained 17,422 times more bacteria than the average US toilet seat.)
How do you know if your pillow shape is not resurrected?
The shape of the pillow matters too. There are two ways to determine if your pillow shape is not repairable. First, check the lint: if a fluffed pillow doesn’t stay plump and doesn’t retain its shape even after it has been cleaned – or, unfortunately, it doesn’t ruffle at all, then it has exhausted itself. Second, the folding test : if you fold the pillow and it returns to its plush state, it still has life. If the pillow remains folded , it’s time to leave.
Just don’t be fooled if the flat pillow folds back, if it doesn’t pass the hairiness test – its days are over.
How does the pillow feel?
The pillows you have used often will start to feel a little different than the day you bought them. If the pillow is lumpy and you’ve tried the fluff test but the lumps don’t come off or ruffle, the padding has lost its integrity (and once that integrity is lost, it’s lost forever ) .
Another sign is how you are feeling: if you wake up with neck, shoulder, or back pain (or start having headaches when you wake up), a pillow may be the cause.
How to extend the life of your pillows
If you are working right now to buy replacement pillows and want to make sure you keep that one fresh for as long as possible, there are a few simple steps you can take. The best place to start is by purchasing a protective pillow cover . Like the mattress topper, the protectors completely cover the pillow and protect the pillow from absorbing sebum and sweat, and some even protect against dust mites.
Washing your pillows regularly will also keep them fresh; try at least two to four times a year, and you can wash two pillows at a time to keep the washing machine balanced, according to Good Housekeeping . You can also flip a pair of pillows so that one doesn’t wear out as quickly.