How frequently should you change your pillows? There are well-documented advantages to this practice, such as reducing the accumulation of allergens and enhancing the quality of sleep.
Properly maintaining your pillows will contribute to a healthier bedroom environment. In addition to replacing a pillow, you should also be maintaining it, including washing, vacuuming, and spot cleaning, among other things.
How often should you replace your pillows?
It’s not a written-in-stone rule, but you should replace your pillows every 1 to 2 years. By replacing your pillows regularly, you ensure that they are clean, free of allergies, and supportive of your body weight. As well as replacing the pillows every couple of years, you should maintain them properly to ensure their longevity.
In any case, you should replace your pillows as soon as you realise they no longer provide the required comfort and support. You may need to replace your pillow if you wake up with neck pain or find the best sleeping position.
When your pillows begin to sag or form lumps, replace them. Once you notice excessive yellowing or when your allergies worsen, you should also consider buying new pillows.
In general, the durability of your pillow depends on the material. Some materials are more sturdy and durable than others. For example, a pillow made of latex may last three years, while a pillow made of polyester may only last one year.
If you purchase pillows made from top quality materials, they will last longer and need to be replaced less often.
If they are past that time, check out the list of the best pillows you can buy in the UK.
Also, if you’re waking up with pains and aches, it might be worth looking into getting more supportive orthopaedic pillows.
Benefits of replacing your pillows
Each night, your pillows accumulate dead skin cells, oils, sweat, makeup residue, saliva, and allergens. Getting a new pillow will start you off on a blank slate, so all the embedded buildup is gone.
Suppose you are allergy-prone and get a stuffy or runny nose, irritated eyes, itchy skin, etc. You can look into an antimicrobial pillow. These are highly breathable and help keep allergies at bay.
Most importantly, pillows are designed to support your head and neck as you sleep, helping reduce pressure in your neck muscle and enhance healthy spinal alignment. But if your pillow is flattened or sagged, it can no longer offer intended services. You will wake up feeling exhausted or sore.
If the above is true, you will benefit most from getting a new pillow.
Pillow care and replacement
While some pillows don’t come with care instructions, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take good care of them. If you want to prolong the lifespan, regular care is a must. Moreover, the material can direct you on how to take care of it. Thus it is vital to know the type of pillow you buy.
Generally, there are six types of pillows based on the material used. Each of these types comes with its unique care routine, as you will find out below.
| Type of pillow | Care routines |
| Memory Foam | Spot clean, hand wash every two months, air dry. Replace after every 2 to 3 years. |
| Down/Feather | Machine wash or dry clean. Use mild detergent, gentle cycle, warm water and run the rinse to remove detergent. Wash it every 3 to 6 months, replace it after 1 to 3 years. |
| Polyfoam | Spot clean, hand wash in mild detergent every 2 to three months, air dry, and replace after 2 to 3 years. |
| Latex | Spot clean and hand wash with mild detergent and warm water every 2 to 3 months. Replace after 2 to 4 years. |
| Buckwheat | Protect it with a washable cover. Replace the buckwheat hulls when they begin to sag, and replace the pillow every 3 years. |
| Polyester | Machine wash with mild detergent on gentle cycle and cold water. Use a dryer to dry on a low setting. Wash it after every 3 to 6 months and replace it after every 6 months to 2 years. |
| Pillowcases | In case of pillowcases, wash them once a week depending on the materials and replace them every 1 to 2 years. |