Not to wash my pillows

[Pill0wTalk]

Just seen on ThisMorning that after 2 years, if unwashed, 10% of a pillow is made up of dust mites and dead skin etc.

Phil and a Holly looked disgusted at the thought of anyone not washing their pillows on a regular basis. I can honestly say, I've NEVER washed my pillows! Is it just me?

I probably wash my pillows once a year (or two - bit rubbish at remembering).
I only actually sleep on one - they sort of get rotated.
They're feather or down, & I haven't had issues with them going lumpy (probably the only thing I tumble dry, along with duvets).
I have very thick cotton pillow protectors - they get washed every couple of months, but must stop a lot of the eugh stuff!

@letsdolunch321

Replace mine every 6 months. Can't be faffing about washing them.

Replace duvets once a year, beds changed every week.

What do you do with the old duvets ?

If you beat them out, surely that would get rid of dust etc?

No to washing pillows, it wrecks them. I replace mine yearly.

Don’t wash them but mine are stained quite badly so need to buy new ones

I wash mine about 3 times a year, they don’t go lumpy which I’m thankful for as I’m quite attached to them and can’t be annoyed with the faff of trying to find new ones that are as comfortable!

I never did until I read the section on dust mites in Bill Bryson’s ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything.’ *

We were on holiday at the time, and the first thing I did once home was to wash our pillows (water in the machine was a muddy yellowish colour) and then vacuum our mattress. A mass of yellowish dust - nothing like normal dust - came out.

I could only deduce that our pillows and mattress must have been harbouring God knows how much dust mite poo for God knows how long, and wonder what weight of our dead skin cells they must have eaten to account for it.

A good wash and tumble dry of pillows is now routine every couple of months.

*Do not read it if you’re over-squeamish! I felt itchy for ages after reading that.

Our duvets go to the laundry once a year - too big for the machine at home.
Feather or down pillows come up beautifully after a good hot tumble dry.
If anyone wants to offload old duvets, your local dog or cat rescue might well like them. We took several old ones to the nearest Dogs’ Trust a few years ago, having first asked whether they’d like them.

What is everyone doing with their old pillows?? Is this all going to landfill??

Wash mine regularly and they come up fine.

Feather can be washed, non bio on a cool wash and tumble dryed.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER I made my mum (who is surprisingly MUCH cleaner in everything else) to hoover her mattress. She was shocked😂
I do it because DH has reactions and like this it's easy to keep it at bay. Hoover mattress and pillows every change.

@userxx I give old duvets to local kennels in my area.

[quote letsdolunch321]@userxx I give old duvets to local kennels in my area. [/quote]
Oooh, I didn't know you can do that! Lovely

@letsdolunch321 Brilliant idea, I've got a few in the loft and didnt want to just throw them away. I tried to give to a charity shop but they wouldent accept them.

I wash mine usually about once a year. They’re feather ones. Non bio and no fabric conditioner is fine.