You spend a significant portion of your day in your bed, so naturally, you want your surroundings as clean and comforting as possible. But how do you wash your bedding, like pillows and quilts at home? Read on to find out everything you need to know about the topic and become a bedding washing expert with our help.
How to wash pillows and quilts in a washing machine
Just like your clothes, your bedding needs regular cleaning too. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to wash pillows and quilts in a washing machine.
1. Check label
Read your garment’s fabric care label, and see if it can be washed in a washing machine. Your item may have special embroidery or delicate parts, and if that’s the case, then you’ll want to hand wash them.
2. Sort
Similarly to regular clothes, washing dark colours together with light ones can result in colour bleeding, so sort your items before you toss them into the washer.
3. Wash
Set your washing machine to the hottest temperature your garments can tolerate according to their care label to kill most germs and dust mites. If you have a bedding or duvet setting on your washer, it’s certainly the way to go. Use Ariel Matic Liquid Laundry Detergent for the best laundry results. There are top-load and front-load versions of this laundry detergent depending on your needs.
If you’re washing pillows, make sure you wash at least two of them at the same time to balance out the machine. Be careful not to overload the machine, though. This is also true for comforters, duvets, and quilts. If you have enough items that might overload your washer, take some of your items to a laundromat.
4. Dry
As soon as the cycle is finished, take your bedding out of the washer, and hang it out to dry.
5. Iron
To kill any remaining germs and dust mites from your sheets for example, iron them, unless advised otherwise by the care label.
When and how to wash pillows and quilts by hand
If you opt for hand washing your bedding, follow our guide for the best results.
1. Check label
Just like when you’re washing with your machine, you need to check your garment’s fabric care label to see the maximum temperature your item can tolerate when washing.
2. Fill up a tub
Pour water into a tub or large container, and watch out for the correct temperature. Silk items, for example, require colder water than cotton or synthetic materials.
3. Add detergent
Use Ariel Matic Washing Powder or Ariel Matic Liquid Laundry Detergent depending on your preference, and make sure it’s evenly distributed in the water.
4. Wash
Submerge your items in the solution, and knead them for about five minutes. In case they’re extra dirty, you can even leave them in the soaking solution for a little while.
5. Rinse
Use cold water to rinse your items until the last bit of detergent is gone.
6. Dry
Squeeze your items to get rid of any excess water, and hang them out to dry as you would after a machine wash.
How to remove stains from pillows and quilts
To remove different stains from bedding, like pillows and quilts, simply create a soaking solution of water mixed with Ariel Matic Liquid Laundry Detergent and submerge your items in it for 15 minutes. When the time is up, wash them as usual.
If you believe spot treatment is sufficient, then simply pour the liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse it off under cold water.
How to dry pillows and quilts
When it comes to drying your bedding, air-drying them seems to be a great option. If your item is stuffed, like a pillow or duvet, make sure you reposition them every few hours to avoid uneven distribution of the stuffing while drying.
How often to wash pillows and quilts
Some items in your bed come into contact with your body more often than others, and these will require more frequent cleaning. Comforters are like this, and they should be washed every one to two months. Duvets and pillows are generally okay to wash two to three times a year.
How to wash and dry feather pillows or duvets
Feather pillows or duvets shouldn’t be washed at all, unless it’s an absolute emergency. The reason for this is that it’s very difficult to completely dry them, and it can easily lead to moulding. The best way to wash them is on a gentle cycle without any detergent. Once the cycle is complete, you should add them to the dryer if you have one, and use a low heat drying cycle. As soon as it’s finished, start a second, and maybe even a third one after that. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know if they’re 100% dry. Alternatively, you can take your feather pillows or duvets to a professional cleaner, and see if they can clean them for you.
How to wash and dry memory foam pillows
Memory foam pillows should be treated gently, so that the solid foam inside doesn’t get broken or damaged. You should use a bucket or tub with lukewarm (or even cold) water mixed with Ariel Matic Liquid Laundry Detergent. Submerge the pillow in this solution, and gently knead it for 10 minutes. Then rinse it under cold water, and gently squeeze the pillow to get rid of any excess water. Never wring it, as this can break its form. Drying memory foam pillows should always happen on a flat and ventilated surface. Make sure you avoid high heat or direct sunlight, because this can also cause damage to the foam.