By now, we all already know that dump and warm conditions promote the rapid growth of bacteria. As such, sleeping on a wet pillow is one of the fastest ways to introduce bacteria to your beddings. This is fuelled by the fact that you will emit heat to the pillow. How do you make sure your pillow is dry?
Can you put your pillow in a dryer? The answer depends on the material of the pillow. Feather and memory foam material tend to catch fire first and they can be damaged by the heat in the dryer, hence, they shouldn’t be dried in the dryer. However, you can put other regular materials in the dryer. When pacing your pillow in a dryer, it is recommended you put it on a low heat setting for a long time rather than a hot setting for a short period. Doing this makes sure that the pillow loses all its moisture; therefore, avoiding problems like odor and clumping.
There is more to putting your pillow in the dryer. This article will focus on how to dry your pillow in a dyer, how to dry your pillow without using a dryer, how to dry a memory foam pillow, how to dry a feathery pillow and other pillow related issues. Keep reading to learn more.
How to Put Your Pillow in a Dryer
Step 1: Place at most two pillows in the dryer, be careful not to overload it since pillows expand after drying.
Step 2: Set the dryer to a very low heat setting or the air-dry setting for a dry cycle. Note that under very high heat, the fibers of pillows can break and the entire pillow can fall apart.
Step 3: Place tennis balls into white socks and add them to the dryer. The balls will bounce around with the pillow and keep the filming from clumping when they start drying. Having done this, the pillows will come out fluffy. Putting the tennis balls in clean sock helps to prevent any lint from forming on the pillows.
Step 4: Since the dryer is in the low heat setting, allow it to run for 45 minutes to one hour. This means that the pillow will need to run through several cycles before it can be completely dry. Therefore, after each cycle, take out the pillow and shake them to avoid clumping and ensure they remain fluffy.
Step 5: After the pillow has gone through all the cycles, give it a big hug or squeeze to feel if it is entirely dry. Alternatively, if you do not suffer from allergy reactions, you can sniff the pillow to make sure no foul smells are left behind.
Step 7: Lay the pillow out in the sun to help get rid of musty smells or any other moisture left behind. It also helps to cool the pillow once it is out of the dryer
Step 8: Pat the pillow to look for any damp spots especially in the middle of the pillow. In case there is the slightest chance the pillow is still damp, you can run it in the dryer again. Do this until you are convinced your pillow is completely dry.
Drying a Pillow without a Dryer
What if I do not have a dryer, well there is no need to stress; you can dry your pillow without placing it in a dryer
For this method, you can dry your pillow either indoors or outdoors. However, choose a sunny dry day for the best results. If you choose to do it outdoors, make sure your pillow gets maximum sunlight. For indoors place your pillow next to the window for it to be exposed to light.
Moreover, if you do it indoors, be keen to protect all your electronics by moving them away. You can also move the carpet to make sure it doesn’t get wet from the pillow. Here is the procedure for outdoor drying.
- Place the pillow on a clothesline to dry the moisture. If your pillow is too heavy to hang, place it in such a way that a large surface area is exposed to sunlight
- If you choose to lay your pillow fat on the ground, make sure you regularly check on it to turn it. You should also feel it to check any lumps that may have formed and shake the pillow to avoid clumping
- Even for the pillow on the cloth line, check on it, shake, and massage the pillow to avoid clumping.
What about a Memory Foam Pillow
For starters, you should not place a memory foam pillow in dyer unless you are looking to budget for a new pillow. Due to the components that make memory foam pillows, drying these pillows require a keen precision and a lot of caution.
First, the components of a memory foam pillow tend to break down quickly once they are exposed to the high heat emitted by a dryer. This means, if you put your memory foam in the dryer it will lose its shape and comfort.
Second, material constituting memory foam easily catches fire. Therefore, the heat-induced by the dryer could easily cause the pillow to catch fire and result in a fire hazard.
To avoid all these you can just air dry your memory foam pillow and continue enjoying your good night sleep. The following is the procedure to air-dry your memory foam pillow
Step 1: After washing and rinsing your memory foam pillow you will note that, it tends to hold on to a lot of water like a sponge. However, do not attempt to wring it since you may end up causing it to crumble
Step 2: Lay the memory foam outside in direct sunlight and leave it to dry. Make sure the ground you place your pillow is clean and has no potential stains. You can also place it on a clothesline if possible
Step 3: Check on the pillow regularly as you turn it to make sure all sides dry properly
Step 5: When picking your memory foam pillow check by pressing it to see if all the moisture had dried out. If the moisture is still there repeat the procedure from step two.
If you are looking to air dry your memory foam pillow indoor, place it in a well-ventilated room and follow the procedure above as required.
That said thou, there is a slight exception of drying your memory foam in a dryer. In this case, you can only dry your memory foam pillow in a dryer if the dryer has a no heat setting and a tumble dry option. The point is to make sure the memory foam dries without exposure to even the slightest amount of induced heat.
Also, for this option be keen, do not dry your memory foam pillow with other clothes that have zippers or buttons.
Drying Feather Pillows
Just like memory foam pillows, a feathery pillow can be damaged when exposed to heat from the dryer. Therefore, the best way to dry your feathery pillows in a drier is by setting the drier on a no heat or air-cycle only cycle.
Although these two cycles may take longer, they are the safest option to see through that your pillows dry without destroying the feathers. The following is the procedure for placing your feathery pillow in a dryer
Step 1: After rinsing your feathery pillow properly, squish it using towels. Place the pillow between two towels and press it down. Do not wring or twist the pillow to avoid clumping.
Step 2: Once all the excess water is absorbed by the towels place the pillow in the dryer
Step 3: Set the dryer on a no-heat cycle. The no-heat cycle may take several cycles for the pillow to dry, but as mentioned before, it is the safest option. After each cycle, remove the pillow and shake it to make sure that clumps do not form. It also ensures the pillow maintains its fluff. When shaking your pillow hold them by the corner, repeat the same for each side of the pillow
Step 4: Place tennis balls into a sock and add it to the dryer. Balls help in the drying process and they ensure the pillow remains fluffy. Alternatively, you can add a clean white towel to the dryer to help soak any excess moisture
Step 5: Once you remove the pillow from the dryer lay it in a well-aired place to cool down. It also helps to lose any excess dampness
Step 6: Hug the pillow tightly as you feel if it is completely dry. If it is not, you can put it back to the dryer.
Related Questions
How often should I wash my pillow?
It is common to see arguments about how often you should wash your pillow considering that it has a pillowcase. However, the fact is, even with pillowcases, pillows are still a good breeding site for bacteria and mites as well as dust especially when dirty. As such, it is recommended to wash pillowcases at least every two to three weeks; pillows should be cleaned every 3 months.
What if the pillow falls apart? Well, to be honest, the concern is less about the longevity of the pillow and more about your health and safety. So wash your pillow every 3 months only then shall it be of good use. If you notice your pillow falling apart, it might be time for a replacement. It is recommended you replace your pillow every 3 years.
Can I dry my pillow with clothes in a dryer?
No, you should not place your pillow and clothes together in the dryer. For starters, as seen above, pillows require low heat for them to dry without damage. Clothes on the other side may vary according to their fabric. That means that while your pillow could dry after a number of cycles, your clothes may still be damp.
Other than that, clothes tend to have buttons and zippers. These two are not good when drying your pillows especially mattress foam pillows. This is because most zippers and buttons tend to conduct heat that may damage the pillow.
Also, the pillow may be stained by lint produced from the different colors of clothes. To sum it up, dry your pillows and clothes separately.
Related Article:
Are Pillow Cases Necessary?
The 5 Best Pillows For Sleeping In A Recliner
5 Best Pillow For Bad Posture
How To Wash Pillows In Your Washing Machine?
