In spite of being hypoallergenic and safer than traditional pillows, memory foam pillow is still prone to accumulating dust mites, dead skin and sweat. To stay healthy and enjoy a restorative sleep, you have to deep clean your pillow on a 2-month basis. Fresh spills have to be addressed immediately, unless you want them to set in the foam. Read on to get yourself familiar with the best methods of cleaning memory foam pillow.
Spot cleaning
If you prefer enjoying your refreshing drink or hot beverage in bed, sooner or later your memory foam pillow will end up with a spill on it. In this case, you have to act promptly and get the stain out until it managed to dry and set in the foam. Here are some tips to follow when dealing with a fresh stain.
How to remove a mild stain
First of all, remove the pillowcase to make the cleaning process easier and prevent the further absorption of the spill into the foam. Take a dry towel and blot the stain to soak up as much moisture as possible. Then mix warm water with mild detergent to create a sudsy solution. Dip a clean cloth in it and gently scrub the stain in circular motions starting at the outer edges of the stain and moving to its center. Repeat the process until the dirty spot comes off and your pillow is as clean as new.
How to remove blood/wine/urine
Such tough spills as blood and red wine may be a hard nut to crack for a soapy solution. You will have to bring into play other products that prove more effective in dealing with difficult stains. So how to wash memory foam pillow that has just gotten a wine or blood spill?
First things first, use a cloth or paper towel to absorb as much liquid as you can. Since wine is hard to remove from fabrics, you are recommended to use single-use paper towels. Then sprinkle some drops of hydrogen peroxide on the stain and let the bubbly reaction unfold. Once the bubbles have disappeared, spray the area with cold water and gently scrub with a toothbrush. Keep rubbing until you see no traces of blood or wine on the pillow. Allow the pillow to air dry.
In case of a pet accident happened just on your pillow, use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide (1cup), baking soda (2tbsp), and vinegar (1tbsp). Apply the solution on the urine and leave overnight. If on the next day the odor persists, consider a new round. Once both the stain and the smell have gone away, blot with cold water and let air dry.
Deep cleaning
You are good to perform a deep cleaning of your memory foam pillow every two months to rid it of sweat and dead skin cells. A deep cleaning is also recommended for removing tough stains that haven’t been addressed on time and got stuck in the foam. Here is how you do it:
1. Fill the bathtub with water
For starters, get a tub half-full of cold water. Do not use hot water, as it will negatively affect the shape of the memory foam. Add some mild detergent and agitate with your hands to lather up the water.
2. Immerse the pillow
Immerse the memory foam pillow in the soapy water and slightly sqeeze it to allow the water penetrate the foam fully. Squeeze repeatedly to make the grime disappear. Do not engage in powerful wringing, as it is a sure way to foam damage.
3. Rinse the pillow
Once you have given your pillow a deep clean, drain the soapy water and refill the tub with cold water. Add the pillow and gently squeeze to force the soap out. Squeeze the pillow for the last time and move on to the drying procedure.
4. Dry the pillow
Place the pillow on a dry towel, roll it up and press to make as much liquid as possible pass from the foam onto the towel. When the towel is soaking wet, unroll it and replace it with a dry towel, repeating the process. Allow some minutes for the absorption to take place properly. Then remove the towel and let the pillow air dry. The process may take up to 24 hours. The drying time will depend on the pillow size, room ventilation and amount of moisture stuck in the foam.
Avoid using the pillow while it’s wet. The wet foam is a great environment for mold growth, so you are better off waiting until it’s completely dry. If you have the possibility, you can speed up the pilow’s drying by hanging it on a clothing line outdoors. Also, you can use the blow dryer. Make sure to use only the cold air option, as the hot setting will harm the foam. Leaving the pillow under a ceiling fan is also an option.
Deodorizing
If there is a smell that bothers you — either of sweat, pet urine or off-gassing — let baking soda solve it. Remove the pillowcase and sprinkle baking soda on the pillow. Allow 3 hours for the powder to neutralize the odor. Once the time has passed, vaccum the baking soda.
How to wash memory foam pillow in the washing machine?
Putting the foam memory pillow into the washer is a not a good idea. First of all, the spin cycle distorts the shape of the foam. Secondly, your pillow gets waterlogged, given memory foam being extremely absorbent. You are best off giving up on the idea of throwing your pillow in the laundry and use the aforementioned hand-washing methods.
Bottom line
So how to wash memory foam pillow without damaging it? First rule, forget about machine-washing. It will reduce the longevity of your pillow and the quality of your sleep. Cleaning the pillow by hand preserves the foam in good condition and reduces the drying time, given less water absorbing into the pillow during the cleaning session. Follow the instructions listed above to tackle any kind of stain and extend the lifespan of your pillow.
