After you wash your pillows, it is critical that you are able to dry them. Dampness that is left behind can lead to mildew, bacteria, and even dust mites.
Drying your pillows without a dryer helps to keep your pillow safe from chemicals, and drying them in the rays of the sun can help to sterilize the pillow and fluff the feathers.
Continue reading to learn all about how to dry your pillows without a dryer.
How to Dry Your Pillows in the Sun
When you place your pillows in the sun, the rays can penetrate through the pillow and kill microbes and bacteria. Ideally, you want to lay your pillows in the sun on a breezy day that is cool and dry. This will help to evaporate all moisture while the pillows are sitting out in the sun.
Pillows will be dry in just a few hours on this kind of day. You need to make sure that you eliminate any lumps or cold spots by squeezing it out. You want to make sure that the distribution of the fill is even throughout the pillow, and it will dry more easily.
You should fluff the pillow every hour or so and turn it to make sure that it dries evenly. By making sure that the sun hits all of the sides of the pillow, you can be sure that it won’t mildew and the sun will completely disinfect it.
What to Do If You Need to Get Rid of Mildew
If you have not dried your pillow thoroughly, you might notice that it gets mildew. You may even think it is dry, but if you lock it away in plastic or you keep it stored in a humid environment, you will notice because there will be a musty smell.
This is another situation where you will want to lay your pillow in the sun to dry. The sun can kill the mold or mildew inside and dehumidify the pillow.
You should lay these pillows out on a dry and breezy day. You can also clip them on a clothesline, where they will have the benefit of the sun and the breeze. This allows airflow to dry the inside of the pillow.
You should leave them outside until they are completely dry, and make sure that you turn them over if they are laying flat. As long as there is low humidity and a nice breeze, you will be able to dry and disinfect your pillows.
The Importance of Eliminating the Lumps
When you wash your pillows or they get wet for any reason, they often get lumps inside. This happens when the fill clumps together. The problem is that the moisture makes the fill cling together, and it will retain its moisture.
Start by pressing the edges of the pillow and work your way toward the center. You want to knead the lumps to loosen them and even out the fill inside the pillow.
You should do this every hour or so while the pillow is drying. As it dries, it will be easier to work the lumps out.
Feather fill is lightweight, and it easily clumps. In fact, this can happen from simple humidity or perspiration, so you will want to regularly knead out the lumps so that the feathers will dry.
Benefits of the Sun for Your Pillows
There are many benefits of drying your pillows in the sun. The sun can help to dry your pillow, but there are other benefits as well. Take a look at the following:
- The sun can freshen up the pillow and leave it smelling great.
- The sun can bleach the pillow if there are stains on it.
- The sun doesn’t have any chemicals in it.
- The sun helps to maintain the resilience of feathers.
- The sun disinfects and whitens pillows with UV rays.
- The rays of the sun kill biological contaminants.
- The sun dries out the pillow so that organisms can’t live there.
- The sun leaves the pillow feeling soft and comfortable.
These benefits make the sun an excellent mechanism for drying your pillows. Not only will they dry and maintain their softness, but the sun can also keep them free of mildew, mold, and any other bacteria.
What Is the Problem with Using a Dryer for Your Pillows?
There are a number of reasons why you should not use a dryer for your pillows. First of all, the high heat in a dryer can be hard on delicate feathers. It can harm the quills or cause the oils to melt away. This will make it difficult for the pillow to fluff back up again.
Dryers can also damage your pillows by causing them to shrink over time. In addition, air drying your pillows is a green option. The dryer uses a lot of electricity and creates carbon dioxide.
The fact is that air drying your pillows cuts down on your electricity bill while preserving the quality of your pillows.
How to Dry Your Pillow When It Isn’t Sunny Outside
If it isn’t sunny outside, you may wonder how you can dry your pillows. The truth is that you do not need direct sunlight to dry them. On a cold day that isn’t damp, you will be able to dry your pillows because the air will cause the moisture to evaporate.
During the winter, humidity is usually low in the middle of the day. You can place your pillows outside around noon for a few hours. Just make sure that you bring them inside before the evening moisture comes.
You should make sure that your house is well-ventilated, and a dehumidifier can remove a lot of moisture from the air. Make sure that it is turned on if you need to dry your pillows indoors on a cold and rainy day.
What to Do with a Foam Pillow
If you have a foam pillow, the process can be a little bit different. These pillows cannot be dried in the dryer because the heat will break apart the fibers in the foam. The manufacturer usually indicates that you cannot put these pillows in the dryer.
The first thing that you should do when after you wash your foam pillow is squeeze as much water out of the pillow as possible. Foam pillows hold water similar to how a sponge does.
You should be gentle in squeezing the water out of the pillow. Don’t wring it or squeeze too tightly, or you might ruin the pillow.
Once you have gotten as much water as possible out of the pillow, you will want to lay the pillow flat on a dry surface to dry. The room should have good airflow, and it should be free of humidity. You can actually place the pillow under a fan to help dry it out.
Finally, you will want to turn the pillow over frequently so that it dries more quickly. If you leave it sitting on one side, it will hold water on the bottom.
Keep an eye on the pillow while it is drying, and turn it over when you need to.
How You Should Care for Your Pillow
It is important to take care of your pillow so that it lasts and stays fresh and clean. When you are sleeping, you can get dirt on the pillow, and you might perspire at night. It is important to make sure that you clean your pillow.
You should clean your pillows a minimum of twice a year, and more if you need to. You may not be aware of it, but your pillow can be covered in many things, such as saliva, sweat, bacteria, oils, mold, dirt, and fungi. All of these items can break down and find their way into your pillow over time.
You should fluff and air your pillow out every day. This helps you to keep the shape of your pillow and eliminate any dirt or debris.
You should take your pillow outside once a month and let it air dry for a few hours. You should choose a day that is dry and breezy.
When you wash your pillow, you should follow the instructions on the label. It isn’t too hard to clean the pillow, but it can be difficult to dry it.
If you have a stain on the pillow, you should spot treat it with a stain cleaner that is safe for pillows, and then you can wash it in your washing machine.
If you have a large washing machine, you can wash two pillows at a time, which will help to keep the machine balanced. Your pillow label will tell you what the appropriate setting is, and you should follow the directions.
How to Wash Different Types of Pillows
There are different types of pillows, and they require different cleaning methods. You will want to clean them properly so as not to ruin them. Take a look at the following:
Down or Feather Pillows: You can wash this type of pillow with a small amount of detergent. You do not want to use liquid detergent because it can penetrate the pillow and cause the feathers to clump. It can also leave a residue that will not come out.
Memory Foam or Latex: You normally can’t wash these pillows in a washing machine, but you can spot clean them. You should spot treat these pillows as necessary, and don’t wait and let them sit for a period of time.
Polyester: You can place a polyester pillow in the washing machine, and you can use a little bit of liquid soap. You should wash it on a gentle cycle, and try to wash two at a time to balance the washing machine.
Other Types of Pillows: If you have another type of pillow, you should read the label and make sure that you follow the directions. Pay attention to any directions telling you the best detergent to use.
Dry Your Pillows After You Wash Them
After you wash your pillows, you need to dry them thoroughly. If you leave any moisture or dampness inside, they can easily develop mold or mildew. You don’t want to use your dryer because it will not dry the inside.
The best way to dry your pillow is to hang it out in the sun. You should make sure that it is a breezy and dry day, which will help the pillows dry more quickly. If you have to lay the pillow flat, be sure to turn it over every hour or two.
If you have to dry it indoors, you can place the pillows next to a fan. The fan will help to push air through the pillow and dry the fill inside.
You can also place it near your air conditioning unit. You should massage the fill inside the pillow to make sure that it doesn’t clump up and retain moisture.
You can also protect your pillow by using a pillow cover. This will prevent it from having direct contact with dirt, oils, sweat, and other contaminants.
Final Thoughts
It is important to take care of your pillows so that they stay fresh and clean. Many people don’t realize that they should be washing their pillows twice a year.
However, you are not able to wash memory foam or latex pillows, so you will have to spot treat them.
Once you wash your pillow, the best way to dry it is out in the sun. It is ideal if you can hang it on a line so that air can flow through both sides. Make sure that you are able to massage the pillow to break up any damp clumps of fill inside.
If you have a memory foam pillow, you will need to lay it flat and turn it every few hours. You can leave it outdoors on a cool, breezy day, or you can place it under a fan or an air conditioning vent.
The key is to make sure that it is away from humidity or moist air. If you follow these steps, your pillow will be dry and fresh.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.