Spring has officially debuted in Tennessee and we’re ecstatic to have warmer weather and longer days ahead of us. Personally, I view spring as the best time of year to deep clean my home — there’s just something about the change in seasons and new life blooming (and pollen coating everything!) that inspires me to clean house. This means winter comforters get a nice washing before being stored away for colder days, windows are scrubbed to perfection, the kitchen “junk drawer” is reorganized, and, of course, every pillow in the house is washed, fluffed, and prepped for a new season ahead. Until recently though, I didn’t realize there was a “right” and “wrong” way to wash and dry my pillows! Today, I’m sharing a few tips, tricks, and how-to’s behind cleaning your pillows for spring.

Time to Bid Adieu?
One of the things I learned recently is that some pillows just need to go. As in: some need to leave your home and find a new place in pillow heaven. Dust mites, dead skin, airborne allergens, and general overuse all add up over time and there will come a moment for all pillows to leave their owners.

To determine if it is time to say goodbye to your pillow, first look at the age of your pillow. Some recommend replacing your sleeping pillow every six months, but generally (if you’re washing it consistently), you can look to keep the same pillow for about three years.

The next thing you can do is perform the fold-it-in-half test. To do so, simply fold the pillow in half and see if it springs back. If it doesn’t do so quickly, it signals old "insides" and that pillow probably need to go.

Finally, consider your comfort level. Have you noticed increased back and/or neck pain when you wake up in the morning? You know your body better than anyone and many times, an uncomfortable neck or back upon waking can point to the need for a new pillow.

How to Clean Your Pillows
Once you determine whether or not your pillows need to be disposed, you can move onto the cleaning process. I typically clean my bed pillows every 2-3 months and my decorative inserts pillows two times a year in higher traffic rooms (like my living room) and once a year for my less used spaces (office and guest room). However, when spring rolls in I like to make sure each pillow gets an extra deep cleaning.

The first and fairly straight forward tip is to always read the instructions on each pillow’s tag for instructions on cleaning. Some fill types require more specific steps to cleaning well, so it’s important to consider what’s best for each individual pillow.No tag? No worries. Here are the best ways to clean down feather and synthetic filled pillows:

1. Pillow Washing: Wash your pillow without other linens (this was one mistake I was making) on a delicate cycle with warm water, two rinse cycles, and two spin cycles. I like to add a cap full of bleach during my spring cleaning as well for an extra deep clean. Using two rinses ensures the insides of the pillow are thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, and two spin cycles helps speed up the drying process.
   
   
2. Pillow Drying: Some pillows clearly state NO dryers (which is why it’s important to read the tags if available), but if you can place the pillow in the dryer that would be my first recommendation. Set to dry at 60-minutes on a medium temp to start (a loftier pillow can sometimes take a bit longer). You can also toss in a tennis ball for extra fluffiness. Not able to use a dryer? Lay your pillow flat for 3-4 days in a low-humidity room to dry thoroughly before using.
   
   

And that's that! With newly washed pillows, you're well on your way to a home perfectly cleaned for spring!