Over time, pillows can lose their fluffiness and become flat or lumpy. Refreshing your pillows is an easy way to restore comfort and support for better sleep. Here are some tips for reviving pillows and making them fluffy again.
Wash and Dry Your Pillows
One of the best ways to refresh pillows is to wash them. Washing helps remove oils, sweat, allergens, and dust mites that build up in pillows:
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Check the care label – Some pillows are machine washable while others need to be handwashed or dry cleaned.
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Use a mild detergent in warm or hot water. Avoid bleach as it can break down pillow fibers.
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For machine washing, use the gentle cycle and add a couple of tennis balls to fluff the pillows during the spin cycle.
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Rinse well to remove all detergent residue.
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Air dry pillows in sunlight or tumble dry on low heat if the care label allows. The heat from the dryer helps reactivate the pillow’s fill material.
Washing pillows every few months keeps them fresh and fluffy.
Fluff and Reshape the Fill
For pillows that can’t be washed, fluffing and reshaping the fill can help:
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Place pillows in the dryer on air fluff for 10-20 minutes to help break up and redistribute the filling.
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Massage or knead the pillows to break up lumps.
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Fluff the pillows by shaking and pounding them.
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Use a clean tennis ball or rubber mallet to pound and fluff the pillow.
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Plump the pillows back to the desired thickness and shape.
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Let pillows air out in sunlight regularly to help keep them fresh.
This restores the loft and comfort of the pillow fill.
Consider Replacement Fill
Ifexisting pillow fill is too flat or clumping, adding new fill can refresh pillows:
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Polyester and feather fills can be purchased to refill pillows. Match existing fill type and density.
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Sew a split seam in the pillow casing or create a hidden opening to insert new fill.
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Mix half new fill with half old fill to plump up pillows.
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Add essential oils or scented potpourri to the fill for a pleasant aroma.
Replacing some or all of the existing fill makes pillows full and springy again.
My Experience Keeping Pillows Fluffy
I refresh my pillows every few months to keep them clean and comfortable. Here are some specific things I do:
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I machine wash my polyester pillows in hot water with fragrance-free detergent and add two tennis balls to fluff during the spin cycle.
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For my down pillows, I gently handwash them in the bathtub using mild soap and then let them air dry completely.
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Between washes, I use a fabric refresher spray and then tumble dry on air fluff setting to redistribute the fill.
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I also pound cushions and pillows regularly with a rubber mallet to break up lumps.
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About once a year, I will replace half the fill in my most used pillows to restore their loft and support.
Following these tips keeps my pillows clean, dry, and fluffy for better sleep!
Conclusion
With regular cleaning, fluffing, and replacement fill when needed, pillows can be kept fresh and comfortable for years. Washing and drying helps sanitize and re-plump pillows. Manually kneading, pounding, and reshaping restores loft. And adding new fill revives flat or misshapen pillows. By using these methods to refresh your pillows, you can enjoy the comfort of plush, fluffy pillows for nightly rest.
