How To Clean Memory Foam Pillow?

Memory foam has become extremely popular in the bedroom – whether it’s in form of a mattress, a mattress topper, or a memoey foam pillow.

Memory foam is naturally hypoallergenic, can prevent neck pain, and give you nice and cool sleep (provided your memory foam pillow is engineered to do so).

As great as it is, even a memory foam pillow cannot go without being cleaned, as dust mites, dry skin, dirt, or other allergens can gather on the surface (instead of going inside the pillow).

So read on to find out how to properly clean your pillow.

But first, what should you not do?

• Do not put your memory foam pillow in the washing machine
  Memory foam is very delicate, and the heat of the water combined with the tumbling will damage your pillow and render it unusable. 
  
  
• Do not put your memory foam pillow in the dryer
  As already mentioned, heat will permanently change the structure of memory foam. So, as tempting as it might be to speed things up, don’t subject your pillow to the heat.
  
  
• Do not wring the pillow
  When drying it and removing excess water, be careful. Handling it too harshly might cause the material to rip or damage in another way.
  
  
• Avoid hot water
  Using hot water will set a stain
  
  
• Avoid using harsh chemicals
  Using harsh chemicals like bleach can cause it to break down
  
  
• Do not use a memory foam pillow until it is completely dry
  If there is any moisture left in your memory foam pillow, you will soon experience mold and mildew growth, as a moist memory foam pillow presents a perfect breeding ground. 

How to clean your memory foam pillow properly?

What should you do if you have a fresh stain?

• Remove the pillowcase.
• Absorb as much of the liquid as possible by using a paper towel
• Make a mild cleaning solution. Mix laundry detergent, dish detergent, or diluted fabric cleaner with water. Then rub gently until the surface is clean.
• Let your pillow air dry, or use a hairdryer on low heat (make sure to always keep moving so as not to apply too much heat in one spot).

How to get rid of tough stains like blood, wine, or urine?

• Remove all covers
• Mix hydrogen peroxide with water and apply it directly to the stain and let it “bubble” until it stops. Then wipe gently with cold water
• Repeat the steps if necessary several times. You can also use vinegar and baking soda.
• Let your pillow dry completely.

How to wash a memory foam pillow?

To deep clean your pillow, instead of putting it into the washing machine, follow these instructions:

• Fill a bathtub or sink with cold water and mix in some mild detergent
• Put your pillow incompletely, and let it soak up the water, then squeeze it out.
• Drain the soapy water and fill the tap with clean water. Let the pillow soak it up and again squeeze until all the soapy water is gone.
• Leave the pillow out to dry and you are done!

What to do if your memory foam pillow smells?

Brand new memory foam products, pillows included, tend to omit a specific smell when first opened. This is called off-gassing as is quite normal. However, this smell can be perceived as unpleasant by some. The good news is, to get rid of it, it suffices to leave the product outside or by a window in the sun to air out.

If the smells are caused by something else, get some baking soda and sprinkle it onto the pillow. Leave the pillow in direct sunlight for 2-3 hours before vacuuming the baking soda off. If need be, repeat the process several times.

Another important thing you should do next to having clean sleep habits, is practice good pillow hygiene, by changing your pillowcases regularly. If you are prone to breakouts, see if switching your pillowcase daily shows any improvement – but once a week is a minimum!

How often should I clean my memory foam pillow?

Vacuum your pillow every time you change your pillowcase, that should be once a week. This will get rid of dust mites, dry skin flakes, or any other allergens that have accumulated.

Deep clean your pillow if someone in your household has been sick and was using the pillow, or at least every two months.

You might also wonder, how often should I replace my memory foam pillow? On average, a memory foam pillow will last you two to three years before it starts to break down. Make sure to frequently check your pillow to see if it still gives you enough support.

And always make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

But sometimes, even after we’ve tried everything to fix it, memory foam cannot be saved and simply needs to be replaced. If a stain has seeped into the pillow too far, and cannot be taken out again, consider buying a new pillow.

Now that you know how to clean a memory foam pillow, why not find out how to clean a memory foam mattress as well?

Or check out our collection of Pillows.

You can use the discount code SweetSleep15 on your next order to get a 15% discount. Don't miss out!