One of the significant parts of house maintenance is cleaning all decorative items, such as rugs, curtains, and pillows. These items are aesthetically pleasing and functional but attract a lot of dirt and dust. Mainly used for transforming a place into a cozier zone, throw pillows should be thoroughly looked after to ensure your home always remains fresh, clean, and hygienic.
For those of you wondering whether or not you can wash your throw pillows or throw pillow covers, the answer is yes. The method varies depending on the materials they are made from.
In this guide, we will learn different ways and methods to take care of your throw pillows that are beautifully covered in delicate fabrics such as silk and wool.
How Often Should You Wash Your Throw Pillows?
How often you should wash your throw pillows depends on whether it has a removable covering or not. If your pillows are always covered, take out the removable covering and wash it about every two to four weeks or more if you use them regularly. Also, you must clean the filling at least once every other month to ensure it is free of bacteria and dust.
If, however, the pillow is without a removable cover and you use it as it is, make it a point to clean it once every month.
Should You Toss the Throw Pillows in The Washing Machine to Clean?
Always read the label before tossing the throw pillows in the washing machine. Look for the removable stuffing and check whether it requires regular cleaning or dry cleaning. Remember, wetting a dry clean-only pillow can damage the filling and cause it to clump and lose shape. Here’s what you need to remember:
Pay Attention to Care Label
When you decide to clean your decorative pillows and covers, always begin the process by reading the manufacturer’s care label. They provide clear instructions on how you should wash throw pillows as well as the cover and whether hand washing, dry washing, or spot cleaning is the preferable cleaning method for it. Read the below-mentioned steps to wash throw pillows of any kind:
If you are stuck with a pillow with no instructions, then first determine the fabric your pillow is made of, then search for the ideal washing instructions to clean that material. This way, you won’t harm the pillows in any manner.
Separate The Pillow from Its Cover
Most decorative pillows have two parts, the pillow insert, and the outer removable cover. Always separate the two before you proceed with the cleaning, as they are made from different materials and fabrics and hence need separate attention and care.
Spray any stained areas with a color-safe pre-wash spray for better results. You can use a damp cloth or a sponge to rub the spray into the stain. If you can’t separate the two, you must wash the whole pillow.
What Are the Different Types of Cleaning Used for Throw Pillows?
Washing throw pillows may seem intimidating at first, but it is a simple task that anyone can do. To ensure your pillows turn out amazing and do not become a clumpy mess post-cleaning, read the washing instructions carefully before starting the process.
How to perfectly clean the throw pillows depends on the type of throw pillows you have. Let’s look at the different methods of cleaning the pillow efficiently.
Sponge Cleaning
Sponge cleaning is perfect for pillows that aren’t machine washable. Just grab your pillow, insert it in a good quality upholstery shampoo water and use a sponge to begin the process.
Sponge the shampoo into the material using circular motions and clean the decorations, edges, and other delicate parts of the fabric. Once the stain is perfectly gone, blot it with a clean towel till it is nice and dry.
Spot Cleaning
Dry-cleaning and spot-cleaning are very similar processes and are ideal for delicate materials like silk, wool, or velvet. Decide on the type of cleaning you require to choose between both. If the stain is small, spot cleaning should be enough as it will preserve the delicate trims and fabrics and will not cause unnecessary friction and rubbing.
Take a bowl of warm water and add a few drops of mild detergent. Mix them until it becomes soapy. Then dip the cloth in the mixture and rub off the stains on your pillow. Once you are done and satisfied with the results, blot the excess soap residue and let the fabric air dry.
Machine Washing
It is the most common method of washing throw pillows as it is highly convenient and delivers superb results. Machine washing should, however, be used with caution as it can permanently damage the pillow and ruin delicate fabrics.
If the pillow inserts and covers label say they are machine washable, clean them on a gentle wash setting and always use mild detergent and warm water. Always rinse the pillows twice to ensure all the soap and grime are perfectly out of the cover and the spongy insert.
What Are the Best Ways of Drying Throw Pillows?
Drying
The first and most important advice is to follow the instructions mentioned on the label. Just ensure the fabrics aren’t delicate like silk and wool, as they have a high chance of shrinking if exposed to high heat. If the pillows and the inserts are machine washable, you can toss them in your front-load washing machine to dry them.
Also, always tumble-dry using no heat; you can use tennis balls or dryer balls to ensure the pillow’s shape stays intact inside the dryer. Otherwise, hang the pillows using heavy-duty clothespins in a well-ventilated area.
Before using it or placing it back on the furniture, ensure the insides of the pillow insert or the foam is completely dry. Damp pillows increase the risk of mold developing, which is the last thing you would want your delicate pillows to succumb to.
Also, avoid putting foam pillows in the dryer, as excessive heat can ruin the foam. For such pillows or fabrics, air drying should be your best bet.
Fluffing or Reshaping
No matter how careful you are or how much caution you exercise while washing and drying your pillows, their shape can still be distorted. Therefore, once it’s completely dry, reshaping is extremely necessary.
Fluffing is the best option to do that.
Take the pillow in your hand and push and pull the inside fabrics to squish it perfectly. Repeat the process with every side, top, bottom, left, and right. Fluffing loosens the inside material and helps return your pillow to its original shape. If you still think your pillow hasn’t gained enough volume, your insert or pillow stuffing might still be wet. Consider placing it in the sun for a few hours to see it plumping to its best.
Also, you can use this method to dust your pillow every other day. This will keep them smelling fresh and beautiful for a long time.
How To Keep Throw Pillows Clean for Long?
While washing the pillows once in a while is extremely important, you should not be doing it every other day. It will cause unnecessary wear and tear on delicate materials leading you to replace them much before you want to. Follow the tips mentioned below to keep them clean and fresh for a more extended period:
- Just like you vacuum and dust the carpets and sofas, run the duster over your pillows. It will remove dust, dander, and other accumulated debris from the pillows.
- Try and use throw pillow covers for added protection. They are easier to maintain and can be cleaned by throwing them in the machine effortlessly.
- Keep delicate pillows out of reach or in less-used areas to avoid daily use.
Conclusion
There are a plethora of different types and styles of throw pillows, and just like their varied types, their cleaning methods and techniques are also unique.
We know how throw pillows effortlessly add class, comfort, and personality to your couch or bed and add an extra layer of comfiness to any setting they are placed in; it is necessary to keep them clean and hygienic at all times.
Also, if you wish to keep snuggling with your bedroom throw pillows and want them to last forever, you must take care of them and keep them clean.
Hopefully, this guide will help you make that process more manageable and make your life comfortable.