If you’re using a pregnancy pillow, you’re eventually going to need to wash it. These steps will ensure that you can wash your pillow while maintaining its structure.
Check The Size, Material, And Filling Of The Pillow
If you’re planning on washing your pregnancy pillow—which, at some point you will—there are several things to take into consideration.
First and foremost is size. Imagine filling your washer with water and adding detergent, only to find out your pillow doesn’t fit in the washer. Talk about a bummer. Can the pillow fit in the washer, and if it can, how big is it? Should you add a blanket to the load or is it big enough to be washed on its own? Once you have that figured out, move on to the next step.
The second thing to consider is the material and the filling. Some material can be a pain in the butt to work with. For instance, if your pillow has little styrofoam beads, you want to take into account that if it tore, beads would cover the inside of your washer. That’s one mess you don’t want to clean up.
The next question is if your pillow comes with a detachable cover. If it does, you might simply be able to wash the cover if the pillow itself is still clean. The less work the better, right?
More Information About The Different Types of Pregnancy Pillows You Can Find Here
How To Machine-Wash Your Pregnancy Pillow
Once you’ve taken everything into consideration, it’s time to pop that baby in the washer and press start. But before you do, check the care/wash instructions on the pillow. It’s always best to follow those instructions.
If your pillow has a zipper, make sure it is fully zipped up to ensure none of the stuffing falls out while it’s washing. Bonus mommy tip: use a safety pin to keep the end of the zipper closed.
Wash your pillow on the gentle cycle using cold water, if you decide to use a washing machine to clean it. Avoid washing it with other clothes and don’t use bleach. It’s advisable to rinse it an extra cycle to make sure the detergent isn’t absorbed into the material. Some pillows will hold onto the detergent. Also, be aware of the detergent you’re using. Sometimes, pregnancy can mean more sensitive skin and you might break out or develop an irritating itch if the detergent is too fragrant.
How To Hand Wash Your Pregnancy Pillow?
Washing your pillow in the washing machine might seem like the easier choice, but sometimes it’s not the best choice. Depending on the material and the care instructions, it might be better to wash it by hand. It might sound like a pain, but it’s really not that bad.
First, you’ll need to gather your supplies:
- Two or three large tubs
- Detergent
- Towels
- Scrub brush
Once you have your supplies ready, you’ll fill the tubs with water—one with warm and one with cold. Now, you’re ready to begin.
Submerge your pillow in the water. You can use your hands to knead the pillow or gently massage it. If you have a small stain—say, you spilled some of your chocolate shake that you’d been craving on the pillow—you can use a gentle scrub brush to help remove the stain.
Possibly the most important step in the process is the rinsing. You’ll want to squeeze the water out of your pillow. Wring that sucker out with as much force as your little pregnant fingers can handle. If you’re using a third tub, wring it out over the tub. If you’re only using two tubs, then you can wring it out elsewhere, such as the bathroom tub if you’re washing it in the bathroom. If you’re washing your pillow outside, you can wring it out in the grass. Either way, you don’t want to squeeze dirty water into your cleaning bins.
Place the pillow in the bin with cold water and continue to wring it out until the water runs clear.
Once your pillow has been cleaned, pat it dry with your towels. Because most pregnancy pillows have absorbent material, it can take a while to dry. Consider hanging it outside to dry if it’s a sunny day. Don’t forget to rotate your pillow periodically, so that you can dry each side of the pillow.
Can You Put Your Pregnancy Pillow In The Dryer?
You can absolutely dry your pillow in the dryer, assuming it states so on the tag. Just make sure to dry it on medium or low heat on as gentle a cycle as possible. Your pillow might have plastic that can melt if dried on high heat, not to mention it could shrink the cover if dried separately.
