They support your head while you sleep, and they’re a key player in a polished-looking bed – but when compared to bigger bedroom pieces, pillows can seem insignificant. So even if you’re the type who regularly deep cleans the house, it’s easy to forget about cleaning your pillows. You’re probably washing your sheets and pillowcases on a regular basis, but let’s face it – those fluffy, feather-filled sacks (which absorb oils from your hair and skin!) also need some TLC. Keep in mind that not all pillows can be cleaned the same way – down and feather-filled ones require different methods than the decorative accent pillows you have around your home. It’s not laborious or time-consuming – just follow our tips and tricks for foolproof pillow cleaning that will leave them looking like new! While we’re at it, we’ll throw in some good tips for cleaning your pillowcases too.

 

USE A WASHER AND DRYER FOR DOWN AND FEATHER-FILLED PILLOWS

Both down and feather-filled pillows can be machine washed on a delicate cycle and then placed in the dryer to tumble dry. However, make sure they’re completely dry to prevent the feathers from producing mildew. We also recommend leaving the pillows out near a window or warm radiator for a few hours before returning them to the bed, just to be certain that the interior filling is completely dried out. This goes for travel pillows too! Their synthetic stuffing tends to create mildew if left damp inside the pillowcase, so only wash the pillow if completely necessary (like you spilled your in-flight drink on it). Otherwise, you should be fine with a simple refresh.

SPRITZ WITH VODKA BETWEEN WASHINGS

Vodka – it's not just for Moscow Mules! You only need to wash your pillows every six months to a year, and vodka is a quick-drying sanitizer so it's perfect for giving your pillows a refresh when you're changing the sheets. Simply fill a spray bottle with vodka, spritz your pillows, and let dry. These will dry faster than when you do a deep clean, so you’re not risking the chance of mildew.

SPOT CLEAN DECORATIVE PILLOWS

For more decorative pillows (like those on your sofa or guest bed), they should be spot cleaned as needed, but the appropriate cleaning technique depends on the type of material each is made of. Since these pillows often have appliques and fabric that should not be machine washed, spot removal is the way to go.

Try using Nellie’s All-Natural WOW Stick to lift stains out of the fabric by rubbing the WOW Stick on the stained area, and then agitate the stain under water. Let air dry.

WASH PILLOWCASES WEEKLY

When it comes to washing pillowcases, we suggest a weekly (and perhaps twice-weekly during the hot summer months) machine wash with Nellie's All-Natural Laundry Soda. If your cases are made of cotton, flannel, synthetic, bamboo, or modal, wash them in hot water. If your pillowcases are linen, silk, or sateen-weave cotton, choose the gentle cycle and a cold-water wash. For both, dry on the low setting with your Nellie's Lamby Wool Dryerballs.

 

A Healthy Baby Starts with Safe Products

Here at Nellie's, we're often asked what the difference is between Nellie's Laundry Soda and Baby Laundry Soda. All of Nellie’s All-Natural products don't contain any harsh ingredients and are formulated with sensitive skin and the environment in mind. However, sometimes babies are unavoidably messy! That’s why we added a concentration of sodium percarbonate for natural brightening, along with a pure vegetable soap base so you don’t have to add any additional whiteners or brighteners. Its stain-fighting power is effective on cloth diapers and even removes baby's stubborn stains like milk, baby formula, and spit-up. The formula, derived from plant-based and mineral-based ingredients, is hypoallergenic, gentle on baby’s soft skin, and leaves no residue or fragrance in the fabric.
Regular, chemical-based detergents can leave residue in your fabrics that can lead to irritation or a rash on sensitive skin. They often contain long lists of ingredients that require a degree in chemistry to pronounce, along with irritating fragrances that can dry out skin. Nellie’s All-Natural Baby Laundry Soda has just 5 simple ingredients to effectively clean your laundry without irritating baby’s skin or damaging the environment.
 

Skip the Bleach and Switch to Oxygen

Bleach is often the first product most of us think of when we need a product that can brighten white clothes, remove stains, disinfect objects, and more. It may get your clothes and linens looking bright, but it poses dangerous risks for your health and the environment.
Bleach is a chlorine-based corrosive substance, and even when it has been diluted it can cause burns, irritation, and damage home surfaces. Since bleach is strong enough to kill even the worst bacteria, it makes sense that it poses a danger to those who use it and anyone exposed to it. It can be especially harmful to infants, young children, and pets because their immune systems can’t fight off the harsh chemicals.
The serious effects of bleach can include skin burns, respiratory problems, damage to the nervous system, asthma flares, headaches, and vomiting. Bleach is not only toxic to humans, but to animals and our environment! It's a known contributor to water pollution. When it makes its way into our water systems, it reacts with other minerals and elements to create a host of dangerous toxins that can take years to break down. Even the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has banned the use of bleach in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and schools. We should do the same in our homes!

Thankfully, Nellie’s All-Natural Oxygen Brightener brightens your whites and penetrate stains without hurting you, your family, or the environment. The power of oxygen strips away dirt, grit, odor, and grime. The chlorine-free formula is color-safe, septic safe, hypoallergenic, environmentally-friendly and biodegradable, like all of Nellie’s products.
Why powder? Liquid detergents are made up of at least 50% water. At Nellie’s, we don’t believe selling you water and moving water around the planet is a very good idea. The fact is, more cleaning power can be packed into a smaller space using powder.