As a general rule you should replace your pillow about every one to two years. The exact frequency in which you replace them will depend on the materials used in your pillows and the steps you take to care for them – more frequent washing can help to prolong the life of your pillows.
Depending on the material quality and type used to fill the pillow, it could need replacing any time between 1 to 10 years, or more. Just like your mattress, it's important to replace your pillows when they have reached the end of their lives.
Pillows usually last between 18 months – three years, with poor quality pillows often having an even shorter lifespan.
Pillows start to turn yellow due to a variety of factors, most of which involve the accumulation of moisture. Sweat, drool, wet hair, and even skincare products can contribute to yellow stains on a pillow. And these stains are more than just unsightly.
If your pillow can be washed, it should be washed at least twice a year. If you eat in bed, have pets, or sweat a lot, you should wash pillows quarterly. Special pillows like body pillows or throw pillows should be cleaned every 3 to 6 months. This is dependent on how, where, and how often they are used.
Over time pillows will build up dust mites and other allergens which can impact on your hygiene, the stuffing inside your pillows will also begin to flatten and sag which means you will no longer get the right support from your pillow and you may suffer from sleep disruptions.
Although luxury pillows may cost more than the average pillow, they are an investment. Since this type of pillow is often more durable, it retains its shape and has a longer than average lifespan. Luxury pillows are often made with breathable materials to help keep sleepers comfortable and prevent heat retention.
An old pillow can accumulate allergens like dust mites, fungus, mold, and pet dander. For some people, sleeping near those allergens can cause a runny or stuffy nose, itchy skin, and irritated eyes that may impact sleep quality.
In addition to regularly cleaning your sheets and comforter, you should also be caring for your pillows, mattress, and mattress topper. Pillows, especially, should be washed at least two to four times a year (say, every four months) to help them last longer.
In most instances, the Sleep Experts™ at Mattress Firm recommend replacing your pillows every one to two years, depending on the quality of the pillow and how you've maintained it and how you feel when you wake up. If replacing new pillows every two years or so sounds wasteful, that's because, well, it can be.
Over time, your pillow might become lumpy, which could affect your sleep quality. Lumps make it so only certain parts of the pillow are comfortable, meaning you might end up tossing and turning more frequently throughout the night. If your pillow is lumpy, then consider getting a new one.
Your bed is one of the most important pieces of furniture you own, and your bed sheets are the most important accessories. So, how often should you buy new sheets for optimal comfort? With this in mind, most experts recommend buying new sheets every two to three years if you're buying sheets of standard quality.
Shortness of breath while lying down.
To gauge the severity of this symptom, doctors often ask people how many pillows they need to lie on to avoid feeling short of breath in bed. For example, "three-pillow" orthopnea is worse than "two-pillow" orthopnea, because you have less tolerance for lying flat.
The bottom line: Sleeping with multiple pillows may seem like a supportive choice, but it could be disrupting your spine's natural alignment. For this reason, sleeping with one thicker pillow is generally the preferred option.
'The use of the additional pillow helps to limit rocking, which can cause stress on the lower back and hips and helps to keep the spine and neck straight and well-aligned. ' Similarly, a study by SleepJunkie revealed that 30.6% of participants sleep with two pillows.
Pillows can hold onto many types of allergens, from pet dander to pollen and mold. You can fight allergens by washing your pillow, but eventually you're better off just replacing it with a new pillow.
Why wash your pillows. While you sleep, your body sheds thousands of dead skin cells. They in turn attract dust mites, which, although harmless, do produce droppings that contain allergens. Letting these build up can trigger anything from asthma and rhinitis to itchy eyes.
Yellowing sheets are primarily due to body sweat and oils, including lotions we put on to rejuvenate our skin overnight, according to textile engineer Vikki Martin, vice president of fiber competition for Cotton Incorporated.
As a rule of thumb, if your pillow has a few yellow stains it is probably okay to keep sleeping on it. But if your pillow has turned completely yellow, or has developed some brown stains, it is probably time for a replacement.
If you wake up to a wet patch on your pillow in the morning, that drool is what is left of any excess saliva that escaped your mouth while you slept. We all produce saliva regularly, including when we sleep. View Source . People sometimes drool as a result.