Absolutely! Keeping pillows fresh and white can feel like a challenge, but with the right technique, you can restore them to their original glory. Over time, pillows can turn yellow due to sweat, dirt, and natural body oils absorbed during sleep. This discoloration isn’t just unsightly; it can also harbor bacteria and allergens, making regular cleaning essential. Fortunately, the simple technique from One Good Thing by Jillee offers a powerful solution that uses common household ingredients for deep cleaning and whitening.
To bring back that bright white look, you’ll only need a few items likely already in your laundry room. The method calls for hot water, laundry detergent, powdered dishwasher detergent, bleach, and Borax. After dissolving these ingredients in the water, you add the pillows (two at a time to balance the machine) and let the washing machine do the work. This combination is highly effective at removing stains, dirt, and bacteria, leaving your pillows refreshed and noticeably whiter.
If you have a front-loading washer, you might not need to adjust the pillows as they’ll be rotated automatically. For top-load washers, though, it’s recommended to turn the pillows halfway through the cycle to ensure the cleaning mixture evenly saturates them. After the washing is complete, run two rinse cycles to thoroughly remove any residue. Then, dry your pillows based on their material: air dry for down or feather pillows and low heat for synthetic ones. Adding dryer balls (or tennis balls wrapped in clean socks) helps keep pillows fluffy.
With this technique, you can easily extend the life of your pillows and ensure a clean, healthy sleep environment. Give it a try to enjoy fresh, bright pillows without needing replacements. And if you’ve used this method, we’d love to hear about your experience!