First, how to wash throw pillows?
Machine wash in warm water using a front loading washer on the delicate cycle. Use a mild detergent, and hang dry until mostly dry in a ventilated area. With a few dryer balls to help, fluff the pillows in a cold dryer.
I’ll give you more detailed instructions on how to wash throw pillows if you’ll just keep reading.
Table of Contents
How To Wash Throw Pillows?
It is essential to know how to wash throw pillows. Depending on how they are used, pillows should be cleaned every three to six months. To ensure a pillow can be machine washed, always read the care instructions on the tag. Dry cleaning may be necessary for pillows with down filling or those made of delicate materials.
Removing The Cover
For households with busy schedules where it may be necessary to frequently wash pillows, removable covers are a great option. They are available in the majority of standard sizes, and by noon, you can usually toss, wash, dry, and put them back on the couch. They also make it incredibly simple and affordable to decorate for a particular season or decorating style. Check out our articles on Boho throw pillows and beach-themed throw pillows for some inspiring examples of how to do this.
If you’re fortunate or intelligent enough!) to have pillow covers, remove them from the filler pillow, then launder according to care instructions.
Pre-treating Deep Down Dirt And Stains
You will need to wash the entire pillow if your pillows don’t have covers. Pre-treating any stains or embedded dirt is necessary first. Given that the pillows must be washed on the gentle cycle, this is very important. Pre-treatment may not be able to remove these stains, leaving your pillows permanently stained.
Apply a good stain remover to the area with a sponge, gently but firmly, until it is thoroughly saturated. As directed, let the substance soak into the fabric.
To remove stains without fading your fabric, try using a mild but effective stain remover like Dreft.
Machine Wash On Gentle Cycle
Putting your treated pillow in the washing machine is the next step, presuming the pillow tag indicates that it can be machine washed. Warm water and a mild detergent should be used for delicate washing. Any dirt and debris that were ingrained in the pillow should be removed after this.
Hanging To Dry
To avoid the stuffing becoming lumpy, hanging drying is preferred for throw pillows. Consequently, you might be able to dry in the dryer on low heat. To be sure, refer to the pillow’s cleaning instructions because some pillow stuffing may melt in hotter climates. To help the pillow maintain its shape, add a few dryer balls.
Fluffing
When your pillow is fully dry, fluff it by hand to return to its normal shape before placing it back on your couch or bed.
When Should Throw Pillows Be Laundered?
It’s crucial to remember your decorative accent pillows when cleaning your house. These beautifully decorated pillows are essential to the design of our homes and are frequently found in living rooms and bedrooms all over the world. If your accent pillows have a pretty, detachable cover, that will affect how frequently you should wash them. In that case, these pillow cases ought to be washed at least once a month. Additionally, the pillow’s interior filling needs to be maintained and cleaned at least twice a year.
Can I Simply Wash Them In The Washer To Clean Them?
“Mahdessian advises looking for removable stuffing and making sure it doesn’t need dry cleaning. “A pillow that should only be dry-cleaned may lose its shape and the stuffing may clump if it is wet.”
“Start by washing the cover in cold-to-warm water on a gentle cycle if the stuffing comes out. Mahdessian advises that the water should be as cold as the colors.
“If you’re washing the entire pillow at once, stick with a warmer temperature (you’ll want a thorough clean to kill germs and bacteria) on a delicate cycle, he advises. “Or, if your pillow is made of a particularly delicate material, just hand-wash it in warm water before letting it air dry.”
Tips For Cleaning Decorative Pillows
Reading The Care Label For Instruction
Checking the care label on the manufacturer’s throw pillows is the simplest way to find out how to clean them. Dry cleaning, hand washing with a mild detergent, or spot cleaning may be required for your decorative pillows. If the label for your decorative pillows does not specify how to wash them, look for the type of fabric they are made of and follow the cleaning instructions for that fabric.
Spotting Test The Fabric For Safety
Before using a chemical cleaner, it is wise to test a small area of your pillow or pillowcase. An approved cleaning solution for the fabric type you are cleaning can be used in conjunction with a white towel to accomplish this. Apply pressure to the white towel and cleaner and blot the pillow for 30 seconds. Next, look to see if the pillow has left any color on the towel. Check for any fading or discoloration once the pillow cover has dried.
Sponging Cleaning Works Wonders
Some throw pillows that are difficult to throw in the washer might benefit from a quick sponge cleaning. Simply purchase a high-quality upholstery shampoo and a sponge, then start by rubbing the cleaner into the pillows to get rid of stains. Make sure to clean the trim, embellishments, and other accents on the decorative pillows by sweeping in a circular motion. When finished, blot the stains with a fresh, white towel until they are nearly dry.
Removing Foam Pillow Inserts
Today, a lot of throw pillows are made from solid foam. You cannot properly clean foam insert pillows in the washing machine if you have them. After removing the pillow case, put the foam insert in a sizable bathtub or sink that is filled with warm water and a small amount of mild detergent. Thoroughly wash the foam, rinse, gently squeeze out any remaining water, and then let it air dry.
Drying Clean Only
This advice may be helpful if your decorative pillows say they should be dry cleaned. Dip a clean, dry sponge into a fabric-specific dry cleaning solution. The pillow should be cleaned in a circular motion. When finished, blot with a fresh, white towel to remove any extra moisture.
PayV Attention To Special Fabrics
Water cannot be used to clean pillow covers made of materials like suede, leather, silk, or wool.
Ways To Keep Your Throw Pillows Clean Longer
Throw pillows won’t require cleaning for a longer period of time if you regularly dust or vacuum them along with your upholstery. Additionally, using throw pillow covers in complementary colors makes it easier to clean them frequently, especially if they are machine washable because you won’t have to worry about dark dyes blending in with lighter whites. Finally, keep soiled throw pillows above ground and in difficult-to-reach areas where pets, children, and people’s feet won’t frequently soil them.
Advice For Drying Throw Pillows
The first rule of drying covers and throw pillows is to adhere to the label’s instructions. Generally speaking, if the pillow and case are machine washable, it is acceptable to dry at least the cover. Fabrics like cotton and denim are safe to dry in the dryer, but delicate materials like silk and wool will shrink if the dryer is set to a high heat setting.
If in doubt, always air dry or tumble dry without heat. To ensure that the pillow maintains its shape while drying, use dryer balls or tennis balls. Use heavy-duty style clothespins to hang dry pillows.
Till it feels dry to the touch, let it dry outside or in a well-ventilated area. In order to use it or put it back on your furniture, make sure the interior is entirely dry. Mold and mildew growth are more likely to occur if there is any moisture left in the pillow.
More than a few hours should be spent letting it air dry before finishing it in the dryer. To hasten the drying process, point a fan directly at your pillow. The shape of your pillows can change no matter how carefully you handle them during washing and drying.
Reshaping is typically required after it has dried. To separate the internal fibers, push and pull with your hands in an accordion-like motion.
This procedure should be repeated for the top, bottom, and both sides of the pillow. This method of reshaping helps everything regain its original shape by loosening up all of the filling inside.
Wash Throw Pillows In Front Loading Washer
It is best to wash pillows in a front-loading machine because you are less likely to experience balancing problems than with a top-load machine. Your pillows should be loosely placed inside the washer drum. They shouldn’t be crammed in there so tightly that the water can’t do its job of submerging them. Use warm water, a mild detergent, and a delicate cycle.
Wash Polyester Throw Pillows
The methods described above can be used to wash polyester pillows with one major modification. Because this kind of fill can retain soap, use a minimal amount of detergent. It only takes a tablespoon or so of liquid detergent to get the job done. Before drying them, make sure they have been thoroughly rinsed. If soap residue is not thoroughly rinsed away, it can oxidize and eventually cause your pillows to smell musty.
Spot Cleaning Your Favorite Throw Pillows
Older pillows with weak seams need to be spot cleaned in order to survive washing because the agitator tears the seams even on a delicate cycle. In between washings, other ones need to be spot cleaned. It’s also the best method for washing a body pillow that only has one or two stains.
Pour about one tablespoon of laundry detergent into a bowl of warm water to spot-clean your entire pillow.
A clean towel should be dipped into the cleaning solution, wrung out, and used to blot any spills. To rinse, submerge a second rag in fresh water, squeeze out the extra water, and then blot the affected area once more to get rid of any leftovers. Add a little vinegar to the mixture if the stains are particularly difficult to remove.
Clean Suede Pillows
Never use water to clean a suede pillow because the water will leave stains. The best way to clean suede is to brush the surface in the direction of the grain using a soft-bristle brush. Although a new toothbrush or manicure brush work just as well, we advise using a suede brush.
When cleaning a pillow with a brush that has been dipped in vinegar, look for common stains. On oily stains, sift cornstarch or another absorbent powder. For stains that are more difficult to remove, choose a suede cleaner.
How Can I Make My Pillows Feel Newer?
Start by fluffing your pillows every day to keep them smelling clean and fresh. Fluffing aids in removing any dust or dirt accumulation that causes a musty or unpleasant odor. Both commercial and homemade deodorizing sprays assist in getting rid of offensive odors.
Pillows that have been disinfected also retain their fresh scent. Your pillows can be cleaned by spraying them with cheap vodka, and since the alcohol evaporates so quickly, there is no chance of mold or mildew growing there. Additionally, vodka can be used to clean mattress pads, covers, etc.
How Am I Supposed To Keep My Pillows Cleaner Longer?
Throw pillows should be clean, but you don’t need to wash them every week. Pillows should only be washed once or twice a year. On delicate materials, frequent washing results in unnecessary wear and tear, which shortens the time between replacements. Fortunately, there are techniques to keep your pillows cleaner for longer.
Run your vacuum or duster over the pillows once a week as you clean the rooms they are in. Vacuuming gets rid of traces on the covers as well as dust, dander, and other loose debris from deep inside the cushions. To keep unwanted pests away, mist them with a DIY bed bug killer spray.
Always use throw pillow covers for added security. Simple removal and insertion into the washing machine make covers easier to clean.
Choose like colors to prevent separation before washing and the possibility of darker colors dying lighter ones. Keep delicate pillows out of regular reach or in locations that are only occasionally visited to avoid daily use.
Conclusion
How to wash throw pillows was the main topic of the post.
Throw pillows spruce up a space with color and texture while also improving the coziness of furniture. Pillows accumulate dust, dirt, spills, and oils over time. Throw pillows need to be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain the materials’ freshness and color.
I appreciate you reading.