One man’s passionate soliloquy to his *disgusting* yellow pillow has kicked off a tirade of discussion online about pillow hygiene. Yes, people are up in arms.
“Gf is mad at me because I have revealed to her The Yellow Pillow. Fellas, i’m sure you all know that this thing is magic,” he posted online alongside a photo of the offending pillow.
“It’s not my fault the pillow is yellow and bestows upon me the most peaceful slumber,” he added.
Naturally, the comments went wild with men who couldn’t help but agree with the Twitter poster’s pillow plight (say that three times, quickly!)
“Part of being a man is using the same pillow since the age of 10 and never washing it,” one commenter wrote.
“I got rid of my yellow pillows maybe a year ago and I legit haven’t rested comfortably since,” another added. “I’m going to go spit and sweat on my pillows until they’re comfy again.”
Meanwhile, away from the Mojo Dojo Casa House, women were readying their own asides on exactly why yellow pillows are the literal definition of horrendous hygiene.
“Do none of you use pillow protectors?” one woman asked incredulously in the comments. Another added, “There is no excuse for a yellow pillow.”
However, it’s not quite the clean-cut gender divide one might think. “My wife is the yellow pillow person. She’s had it since she was a teenager, it weighs 4x as much as any pillow should and she gets mad when I tell her I don’t want that evil thing on our bed.”
So – we couldn’t help but wonder. Is a yellow pillow bad for you? And what can you do to clean the pillow you love so much? Here’s what you need to know.
Why Are ‘Yellow Pillows’ Bad?
There’s nothing wrong with the colour yellow in general, but when it comes to pillows, the issue is what yellow represents.
Pillows turn yellow when they come in contact with moisture from your body or bedroom over time. So, it’s absorbing all your sweat, drool, wet hair, the tea you accidentally spilt and just wiped off. All that matter, dust, oil and liquid builds up in the pillow, festering inside the material and turning it yellow.
Essentially, a yellowed pillow may suggest that it is harbouring bacteria and potentially allergens.
How Often Should You Wash Your Pillows?
Considering that you sleep an average of eight hours a night (hopefully), seven days a week, that’s a grand total of 56 hours a week on your pillow. So nearly 3,000 hours a year.
Pillow cases attempt to protect the pillows from too much sweat and bacteria leaking through, but the often thin material can’t stop all of the moisture.
As commenters on Twitter have suggested, getting a pillow protector to put under your pillowcase can be a great way to extend the life of your pillow and ensure you can wash it less. But the good news is that washing pillows is actually pretty easy.
Experts like Martha Stewart suggest that you replace your pillows every few years, and ensure to wash it every six months or so.
How To Wash Your Pillows?
It’s always best to read the care labels on your pillow to ensure you’re giving it the right treatment, depending on whether it’s natural, polyester or foam filled.
1. The Washing Machine
Contrary to popular belief, many pillows can actually be put through a classic spin cycle in your washing machine. This may be the easiest option for those who are short on time, but is not suitable for all types of pillows, such as foam.
If you’re using the machine, be sure to put them on a good spin cycle (maybe even twice) before you put them in the dryer to ensure that most of the moisture has escaped.
2. The Spot Clean
If you have a type of pillow that does not like the washing machine, like foam, it might be better to spot clean with a damp cloth and some fabric detergent.
If only spot cleaning, you may need to replace your pillows more frequently.
3. The Bath Tub
If you’re looking to do all your pillows at once, you can opt for the bath tub or sink method. This is essentially hand washing the pillows and then allowing them to dry. Ensure they are fully dry all the way through before using again and be sure to rinse the pillows well after they have laid in your fabric detergent infused bathwater.
Yellow pillows, begone.
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