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Written by Jill Zwarensteyn, Editor
After a busy workday, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as resting your head on a soft, comfy pillow.
Whether they’re a new purchase or your long-time favorites, fluffy pillows are an excellent way to optimize the comfort of your sleep space for better rest throughout the night.
Although these products can lose their fluffiness over time, the good news is that you can bring them back to life with some simple DIY tricks. In this guide, we’ll show you the different ways to fluff a pillow so that you can continue having the best sleep experience possible.
To Fluff or Not to Fluff
Sleeping on the right pillow is about more than just preference; It can impact your physical well-being also. When you purchase a new pillow, you need to consider the item’s loft (height) and how firm it is so that when you sleep, your spine is resting in a relaxed, neutral position. This is critical because added pressure on the spine due to poor posture could exacerbate back and neck pain.
After regular use, the fill inside these products can flatten, which could affect your spine’s alignment. By making sure your cushions stay full and fluffy, you have a better shot of keeping chronic pain at bay.
How to Make Pillows Fluffy Again
Since back and neck pain can impact your daily life, taking steps to prevent pain from developing or worsening is a journey in the right direction.
Use Your Hands
When it comes to re-fluffing your bed’s head support, one of the easiest tools to use is your bare hands.
Start by placing the pillow on your lap. You’ll then push the cushion in and out repeatedly. For the best results, do this for 30 seconds on both the long and short sides.
After completing that, you can also try hitting your pillow to help expand the fill. Lay the item onto your bed, put your hand into a fist, and punch the pillow until you begin to feel it swell up again.
Massage Your Pillow
A good massage can work wonders for us humans, and they’re also helpful at making our bedding look and feel good as well. This next maneuver is especially useful if you find your pillows have significant lumps in them that need to break apart.
You’ll first locate the chunky areas inside the cushion. Then you’ll massage them thoroughly. The goal is to break up the pieces of fill so that they can spread out more evenly.
This should not only increase the loft but improve the overall feel of the pillows.
Place it in the Dryer
For many folks, their time and energy are limited, and they’d rather apply a different method altogether. In that case, let your dryer do the work for you.
Before placing the cushions in the dryer, though, you need to check the tags on them to make sure they can safely go in, and then follow the directions accordingly. Most manufacturers recommend dryer-safe pillows be placed on either a no-heat or low-heat setting so that you avoid burning the product.
This can also be done in conjunction with washing your pillows if you so choose.
Get More Info: How to Properly Wash Your Pillows
Use a Tennis Ball In A Sock Method
To amplify the fluffing impact of the dryer, it’s a good idea to throw in another item to knead the cushions while they’re in there. A tennis ball should work well since it’s hard enough to pound the pillow and should help break apart any clumped-up fill. Simply place a tennis ball inside a sock and then add it into the dryer with your pillows.
Fluff Pillows in Dryer Without Tennis Balls
Not everyone will have extra tennis balls around the house, so if that’s the case, there are other objects you can use instead. Clean flip flops or shirts rolled into balls should also do the trick. For those with young children, you could use a stuffed toy, which is convenient since the dryer can also fluff-up the toy at the same time.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that whatever item you use must be dryer-safe.
Fluff the Pillow Outside
Another tactic to consider is giving your pillows some much-needed fresh air. Not only is this a great way to help make them fluffy again, but it’s also good for ridding them of bacteria and foul odors. Prior to trying this method, though, make sure the weather outside is dry and sunny.
After running them through the dryer or using one of the hands-on methods mentioned earlier, place your bedding outside in the sunlight for several hours. The outside airflow should help promote separation among the pieces of fill and expand your headrests.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the right time to replace your pillow?
As much as you love your pillows, you’ll reach a point when all the fluffing tricks in the world won’t be enough to return them to their optimal state. To know when it’s the right time to replace your pillows, there are specific things you can look for.
Dents and bumps are tell-tale signs it’s time for a new pillow. You can also squeeze the pillow on each end to see whether the cushion returns to its normal shape, and if it doesn’t, you’ll know you need a new one.
The great news is that fluffing your pillows on a regular basis, however, should help them last longer.
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Jill Zwarensteyn
Editor
About Author
Jill Zwarensteyn is the Editor for Sleep Advisor and a Certified Sleep Science Coach. She is enthusiastic about providing helpful and engaging information on all things sleep and wellness.
Combination Sleeper