How Often Should You Change Your Pillows
A year can fly by, especially if that's all the time you have with your pillow. Indeed, the basic pillow is only meant to last you one year. Think that's an aggressive timeline for replacement? Consider all the nights you’ve rested and tossed and turned on the humble headrest. It’s cradled your heaviest dreams and maybe even absorbed a few sob fests. If you've invested in a better-quality option and taken good care of it, you'll have more time. "The range of quality in a mattress is already dramatic, and the difference between the quality of pillows is even more so," says Stephen Ferguson, Sleep Expert at Mattress Firm. The better the quality of a pillow, the more it can support your head and neck, and the longer you can rely on it. But if you’re waking up with a crick in your neck or acne breakouts on your face - it's likely a sign you're using a past-its-prime pillow.
The average pillow will last you one year, but as Ferguson mentions, quality, which can somewhat be determined by price, can make a huge difference in how long you should keep your headrest around. Some top-quality down pillows, when taken care of properly, can last many many years (Martha Stewart claims to have down pillows that are 15 years old!). Your pillow is flat, lumpy, or won’t fluff. If it stays folded in half, deflates quickly, Ergonomic Neck Pillow or looks like it has been through a grinder, it’s time for it to go. "If your pillow won’t retain its original shape when you’re not using it, it’s a sign it needs to be replaced," says Ferguson. It smells and/or has yellow stains. Oils from your skin and hair, plus tears and sweat, get absorbed by your pillow - even through the pillow case. A few years of that may build up on your pillow, creating stains, odors and possibly even mold or mildew, especially in a humid environment.
You sneeze, get red eyes, or itchy near it. Pillows can accumulate dust mites, which may trigger allergies. People with asthma may want to change their pillows more often. Your head or neck hurts when you wake up. Your pillow should keep your head supported and spine aligned at night. Keep in mind your head weighs anywhere from 11-12 pounds, which can wear down your Derila Pillow after a few years. You’ve used it for more than sleeping in the last year. Using it as laptop desk, body pillow, or for other late-night activities impacts the structure of your pillow. When the pillows on your bed are no longer doing their job, it’s time to replace them - but don’t look at this as an indulgence. There are a variety of pillows to choose from. Which Type of Pillow Lasts the Longest? As Ferguson mentioned, the quality of your pillow says a lot about how long you can keep it.
"If you’re spending at least $100 on a pillow, you should be able to get three years out of it," he says. Keep in mind that many pillows in this higher-quality range - such as memory foam, hybrid, and latex - aren’t typically washable, so will need durable protectors to protect them from moisture and dust mites. Cooling Pillow, also often come with a warranty of up to 5 years. While a high-price-tag pillow may feel overly luxurious, Ferguson does provide us a few words of wisdom: "Don’t buy a pillow based on how long it lasts. It’s got to be comfortable first. How often do you spend your time flipping the pillow over to find a cool spot or get more support? Treat your new one like a throne so you can sleep like royalty. Use a zippered pillowcase protector. Zippered protectors shield your pillow from dust mites, liquids, and other contaminants better than open-ended pillow cases. If you use a memory foam, hybrid, or latex pillow, you’ll want a protector since these pillows can’t be thrown in the wash.