When to Replace Your Pillow

Along with your mattress, your pillow plays a big part in keeping your spine properly aligned while you sleep. Replace it regularly and you will keep enjoying calm, restful nights instead of waking up sore.

Every night your body sheds skin, hair and natural oils, and the pillow soaks them up. Over time that build-up can start to smell, though washing it regularly keeps the problem in check. Beyond the odor, those conditions attract dust mites. The tiny creatures add extra weight to the pillow and make it far worse at holding its shape. They are not dangerous, but they feed on skin flakes, which is unsettling enough.

Even if you deal with the tiny insects by washing regularly, there is still the matter of wear and flattening. That is easily solved by replacing your bedding from time to time, and a mattress store in Almaty with a huge selection to suit every taste can help.

As a rule of thumb, replace a pillow every 1-2 years. Some models last longer thanks to the quality and construction of their materials. The signs that it is time to replace your pillow are these:

• there are noticeable lumps in the foam or the filling;
• stubborn sweat and oil stains have set in;
• you wake up in pain, especially in the neck or shoulders;
• you wake up tired, because the aches above keep breaking your sleep;
• you are getting tension headaches;
• you sneeze frequently;
• you constantly have to plump it up to get comfortable.

Other factors that hint at when to change pillows, and that affect how long one lasts, are health conditions, allergies in particular. Different sleeping positions also call for different pillow heights so that the spine, neck and head stay level. If you have switched from sleeping on your side to sleeping on your back, you will need a new model with a different loft.

To get the longest possible service life, keep the outside in good shape: use a cover and clean it regularly. Check the care label about machine washing. Usually only pillows with a down or synthetic filling can go in the machine. The rest have to be dry-cleaned or spot-cleaned. All of these pillows are available to buy in Almaty at surprisingly friendly prices, and at the highest quality so they last as long as possible.

Add a pillowcase with a zip closure on top. That buffer helps stop excess skin oil from soaking in and keeps dust mites from moving in. If the pillow is filled with feathers or shredded material, fluff it daily so it holds its shape.