Keeping it clean: Fight germs by washing pillows
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
It鈥檚 that time of year again when illness seems to invade homes, prompting everyone to clean bedclothes and other surfaces to avoid spreading germs.
Don鈥檛 forget the pillows.
鈥淎t least once a month, toss your pillows in the dryer. It鈥檒l take care of some germs and freshens the pillows,鈥� said Pam Howarth, of Menallen Township, a retired family consumer science teacher for Uniontown Area School District.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 sickness, go ahead and wash the pillows with regular detergent,鈥� Howarth continued. 鈥淚鈥檝e even washed them with bleach 鈥� use half a cup.鈥�
Washing pillows can be an important step in the fight against germs.
The Pennsylvania Dept. of Health noted on its website that flu viruses spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
鈥淐oughs and sneezes produce virus-laden droplets that can spread up to three feet through the air. Flu also can be spread when droplets from a cough or sneeze land on objects like doorknobs, light switches, etc,鈥� the department explained. 鈥淚f others touch the objects and then touch their own mouth or nose (or someone else鈥檚 mouth or nose) before washing their hands, the virus can be spread.鈥�
The department also noted,鈥漎ou can pass the flu to someone else both before and while you are sick. Adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.鈥�
So when changing the bedclothes after someone is sick, toss the pillows into the washing machine.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 do more than two pillows at a time,鈥� recommended Howarth.
She said one washing is good enough to clean and rinse out any detergent from the pillows.
鈥淢achines today are so efficient they pretty much take care it, and then take the pillows straight to the dryer,鈥� said Howarth. 鈥淭he heat takes care of a lot.鈥�
If worried about pillows lumping, Howarth said, 鈥淎 tennis ball will help. It makes noise but it helps.鈥�
Howarth said if a sick child lays down on the parents鈥� bed, wash those bedclothes and pillows as well.
鈥淵ou think you鈥檙e okay if you wash things in the kid鈥檚 room and then a week later, you鈥檙e sick,鈥� said Howarth, adding, 鈥淲hen someone鈥檚 sick, use separate towels and launder them every day.鈥�
Wash decorative throw pillows as well as bed pillows.
鈥淓specially if there鈥檚 sickness, do the throw pillows,鈥� noted Howarth, stressing, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good idea to wash afghans or anything that may have come in contact with a sick person. Wash all of their stuff 鈥� don鈥檛 forget where they鈥檝e been.鈥�
Use disinfectants on countertops and door handles and deep clean the bathroom. Howarth advises mixing a half cup of bleach with two gallons of water.
Sofas might call for spot cleaning, depending on the fabric with Howarth recommending holding on to care booklets to learn how to specifically clean furniture.
Washing pillows regularly is also a good idea to keep them fresh.
And Howarth observed that no pillow lasts forever.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why they go on sale in January and even in the summer. There鈥檚 a reason for that,鈥� said Howarth. 鈥淎 pillow should be replaced every two to three years. People don鈥檛 do it because it鈥檚 an expense or they don鈥檛 want to get rid of it because it鈥檚 broken in.鈥�
But Howarth said old pillows can also cause sleep problems.
She stressed. 鈥淎 good pillow means a good night鈥檚 sleep.鈥�