I get asked all the time how to clean one of our wool pillows. Putting our wool pillows through the washing machine might ruin the wool inside, so I wanted to share an easier, gentler way to revive them—using your favorite natural cleaner and a little help from the sun.
Today I used Seventh Generation non-chlorine bleach and the winter sun to disinfect and revitalize the pillow naturally.
The pillow I’m using today is our popular Contour Pillow — this is the one most often recommended by chiropractors for extra neck support.
Why We Don’t Recommend Using A Washing Machine
Every pillow we make comes with its own care guide, and each one states that we do not recommend machine-washing the wool pillows, as this can felt and clump the wool inside. There are people who have had good success tossing their wool pillow in the washing machine—and we applaud them—but our recommendation is always spot-cleaning with an Earth-friendly detergent. It’s the best way to ensure the longevity of your pillow.
I started by creating a very mild cleaning solution using 1 tablespoon non-chlorine bleach, 1 tablespoon laundry detergent, and 1 quart of water. I then removed the pillowcase and washed it separately. Using a clean cotton washcloth, I gently scrubbed down the pillow on both sides with the cleaning solution and let it sit for about 15 minutes. I did this application twice, but you may find you only need to do this once (or maybe three times!). After I applied again I let it sit out for another 15 minutes to absorb. Next I gently rinsed the pillow with water. It is important not to handle the pillow too roughly while it is wet. Some people like to soak it completely, though I find that gently wiping it down with a wet wash cloth is just fine. Whatever your method, be sure to go slow and easy.
Sun & Air
Once the pillow had been sufficiently rinsed, I set it out in the sunshine to dry completely. Not only did this disinfect the pillow and deodorize it, but the sun actually revitalized the wool fibers inside the pillow and gave it a “lift”. Sometimes I like to vacuum the pillow after it has dried completely. This may seem odd, but in addition to removing dust particles out of the pillow, the suction moves the wool fibers around and gives it a little loft boost. You can do this as often as you think of it, whether you are cleaning the pillow at the same time or not.
Not surprisingly, after it was all said and done the pillow looked good as new. It even looked somehow fluffier than before, no doubt thanks to all that frosty winter air. I was lucky the sun was out in the middle of winter for me to be able to do this. If anyone out there has any good natural cleaning solution recipes, please let me know. Till then, may you sleep your natural best!
