Easy 40p ‘trick’ to freshen up pillows and banish odours completely

It is thought that not washing pillows or their covers can lead up to 16 different species of fungus building up. This can trigger allergic reactions or infecting lungs, meaning pillows should be cleaned every six months. Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNexDay, told Express.co.uk: ‘As the average person spends a third of their life in bed, your pillow naturally becomes home to bacteria, dead skin cells and dust – all of which can cause acne flare-ups and more.’You should, therefore, wash your pillows every three months in the washing machine, however, make sure to check their wash label to see what wash suits them best.’To wash down pillows, the expert recommended placing them in the washing machine, checking the label to see what temperature they wash best at.Martin said: ‘When washing them, make sure to use a mild washing powder and include an extra spin cycle at the end to get rid of as much moisture to prevent the build-up of mould.’Feather pillows can be washed the same as down pillows. However, they should receive a gentle cycle setting due to being made of natural materials. Do, however, check the care label for full instructions.’ READ MORE: Houseplants that remove mould and condensation from your home ‘Soaks up sweat’: Easy 40p ‘trick’ to freshen up pillows and banish odours completely (Image: Getty)Memory foam pillows cannot be placed in the washing machine and so it is best to wash them by hand in a bath tub with water and a mild detergent.Buckwheat pillows aren’t washable at all and those with this type of pillow will need to refresh the filling with new hulls.To keep pillows fresh in-between washes, the expert recommended using vinegar or bicarbonate of soda, two great affordable products.The sleep expert explained: ‘The acidity in vinegar acts as a superb deterrent against dust mites. Mixing some with water and a few drops of an essential oil of your choice, will leave your pillow smelling fresh. DON’T MISS:When to stop cutting the grass for winter – ‘will damage it’ [EXPERT]Easy method to prevent laundry smelling ‘musty’ – ‘scrap scent booster [COMMENT]Homes Under the Hammer buyers transform 16th century home [VIDEO] Pillows should be washed every three months (Image: Getty) Baking soda can remove odours from items such as pillows (Image: EXPRESS)He added: ‘You should, however, add a tennis ball to a sock and place this in the dryer too – as it can beat out any lumps.’When it came to washing bedding, experts at www.pizualinens.com told Express.co.uk that all bedding, including pillowcases should be washed on a 60C cycle to ensure bacteria is killed.They noted: ‘This temperature is ideal for killing dust mites and allergens.’It is also important to ensure they dry fully before putting them back into storage or back on the bed.Not doing so can lead to nasty smells and a build-up of bacteria, including potential mould.As well as washing bed sheets at 60C, it is also important to change or rotate them regularly.Lucy Ackroyd, Head of Design at Christy, said: ‘Wash and change your bedding at least once a week.’If you have pets sleeping on your bed or you’re an allergy sufferer, particularly in hay fever season, I’d recommend upping it to twice a week.’It’s important not to neglect your inner bedding either so aim to wash your duvet and pillows at least twice a year as even with linen covering them, the inner fillings can absorb dead skin cells and body oils and odours.’