Cleaning pillows or get alternative pillows

[dex_millie]

I am getting grossed out pillow lately so I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. Is there a way to clean pillows? Are there pillows out there that I can wash (and it is not too time consumming)? Are there any affordable pillows that will be better overall? Do you use something else in place of a pillow(ex. like a folded towel you can wash easier?)?

TIA

[Spastica]

I use pillowcases always with my pillows, but if by chance I need to wash my pillows (none of mine are down filled, so they're washable), I place two in the washing machine to balance each other out so that the machine doesn't rock. Basically, you're putting one pillow in a C-shape around the washing machine rod/scrubber and another pillow curved around the opposite side of it.

Then you wring out the pillows after the machine is done and get as much water out, and I stick them in the dryer on low heat or air-dry. I dry the pillows as much as I can and if there are some wet spots, I let them dry out naturally.

[OrganicallyGrown]

http://www.lifekind.com has great organic pillows (we have the natural latex ones). They come with covers which go under the pillow case. I find if I wash the cover, it does the trick.

BTW, natural latex pillows are great for keeping dust mites at bay - good for allergy sufferers

[dex_millie]

I do use pillowcases on my pillows but I think germs/bacteria can still get in. Pillowcases are just a piece of cloth so if someone with hairgrease lies on a pillow I think it can soak through and get on the pillow and into it, just like if someone druel(sp? salvia that comes out one mouth when sleeping), baby spits up, ect... it can soak through and go in the pillow.

I don't know what down filled mean. Can you explain plz. Can I wash the ordinary pillow that are found in Walmart?

The only thing I was thinking is to sew a waterproof piece on the pillows?(will that work)

OrganicallyGrown - Those pillow prices are out of my league right now. The seem really nice to have though(only the Boudoir Pillow I may be able to afford in a few months)

[Spastica]

Down-filled means the pillows are filled with goose feathers, which makes the pillows fluffy and soft. If you have gotten regular pillows, they're likely filled with polyfoam, the same cottony-fluffy looking synthetic stuff that is used to fill toys. You can put those in the washer. Just balance out the load with two pillows like I suggested or else your washer will be skooting all over the floor and making a huge thumping noise and scaring everybody

There may be some pillowcases available that goes underneath the cloth pillowcase - something plastic, or if you're in a pinch, you can always use bathroom sized garbage bags (small), those should be the same size. You can probably go to a specialty store that sells bedding for kids. I'm sure they have special bedding for bed-wetting children and perhaps they have covers and padding that repels stains and drool.