Memory foam pillows can be difficult to clean. Given they are made of synthetic material, throwing the pillow into the washing machine can cause irreparable damage and make the pillow practically useless.
Tempur Pedic pillows are made out of company-patented TEMPUR material which is susceptible to the same fate. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t maintain your Tempur Pedic pillow fresh and clean.
In this article, we’re going to talk about why you can’t wash a Tempur Pedic pillow in the washing machine, or anyhow. Still, we’ll present you with a few ways to clean your Tempur Pedic pillow and improve your sleeping quality by having you sleep on a clean surface, read on!
You Can’t Wash a Tempur Pedic Pillow
As said earlier, Tempur Pedic pillows are made out of highly-sensitive TEMPUR material. That means a combination of memory foam, polyfoam, and extremely sensitive viscoelastic gel that keeps the pillow cool and breezy when you go to sleep. Yes, even during the hot and humid summer nights.
Memory foam and most of the foam in particular are synthetic, industrially-crafted material. That’s why any contact with hot water and high centrifugal forces from dryer and washing machines can be harmful to this pillow.
As a result of all this, the material will disintegrate. Expose your pillow to a high centrifugal force from your washing machine, or pour too much water on it and it’s done for.
All your money wasted, and the company won’t accept your complaint of warranty because you noticeably didn’t read the small letters in the package that indicated you can’t wash the memory foam pillow.
Considering all these things, we made a list of things you should avoid when cleaning your memory foam Tempur Pedic Pillow. Here we go:
Read More: 10 Types of Pillow Stuffing: Which One Is The Best?
1. No Washer, No Dryer
As said earlier, under no condition, don’t put your pillow in the washing machine or dryer. The material will turn into a mashed potato looking material in no time. Even if it doesn’t, colossal loss of quality is inevitable, and your sleeping experience will never be the same.
The sleeping surface will look and feel uneven. The pillow may even lose its cooling properties, leaving you feeling hot when you head off to bed. Lastly, it can become unbearably uncomfortable and affect your sleep cycle.
What to do
Usually, the pillowcases, as well as zipped covers or cases that the memory foam pillows ship with are machine-washable. You can use it to wash the cover and still bring freshness into your bed.
Some Tempur Pedic pillows also allow for tumble drying of the covers, it’s just important to read the product description.
2. Don’t Use Industrial Chemicals
Another reason to avoid washing and vigorous cleaning of the Tempur Pedic pillows is when you use industrial cleaners and harsh chemical products to clean it.
Usually, we aren’t aware of what all materials are making the detergent, so it’s best to avoid using them not to damage the pillow in the same way as the washing machine and dryer would.
What to do
One way to clean the Tempur Pedic pillow is simply to let it ventilate on fresh air while the pillowcases and covers are washing. Still, keep in mind to not expose it to too much sun as it can result in disintegrating the pillow.
3. Don’t Use Excessive Water
If you have to wash the pillow, under no circumstances clean it with too much water. Additionally, you shouldn’t wash your Tempur Pedic pillow in super hot, nor even lukewarm water. These are all things that can lead to damage to the pillow and make it uncomfortable for sleeping on it.
What to do
Spot-on cleaning in small amounts is allowed. Use a piece of cloth that is slightly wet and try to clean the stains you wish to clean off the pillow itself.
Still, if you regularly use both cover and pillowcase, there’s no way that it’ll get stained. Pillows normally start to lose their original color as they age.
4. No Scrubbing
Scrubbing the Tempur Pedic pillow can bear similar results as if you washed it in the washing machine. You should avoid it as it’s a rough way to clean your pillow. Not to mention the fact your pillow will lose its stability and support, and may not be suitable for sleeping in certain sleeping positions.
What to do
Previously mentioned tips for cleaning the Tempur Pedic pillow will do wonders if you want to avoid scrubbing. What you can also do is pour a bit of water on a gentle cotton towel and add a bit of soap.
Use the slightly wet towel to clean the pillow with a circular movement. Don’t do it fast and don’t be too harsh on it.
How to Get Rid of Unpleasant Odors?
There are a couple of odors that may appear on your pillow, and mostly, none are pleasant.
First, there’s the off-gassing odor. Tempur Pedic pillows use synthetic material, and to arrive nice and folded, they are squished and rolled to save space and come free of defects. That usually results in unpleasant odors and smells that can dissipate within 3 to 5 days.
Other odors can include anything from a spilled drink, food, or even pet urine that happened to be on the pillow, unfortunately.
Memory foam pillows such as the Tempur Pedic pillow are known to last a long time, well past 10 years, and oftentimes even longer than 15 (with proper maintenance) as you sleep on the pillow and sweat, the pillow may absorb an unpleasant smell that you want to get rid of.
Luckily, there are a couple of ways to do that:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
Both materials demand nearly identical cleaning process. You’ll need an empty spray bottle, that you will either fill up with vinegar or baking soda mixed with a bit of water. Spray the pillow with your homemade spray and leave it like that for a day.
After a day passes, you will either want to remove the remnants of baking soda powder from the pillow by vacuuming it or simply shake it to ensure nothing is left in it. You can also use a hairdryer, as long as you don’t let it blow hot, but turn the cooling setting on.
If you use the water and vinegar mix, you can squeeze the pillow out by rolling it, shake it, or press a clean and dry towel against the pillow surface to ensure you clean it.
Also, you can leave it to ventilate it for a whole day and see whether the unpleasant odor will dissipate.
Read More: How To Get Rid Of Memory Foam Smell: 10 Tips That Work
