Sleep better in your own bed
(Photo: Getty Images)
You don't have to spend a fortune on bedding to get a good night's sleep. Taking good care of the pillows, comforters, and sheets you already own will help you sleep like a baby and also save you money because you won't have to replace them as often.
Prolonging the life of bedding is also a plus for the planet. Fewer resources are needed to make and ship replacements and it will also put less strain on landfills.
Below are some tips for making the most of what you have:
Pillows:
- Cover your pillow in two layers to protect it from dust, dirt, and body oils. The first layer should be a case with a zipper and then put a traditional pillowcase over the zippered cover.
- You can throw polyester, feather, and down pillows into your washing machine. Use the delicate cycle. Be sure to check the seams on down pillows first so that feathers don't leak out. Good Housekeeping columnist Heloise suggests washing two at a time for balance.
- Pillows can go in the dryer on a low setting. Fluff often. You should add tennis balls in with down or feather pillows to help plump them up. They'll take a long time to dry.
- Hand-wash foam pillows and let them air dry to prevent foam from breaking apart in the dryer.
-
Sleep
experts recommend replacing pillows every one to
three years, but you can hold onto your pillows as long as they are in good
shape.
How do you know when it's time to make a trip to the store? If your pillow is lumpy, bumpy, has to be fluffed up for support, or stays folded when you fold it in half, then it's time to invest in a new one, says Heloise. - Use old pillows as bedding for pets instead of sending them to the dump. Check with your local animal shelter to see if they can use old pillows.
Comforters:
- Use a duvet cover to protect your comforter and wash it regularly.
- Shake out your down comforter once a week to keep the down from bunching up. Airing it outside occasionally will keep it fresh.
-
Goose
down can
lose some of its airiness when you wash or dry clean, so spot clean whenever
possible. You can wash most down comforters, but double-check the label to make
sure it doesn't need to be dry-cleaned. Plan on washing it or getting
it professionally cleaned every
one to five years.
Wash your comforter in an oversized washing machine at a laundromat instead of stuffing it into a residential washer. Don't forget to check the seams first so you don't lose a bunch of feathers. - Use a low dryer setting and place some tennis balls in with your down comforter so that the fill moves and doesn't bunch up.
Sheets:
- Stay away from laundry sheets and fabric softeners. Why? They dull colors, and it's difficult to get rid of the residue they leave behind. (They'll also make your towels less absorbent.)
- Don't use bleaches or detergents with optical brightens because they can weaken and discolor your sheets. Using a delicate detergent and rinsing well will keep your sheets soft.
- Heat weakens fiber so don't wash in hot water or use a super hot dryer.
- Washing sheets and towels together leads to pilling, so remember to separate them.
- Get special tips for laundering silk sheets.
- Cut up old sheets (and towels) to use for rags instead of throwing out.
When you do replace and what should you buy?
- Plan ahead and keep your eye out for sales. Try buying the best quality products that you can afford so they last longer. Affordable organic cotton bedding is getting easier to find.
- Check our Consumer Reports' sheet ratings and learn about different kinds of fabric and thread counts.
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.
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