How Frequently Should You Change Your Pillow?

If you can’t recall when you last changed your pillow, it might be high time to get into action. Many people don’t consider a pillow as essential for a good night’s sleep, but it actually plays a significant role in supporting your head and neck when you are having a restful night’s sleep. But if you don’t change your pillows at regular intervals, even the best once will stop providing you the required support. However, there is a serious debate on how often should you change your pillows? Well, the answer is quite simple, but for that, you need to have detailed knowledge about the type of pillow you are using and why it is necessary to make such replacements.

Types of Pillows and Their Replacement Time

The general rule of thumb for replacing a pillow is three weeks, even though you can do it more frequently. This is considered more hygienic than using the same pillow for months without washing or replacing it. However, the replacement time varies for different types of pillows as mentioned below –

Memory Foam

These types of pillows need replacement once every year. Although their conforming is great, they tend to sag. The material is not reliable enough for a pillow, and that is the main reason for their frequent replacement.

Latex Pillows

Pillows made from this material are more durable than memory foam, and therefore these can be replaced once every two years. They are also more expensive than memory foam material.

Down Pillows

You can afford to replace down pillows once every year or a bit longer than that. As soon as they tend to lump, you can realize that they need replacement.

Bamboo Pillows

A half as bamboo fibers are more reliable than the cotton ones and demand for replacement once every year.

Feather-Based Pillows

These are among the most common types of material but also the more expensive ones. These are recommended to be replaced once every year though some users prefer to get it replaced more often.

Signs That Indicate Replacement of Your Pillow

If you happen to notice any of the following signs, you will realize that it time for you to replace your pillow:

• You will notice lumps in the foam or filler material.
• There will be noticeable stains on the pillow from body sweat and oil.
• You experience aches and pains in your shoulders and neck after getting up from the bed.
• You wake up tired or sneezing from dust mites.
• When you fold your pillow into half, it stays that way instead of expanding back to its normal shape.
• You need to re-fluff your pillow constantly to feel comfortable while lying down.

Some reasons other than the longevity of your pillows that demand replacement include health conditions like allergies or you have recently changed sleeping positions. Different sleeping postures demand different pillow heights to keep the neck, spine, and head aligned.

The Bottom Line

To ensure a relaxed and deep sleep at night with proper head and neck support, it is important to keep an eye on how frequently you should change your pillow. Consider replacing it more often than recommended so that you can sleep worry-free every night. Alongside this, you can keep your pillows clean by cleaning it regularly and identifying any probable symptoms of neck stiffness and discomfort.