How Often Should You Replace Your Pillow?

Have you ever considered how frequently you should change your pillow? While there's often a lot of focus on mattress replacement and sheet changing, the importance of a good pillow for a restful night's sleep should not be overlooked. If you've found a pillow that suits you well, you may not feel the need to replace it. However, it's worth considering the following information.

Your Pillow May Effect Your Health

Pillows do more than just provide comfort; they play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of your sleep. A good pillow supports your neck and head while keeping the rest of your body properly aligned. Conversely, a poor pillow can leave you feeling unrested, negatively impacting your day-to-day life.

Just like your mattress, your pillow also plays a vital role in keeping your spine properly aligned and supported, preventing you from waking up with aches and pains. Over time, pillows lose their volume and firmness, gradually losing the optimal support they once provided. Eventually, a deflated pillow can compress your neck or misalign your spine, leading to persistent pain. If you frequently wake up with soreness in your neck and shoulders, your old pillow could be the culprit.

We have often emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean mattress, but it's easy to forget about the cleanliness of the item right beneath our heads. Although invisible to the naked eye, pillows harbor a significant amount of dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and, in some cases, even bugs like mites and spiders. While this might not be a pleasant image to contemplate, it is crucial to consider, especially for individuals with allergies who may have adverse reactions to dust and insects. 

How Often Should You Replace Your Pillow?

So how often should you change out your pillow? According to Robert Oexman, DC, director of the Sleep to Live Institute, you should opt for a new pillow every 6 months. At the very least, pillows should be replaced within two years, as suggested by WebMD.  To strike a balance between the two, we recommend you replace your pillow every year. Make sure you find a pillow that is best suited to your sleep position, firmly and gently supports your head and neck, and allows for proper alignment of your spine.

We also recommend getting a pillow protector to help extend the life of your pillow as well as prevent stains and the accumulation of allergens, dust mites and bed bugs. In some cases, you can also occasionally place your pillow in the dryer on low for 20 to 30 minutes but be sure to read the manufacturer’s specifications to make sure you don’t damage the pillow.

What Kind of Pillow is Right For You?

In addition to asking how often you should replace your pillows, you should also be asking what kind of pillow is right for you. If you’re suffering from restless sleep and morning stiffness, you may be using the wrong kind of pillow. When you replace your pillows, consider trying out a style specifically designed to support your sleep style. These are some of the most popular options:

• Down – The oldest kind of pillow remains one of the most popular because down is a lightweight, breathable material that provides support night after night. People who like a firm pillow will want a different material.

• Cooling – If you flip your pillow over at night to sleep on the cold side, consider a cooling pillow. If transfers heat away from your body so that you stay cool and comfortable all night long.

• Memory Foam – Pillows made of memory foam are known for their consistent support and smart balance between soft and firm. Innovative new forms of memory foam also do a better job of diffusing body heat.

• Contour – People who sleep on their back or side often struggle to keep their neck and shoulders supported. Contour pillows provide a recessed surface that cradles the head instead of forcing it to bend in a way that throws the spine out of alignment.

You can find all these styles at a Sit n’ Sleep location near you. Put each one to the test and decide for yourself which one feels most comfortable. You won’t regret ditching your old pillow for something that is soft, supportive, and perfectly suited to your sleep style.

So, when was the last time you replaced your pillow?