How Often Should You Replace Your Pillows? We Have the Definitive Answer

Most of us have a favorite pillow that helps us fall asleep. Unfortunately, it won’t last forever. Learn more about pillow care and how often you should be replacing your pillows.

How Often Should You Replace a Pillow?

Most pillows have a a lifespan about one to three years. Replacement times depend on how frequently the pillow is used, how it is cleaned and cared for, the quality of the pillow, and the type of fill.

Pillow Lifespans

• Memory Foam: Made from viscoelastic polyurethane foam, solid memory foam pillows offer more support and tend to maintain their shape well. If cared for properly, these pillows should be replaced every 3 to 5 years.
• Hybrid: Pillows that combine memory and latex foam, usually a combination of solid and shredded forms, can last for 3 to 5 years depending on the specific combination of materials. 
• Latex Foam: Solid and shredded latex foam pillows are durable, resistant to allergens and heat build-up, and maintain their support for 2 to 4 years.
• Down/Feather: With a wide range in quality, down or feather pillows are soft and conform to the body. Because the natural materials can compress easily if not cleaned well, they usually last for 1 to 3 years.
• Synthetic Fiberfill: An affordable option, synthetic fiberfill pillows (usually polyester fibers) only last 1 to 2 years before they lose their shape and stop offering real support.

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Why It’s Important to Replace Pillows

Pillows are subjected to body sweat, oils, and hair and skin products from our heads every night and much of that becomes trapped in the pillow’s filling. This causes odors and traps allergens. Even with proper cleaning, the filler in the pillow will begin to break down. Once this occurs, the pillow offers no support to the head and neck.

Signs a Pillow Needs Replacing

• No rebound. The easiest test to determine if a pillow should be replaced is to fold it in half. If it stays folded for more than a few seconds and doesn’t rebound to its original shape, it has lost its loft, offers no support, and should be replaced.
• Lumps. If the pillow is lumpy and won’t smooth out or the filling is compacted or soiled, the pillow should be replaced.
• Stale odor. Pillows that smell stale, musty, or moldy should be replaced immediately.
• Permanent stains. If the outer covering of your pillow is yellow or has evidence of blood, sweat, or food stains that laundering won’t remove, it should be replaced. (The stains have probably penetrated the filling as well as the outer covering.)

4 Tips for Keeping Pillows Clean

Caring for pillows is not difficult, many can go into the washer for cleaning. However, solid foam pillows should be cleaned by hand.

1. Add a protective cover. In addition to the pillowcase that matches your sheets, add a zipping protective cover to help reduce allergens that get trapped in the pillow filling.
2. Change pillowcases often. Changing the pillowcases at least weekly will help prevent odor and stains to the pillow.
3. No wet hair. Avoid going to bed with wet hair because moisture trapped in the pillow can lead to mold and mildew forming in the fill.
4. Get rid of dust. Place pillows in a tumble dryer on the air cycle for 10 minutes to help remove dust. Thoroughly vacuum foam pillows each time you change bed linen to remove dead skin cells, dust mites, and other allergens.

FAQ

• A pillow should definitely be discarded if it no longer rebounds when folded in half or has a stale odor and permanent stains.

• Pillowcases should be changed weekly at a minimum; if you sleep hot and sweaty, the pillowcase should be changed every other day.

• The only pillow that will last for 10 years is one that is never used.