Bamboo pillows are great for several reasons. People buy bamboo pillows because they do a great job of keeping away heat and keeping your head cool while you sleep at night. They supportive yet soft. Bamboo pillows are also great because they are cleaner than regular pillows, fighting dust mites and bacteria.
These pillows are perfect for people with allergies, asthma or lung problems.
Memory foam pillows used with bamboo pillow cases form to your head, aligning your spine and helping people with neck, shoulder, and back problems, as well as people who snore. Also check out best bamboo pillows for neck pain resource page to learn more.
One thing that you should know before you buy yourself a bamboo pillow is that they need some extra care to make sure that they last. Most companies suggest that you open your new bamboo pillow and allow it to air out (outside of the case) to get rid of some of the characteristic bamboo scent for the first 24 hours.
Many people swear by memory foam pillows with bamboo cases, even saying that these pillows can help with almost any sleeping problem. If you decide to give one of these pillows a try, keep in mind these tips for proper care and fluffing.
How to Care for Your Bamboo Pillow Depends on the Type You Have
Since some bamboo pillows come uncompressed in order to get them to expand and fluff up it is advised to throw it in the dryer at a low to medium heat for about 10 – 30 minutes to activate the memory foam and get rid of any lumps or flatness. Keep in mind that doing this when it doesn’t say so can lead to crumbled memory foam, especially if you place the pillow under high heat for a long time.
Another suggestion that has proven successful for some pillows is to throw them in the dryer along with 2-3 tennis balls for about 15-20 mins. The tennis balls help fluff up the pillows.
Care for bamboo pillows is generally the same for the outer case, which can be hand washed or put on a gentle cycle in the washing machine. The pillow itself often needs to be hand washed, but it does depend on whether it is made of solid memory foam or the shredded variety.
Related Post: How to wash bamboo pillows?
Some shredded memory foam pillows can be machine washed, but always remember to use a gentle, non-bleaching detergent and don’t use hot or cold water. Lukewarm is best.
Improperly washing your bamboo pillow can make it crumble altogether or start to lose its shape, so it’s important to follow the care instructions if you want your bamboo pillow to last.
How to Fluff up a Solid Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow
Just like any other pillow, you can give your bamboo pillow a fluff by hand to make it softer and more comfortable. Generally, whole memory foam pillows should not be fluffed using the dryer method because the heat and motion can cause the pillow to fall apart.
Instead of putting your bamboo pillow in the dryer to fluff, you can knead the pillow at the corners while fluffing it up like a normal pillow to get it to the softness and shape you desire.
According to Real Simple, you can also place pillows in the sunshine for a few hours, flipping halfway to dry out any moisture that may accumulate and help pillows plump back up again. This may not be too much of a problem with bamboo pillows, though, because of the extra breathable fabric covers. Still, making sure your pillows are dry is always important because otherwise mold and mildew might grow.
How to Fluff a Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
For shredded memory foam, you have a little bit more variety as to what you can do with your pillow. For example, you can fluff the pillow to make it softer, pat it down to increase its firmness, or move the inner filling around to perfectly fit the contour of your neck, shoulders and head.
When you first get your pillow, it might be a bit flat. Some pillow companies suggest shaking up the memory foam and working out any chunks. In some cases, companies suggest placing your bamboo pillow in the dryer on a medium heat for 10 – 30 minutes to activate the shaping of your memory foam, but keep in mind that too much heat can damage your bamboo pillow.
Conclusion
It is possible to fluff up your bamboo memory foam pillow to make it feel more comfortable to sleep on at night. Just be sure to take extra care with the company’s instructions because bamboo pillows can easily be ruined by extreme temperatures and rough washing and drying cycles.
If this type of pillow care routine doesn’t sound like too much trouble, bamboo pillows are a great, clean, and ultra-comfortable option that can help give you a great night’s sleep. The bamboo mixed into the cover fabric helps keep your head cool at night and makes it easier for people with certain sensitivities or allergies to breathe easy while they sleep.
Make sure you check the care instructions for your particular bamboo pillow and you should be set to keep it clean and comfortable for a long time.
I washed my bamboo pillow according to the directions on the pillow and now it looks like a marshmallow. How to I get it back to the original shape?