A lesser acknowledged issue in health and hygiene, bad pillows could be detrimental in many unpredictable ways
Certainly, one pillow cannot be in service lifelong no matter how emotionally attached you feel to it!
Rotate pillows regularly every few weeks to prevent uneven wear and shape.
Even for superior quality ones, pillows should be replaced every 1-2 years.
Consider using different pillows for sleeping and decorative purposes to avoid excessive wear on sleeping pillows.
Clean the pillows by first looking at the filling. For foam pillows, air drying is preferable. Lay them flat in a well-ventilated area and occasionally flip them.
If the thickness or loftiness has dwindled to an uncomfortable level, it is a clear sign that you must buy a new one. Pillows provide varying levels of support depending on individual needs and preferences. But, with use, pillows tend to lose firmness and fluffiness bearing the weight over a long period. This is important to ensure the pillow is doing a decent job at supporting your neck and head and is not clumped, hard, and flat resulting in stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders. Unless you bring in a new pillow or work on the old one, you are depriving your spine of the essential support it requires to stay aligned.
Smelly pillows are a health hazard and an antithesis to aesthetics. Catching a good night’s slumber could not possibly get any more unpleasant than propping your head on a stinky pillow. You would not want to use a pillow that has been subjected to sweat, dead skin cells, grease, and dust mites and, therefore, smells so foul. Some other allergic reactions could be sneezing, itchy skin, and a blocked nose. You may try washing it. Make sure pillows are completely dry before using them. Any remaining moisture can lead to mould growth. But if the smell lingers, it is probably only hygienic to let go of it.
The pillow cloth could be a major reason for the breakouts on your face. You may be allergic to certain materials. Certain fabrics, such as satin or synthetics, cause clogging of pores and residual remains of grime on face. Try cotton or silk pillowcases and make it a point to wash them frequently to prevent build-up of grease and dirt, which could lead to adverse effects on the skin.
It could be that sometimes you are simply not getting complete rest using the pillow, but you cannot pinpoint the reason(s). nevertheless, ditch the pillow for a comforting one. Many things can go wrong: filling, height, and style. Since sometimes it is not easy to discern what really is not working for you, it is wiser to opt for a comforting one than trying to adjust to it. Before investing, confirm whether the product is giving you a well-rounded cushioning as you sleep on your back and side.
For both cotton and polyester pillows, the ability to bounce back in shape after being dented is one of the key parameters to ascertain its quality. If it does not spring back in full shape, it may not offer you optimum back support necessary to avoid waking up with soreness and pain. There are many reasons explaining this; perhaps the filling has flattened with use or the pillow might need some basking in the sun. In such cases, the fillings may even form lumps. You should no longer continue using a pillow if it continues to stay in its dented and folded position.
