Keeping pillows clean can be a tough task to achieve, especially during the summer/autumn periods.
The warmer temperatures during this time will see people sweat more and stain the material.
It could potentially take a little while to clean them properly, but adding a particular item to your washing machine can help.
As reported by The Mirror, Carrie Higgins, author of 'Organization Hacks' and founder of the lifestyle blog Making Lemonade, has shared some tips.
She said: "I won't go into too much detail, but needless to say pillows are hotbeds of junk collected in the six to eight hours you spend on them every. Single. Night.
"Multiply that by how many nights you've slept on them and... yeah. Body oils, hair product residue, sweat, drool, dust mites, exfoliated skin... clean 'dat pillow!"
How to clean your pillows using one item
Carrie suggests using white vinegar to clean your pillows as it is a potent natural cleaner, capable of breaking down organic stains like sweat and oils.
In addition to removing stains, vinegar acts as an antibacterial agent and deodoriser, thus eliminating bacteria and unpleasant smells from fabric.
Carrie adds: "As dirty and drool-ly as my pillows were, I didn't need to run ANY of them through a second time, the vinegar... worked like magic!"
Before you put your pillows in the washing machine, check the label to make sure they can actually be washed in the device.
Memory foam pillows aren't appropriate for washing, so they shouldn't be put in.
If they are all good, add in two pillows per cycle and 250ml of white vinegar into the fabric conditioner compartment, followed by detergent.
Select the hottest water temperature recommended on the pillow care label and operate it on a delicate cycle.
When that cycle is done, run the machine on a spin cycle to dry as much as possible.
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You can add pillows to a tumble dryer on a low-heat setting. Wool dryer balls can assist in fluffing up the pillows once more.
Alternatively, you can air-dry them outdoors if it's sunny, as sunshine can naturally assist in whitening fabric and breaking down marks.
Ensure the pillows are thoroughly dry before using them to avoid mould and unpleasant smells.
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