The journey to better sleep doesnt end with finding the perfect pillow, though.
Keeping up with maintenance is vital to preventing mold in pillowswhich is gross at best and dangerous at worst.
All it needs to thrive are two things: food and moisture.
Your pillow, filled with organic material like skin cells, offers plenty of food options.
Once mold takes hold, it releases particles like spores and mycotoxins into the surrounding environment.
These particles are small enough to be inhaled, ingested, and absorbed into your body.
When you rest your head on a contaminated pillow, you unwittingly take these microscopic particles into your body.
Not to mention, bacteria thrive in similar conditions, so its more than likely present as well.
That way, we can quickly get started on remedying the issue.
With over 100,000 species of mold identified so far, growth can come in various colors and textures.
As for textures, they could be fuzzy, powdery, velvety, or slimy.
Also, pay attention to signs of moisture.
This includes those visible brownish marks on a pillow.
Distinct odor
A noticeable odor can indicate a contamination situation on your pillow as well.
Mold growth isnt always visible.
If this odor is present near your pillow, it points to a problem within.
Prolonged exposure to particles like mycotoxins, spores, and bacteria allows for opportunities to develop adverse health reactions.
Always pay attention to chronic symptoms and do not brush them off as normal.
Why, you ask?
Well, the fact that pillows are so porous makes them difficult to clear of mold.
When a mold spore transitions into a living colony, it puts down roots called hyphae.
These roots can reach deep within the material’s pores, making them nearly impossible to eliminate.
If reactions continue after using the affected bedding, I’d recommend replacing it.
Mold can grow in 24-48 hours, so time is of the essence when it comes to drying pillows.
The best washing method will vary depending on the pillow material.
While synthetic and down pillows can typically be machine-washed, memory foam requires hand washing.
If they cant be machine washed, place them in a dry location to air out quickly.
Mold can grow in 24-48 hours, so time is of the essence when it comes to drying pillows.
Replace your pillows on time to avoid unwanted environmental exposures.
I recommendinvesting in new oneseveryone to two years.
When choosing pillow materials, we should keep this in mind.
Opt for pillows that can be machine-washed to help remove as many microscopic particles as possible.
Wool, cotton, polyester, and down alternatives are typically good options.
The takeaway
Dont let microbial growth and harmful mold exposure impact your Zzzs.
