How Often Do I Need to Replace My Pillows?

We spend about one third of our life sleeping, or at least attempting to sleep. That means we put a lot of wear and tear on our bedding items. I have found in the past 6 years while working at Pillows.com, most people are surprised at how often you should be replacing your pillows. I get it, you spend money on something and you want it to last as long as possible. Everything we use daily wears out eventually. Here is a list of different types of pillows and how long they typically last for. I will also include at the end of this post how to extend the life of your pillows. 

Down and feather pillows should be replaced every 1-3 years. After 3 years you will notice the down and feather pillow isn’t as supportive as it used to be. That is because the down and feathers are breaking down which means it will feel flat and not be able to support your head as well as it used to. If you see any of these signs of your pillow breaking down or you start waking up in pain, it is time to replace your pillow. 

Polyester and other down alternative fiber pillows should be replaced every 1-3 years. You will notice by year 3 that the polyester pillow starts losing its loftiness and not be able to spring back to its original shape. You may start to notice the cover turning a yellow color. If you see any of these signs of your pillow breaking down or you start waking up in pain, it is time to replace your pillow. 

Memory foam pillows should be replaced every 2-3 years. Around year 3 you will start to notice that the pillow sinks down farther because the memory foam is breaking down. You may start to notice sinking or lumpiness in the pillow.  If you see any of these signs of your pillow breaking down or you start waking up in pain, it is time to replace your pillow. 

Latex foam pillows should be replaced every 3-4 years. Latex foam pillows tend to hold their shape the longest. You may start to notice sagging in the pillow or even lumps around year 3 or 4. If you see any of these signs of your pillow breaking down or you start waking up in pain, it is time to replace your pillow. 

You can help extend the life of your pillows by using pillow protectors, washing your pillows less often and washing them correctly when you do need to launder them. Use a pillow protector and pillowcase every time you sleep on your pillows. Wash your pillow protectors and pillow cases often. Wash your pillow 2x a year. Make sure to follow washing instructions on the tag. Do not wash foam pillows, they are spot clean only.