Do you wonder if you need to replace your bed pillows?  A quick test is to fold the pillow in half and place a book on top.  If the pillows stays folded, then you probably need to replace your pillows.  Almost 1/3 of our lives are spent sleeping so that is the reason for finding the right pillow so that you can get a good night’s rest.

Finding bed pillows that live up to your expectations can be challenging.  Pillows can be filled with fiberfill, down, foam, wool, and a combination of materials.  So you might want to shop around until you can find bed pillows that will lead to a restful sleep for you. 

There are pillows made to ease the stress of allergies while giving the feel of down.  The bonus of relief from allergies and yet the luxury of down are two of the plus factors in the type of pillow.  A poly cluster fill pillow is one in which the polyester clusters are coated with silicone to feel and move like down.  It gives the softness and appeal of down without the cost.  There are also pillows filled with synthetic fiberfill that is usually man-made from polyester.  This type of pillow does not conform to the neck and head as well as natural fill pillows and is not as durable.  However, they are hypo-allergenic and probably the most affordable of bed pillows. 

Some people may prefer to go with the real down pillows for the special benefits only down can give.  Down is the fluffy insulation under the feathers of ducks and geese that keeps them protected from the weather outdoors.  These natural fillings best conform to your neck and head.  Fill power will be listed on the better down pillows: the higher the fill power, the more loft or “fluff” the pillow will have and the more durable it will be.  Sometimes you will note that a down pillow will be marked as allergy-free which means that it has been sanitized to remove impurities that affect allergy sufferers.  Most down pillows do not mash down and many are washable which is a real perk, but down pillows are more expensive than some other types.

Foam will handle stress well also and usually comes with a washable cover, however, the pillow itself cannot be washed so it would be best to use a zippered pillow protector.  There is a wide range in prices for foam pillows, but the cheaper ones seem to hold up as well as the more expensive ones.  The “memory foam” pillows are dense, sponge-like pillows that mold around the head and neck to offer support.  These are best for those who prefer a firm pillow.  The memory foam contour pillows are good for people with neck or spine issues. 

Wool is another alternative to down pillows.  The pillows are filled with wool batting and covered with unbleached cotton.  This type of fill cannot be washed, so it would be wise to use two zippered covers to protect the filling.  To refresh the pillow, it can be put in the dryer on no heat to refresh it.

If you can’t decide between fluffy down and the more firm foam pillows, there is another bed pillow that has a latex core and is surrounded with down clusters.  The fabric used to cover this pillow is a luxe cotton/silk fabric which makes it a dry clean only product and quite expensive.  It should be double covered also because of this, but the care of this type of pillows might make it impractical for many people. 

Again, when you go shopping for pillows, there are many factors to consider.  I will be covering other issues in my next blog so I hope you will stop by.