If you have ever had a long and arduous search for the perfect pillow, you have most likely come across the claims a Bamboo Pillow makes, have been intrigued, and more likely than not have enjoyed its plush comforts. However, upon purchase, many of these pillows are tightly rolled, compressed, or even vacuum sealed prior to shipping- leaving you with a product that seems less than full and comfortable looking.
Often, upon opening, these pillows will begin to fluff up on their own, but others may need a slight helping hand. If you have ever wondered how to fluff a bamboo pillow properly, read on for a step-by-step guideline, and why you should do so. Over time, your bamboo pillow will also benefit from this attention as well.
Bamboo Pillow Construction
A Bamboo Pillow is called such due to the bamboo fibers used in the casing to create a uniquely plush, soft, naturally-cooling, hypoallergenic sleep surface. Most of these types of pillows use a shredded memory foam or shredded memory foam blend in order to provide a malleable, softer feel that can be manipulated or adjusted to fit a wide variety of sleep positions and comfort needs.
Like any other filling, it can be compressed either purposely or start to show wear through use over time. Since quality of memory foam is specific for contouring and shaping purposes, it can become slightly flattened when not allowed to decompress. Luckily, the number of air pockets created by the memory foam shreds and soft filling makes fluffing these types of pillows easy and hassle-free.
When Should I Fluff My Bamboo Pillow?
Fluffing all your pillows should be done by hand regularly to allow for any compression that occurs due to you sleeping upon it to relax. In fact, every evening before you go to bed or each morning upon waking- it cannot hurt to give it a slight toss.
Pillows of any sort will begin to flatten due to moisture that naturally occurs from your body. If you live in a more humid environment, then this may increase how quickly it seems to flatten. Because of this, letting it sit in the sun or by using a dryer every so often should ensure it is well dried out.
Plus, you should fluff your pillow every so often in the dryer to help refresh it. You plump it up, and it will help get rid of any lingering allergens- such as dust mites.
Plumping Your Bamboo Pillow By Hand
Most people regularly plump their pillows to get it nice a ‘poof’ before a good night’s rest. With a bamboo pillow, the concept is no different, but due to the heavier material within, you’ll want to take a few extra seconds to get it well aerated and get the memory foam shreds well separated.
#Step 1: Give Your Pillow a Good Shake
First off, give your pillow a good shake and flip it over a few times to help break up any memory foam shreds that may be pushed up against one another. This allows room for the shreds to spread out and to let more air in between each piece. If you have a polyfill or other similar type soft fiber blended with your shredded foam, this also lets it distribute more evenly within the pillow.
#Step 2: Turn It on its Side and Give It a Few Good Punches
Now that your pillow is well shaken up, turn it on its long side and give it a few good karate chop like punches. This helps break the filling up even further and allows the shreds to rotate and redistribute to lay differently than they may have been previously.
#Step 3: Grab Hold Of Each Short Side
Now, grab hold of each short end with both hands and vigorously push the ends together and pull back apart a few times. When you do all three of these movements, you are better able to affect each of the shreds, allow full expansion of the foam and fiberfill, and help air out the pillow.
Plumping Your Bamboo Pillow in the Dryer
After unpacking your new Bamboo Pillow, you may experience a slight off-gassing odor. This smell is completely normal, especially for those products that have been tightly compressed and wrapped for any length of time.
Generally, this smell goes away rather quickly after opening and usually dissipates after a few hours. Occasionally, it may last longer, but no matter how long it may last, you can speed up the process by placing the item in the sun for a few hours to give it a fresh, sunny, outdoor smell.
You also can place the pillow in the dryer to help air it out. A dryer also helps to plump your pillow along while refreshing it, and it is really a suggestion to follow every few weeks or so to help keep your pillow lasting longer. As mentioned above, body moisture and humidity may get drawn into the pillow and start to flatten it out over time, and the dryer is a great way to combat this.
Step 1: Remove Bamboo Casing
Almost all bamboo pillowcases are removable from the ‘insert’ that hold the pillow filling. This is usually completely washable and dryable, even if the rest of the pillow is not. Be sure to remove this and wash and dry separately.
Step 2: Place Pillow in Dryer with Dryer Balls
Place the pillow in the dryer with 3 to 5 dryer balls if you have them. If not,I highly recommend you get some since they are inexpensive and work with anything you need to toss in the dryer to help keep items separated from one another to dry more quickly and efficiently. They also help cut down on static, and they are often a great ‘green’ alternative to dryer sheets (In a pinch, tennis balls work very well too!). This is especially true if you use a few drops of essential oils on them if you use the wool versions for a pleasant laundry scent. Just be sure to always follow directions surrounding essential oil, or you speak with a physician when you plan to introduce them in your life if you are unsure of its use.
Step 3: Allow to Tumble Dry on Low Heat
Depending on how much refreshing of your pillow you want to do, tumble your pillow alone with dryer sheets for 10 to 40 minutes. Be sure to use a low heat or no heat cycle if your dryer has that control. The movement will help separate the filling and provide air pockets. Plus, the dryer balls will knock on the pillow to help plump it up even further.
Step 4: Remove and Hand Plump
Once you’ve removed your pillow from the dryer, you can place it back in the case. I always like to give it a little shake after removing and then use Step 3 under Hand Plumping to get it nice and fluffy.
Adjustable Filling Replacement and Refreshment
Many bamboo pillows allow you to not only adjust your pillow by manually manipulating it, but also by the removal or addition of filling. Many people take out a little bit of filling in order to provide a less lofty fill upon purchase. You should always keep this filling as you can use it to replace and help refresh your pillow in the future.
Pillows that have this feature also have an advantage over others that don’t since you can remove the filling to mix it up and help with the plumping up process. This is simple in that all you have to do is remove the majority of it and place it in a larger bag than the casing. Then just shake it up well before placing it back inside. You can also use this time to add few drops of lavender essential oil or any other oil scent that supports sleep.
Washing Your Bamboo Pillow
Although this article is specific to fluffing your pillow, keeping your pillow clean and healthy is part of the entire process of a long, plump, pillow life. Some bamboo pillow directions state they are washable, and others are very specific about not washing. This conflict of information surrounding similar fill materials can be rather confusing. The general rule of thumb concerning memory foam of any sort is that it does not take to moisture very well over time. It will start to break down the cellular structure of the material and cause it to compress. Therefore, even if a pillow states it is washable, it is best to avoid doing so unless absolutely necessary.
If you do have to wash it, be sure to follow the directions given on the pillow, and then you dry thoroughly – running it through a dry cycle multiple times until you are sure it is completely dry within and well plumped. If you live in a humid environment or are concerned about washing your pillow, we suggest the use of a pillow protector to keep your pillow fresh longer.
You may want to check out: Best Full Bamboo Sheets
Conclusion
When you follow the above directions to keep your pillow fluffed regularly and take care to refresh and keep your pillow clean, you can expect a longer life of your pillow. This is especially important as often finding a pillow that works well for you can be a challenge and having to replace it is never a pleasant scenario to look forward to.
Hand plumping on a regular basis, and using the dryer to refresh and toss your pillow every month or so is an excellent way to take advantage of the plush, contouring support bamboo pillows have to offer. This is also great advice for all the pillows you may use to help keep them last longer.
If you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you below. And, as always, please share!