How To Clean Buckwheat Pillow In 2 Easy Steps

If you’re unsure how to clean buckwheat pillow properly, read this two-step guide. The process is quite simple, and it’s a useful skill addition to maintain your buckwheat pillow in the long run. But much like when making a buckwheat pillow, you have to be mindful of the hulls.

Remember that unlike other pillow fills, buckwheat hulls are not meant to be washed. But how can you keep your pillow clean? Read this two-step guide for an error-free cleaning experience.

 

How Do You A Clean Buckwheat Pillow?

 

Step #1. Buckwheat hull removal

The first step in cleaning a buckwheat pillow is removing the hulls. After all, manufacturers have already cleaned the hulls for you, so there’s no need to involve them in washing. The hulls themselves have undergone separation of whole kernels, dehulling, and removal of dust, sticks, mold, and pollen. 

Therefore, the hulls in your pillow won’t need cleaning from you. To avoid mess and spillage, prepare a case to catch all the hulls before opening the pillow. Unzip the pillow and pull the case around the pillow to catch the buckwheat hulls. 

Empty the contents of your buckwheat pillow, ensuring that you’re also getting the hulls hidden in the pillow corners. Tie the case after it’s full of buckwheat hulls, and you should be ready to wash the pillow cover or liner according to instructions. Remember that moisture can damage buckwheat hulls, so hide them somewhere dry until the pillow refilling. 

 

Step #2. Washing and drying

The final step in cleaning a buckwheat pillow is washing and drying. Remember that deep cleaning or washing the pillow frequently isn’t necessary, but you should do it to ensure that your buckwheat pillow stays hygienic and last longer. What you can do is use an appropriate pillowcase that you can wash more often or vacuum and wipe every night to remove the build-up of dust and other particles. 

How do you wash a buckwheat pillow? After you have removed the hulls, check the label to put the pillow in the washer. Use cold water to avoid shrinkage and keep the fabric from getting damaged by using gentle detergent and never with bleach and fabric softener. Finally, let the pillow air dry by hanging it somewhere ventilated and warm. 

Keep it out of the dryer as the heat can be too harsh for the material. Allow the pillow to dry completely before replacing the buckwheat hulls inside, and you’re done. 

 

How To Clean Buckwheat Hulls

While it’s true that it’s not recommended to wash and soak buckwheat hulls, you can still do practices to keep them clean. Pillow hygiene is important, and you must know what to do if you end up getting the buckwheat pillow’s filling dirty. For example, if you spill something on your pillow or the room is humid, you might end up with damp buckwheat hulls. 

Spread the hulls evenly on a flat surface and expose them to the sun or indoors with good air circulation to allow for complete drying for a few hours. A bright and sunny window should be enough to rejuvenate the buckwheat hulls and keep them fresh, so do this every two years. You can even fluff your buckwheat pillow as part of maintenance and keep the pillow in its best shape. 

However, getting the hulls soaked makes them irredeemable, and you have to replace them. The moisture can encourage mold growth that drying them in the sun would be insufficient to restore the hulls. More so, wetness can affect their shape, so the pillow will also lose its structure.

 

When To Replace Buckwheat Hulls

Buckwheat pillows are known as the most durable types compared to other materials. With proper care and good quality buckwheat, you can expect the pillow to last for many years. However, it’s worth knowing what qualities to check to indicate that you need to replace your buckwheat hulls. 

Over time, the hulls will lose their structure and flatten out. And if your pillow fills breaks down, it won’t be as supportive and comfortable. You’ll notice the hulls’ degradation because they break into smaller pieces, and the pillow itself will feel and look flatter as it loses the original loft. 

Another telltale sign is the loss of malleability. The pillow fails to retain its shape, and it won’t feel as cool as the hulls flatten. The beauty of buckwheat pillows is it’s easy to find replacement hulls from manufacturers, so always be on the lookout for these signs and replace the hulls when needed. 

 

Conclusion

Buckwheat pillows are incredibly durable, but you need to maintain them properly to ensure they’ll last long. This means knowing how to clean buckwheat pillow correctly, not just for their longevity but also to maintain pillow hygiene and avoid pathogens and allergens’ build-up. While washing frequently isn’t necessary, you must know how to clean your buckwheat pillow deeply.

Start by removing the hulls and storing them in another pillowcase. Check your pillow label if you can wash it in the machine and use gentle detergents. Allow the pillow to air dry before filling it back with the buckwheat hulls. 

If you spill on your pillow and the hulls got damp, let them dry in a sunny window. However, you must replace soaked buckwheat hulls because they can grow mold and lose their structure.