If someone asks you what can I use to stuff a pillow, you can give them five options. This article will guide you in choosing the best stuffing for your pillow to help you discover what suits you best. It can be overwhelming to choose from five options, but knowing the advantages and disadvantages of every fill will narrow down your choices.
It’s crucial never to overlook what you use for your pillow because it dictates the overall experience. You’re aiming to achieve good support yet comfortable enough for daily use.
What Can You Use To Stuff A Pillow
Option #1. Polyfill
Perhaps the most common pillow stuffing is polyfill or polyester fiberfill. It is relatively easy to find and happens to be cheaper compared to other stuffings. Knowing how to stuff a pillow with polyfill properly can even land you with something as soft as a down pillow.
Polyfill is synthetic fibers that are soft and lightweight. It is also easy to clean compared to other stuffings like feathers. However, polyfill also has some downsides.
While this material is cheap and comfortable to replace, it will be common to do so because polyfill pillows lose shape over time. You will need to refill or replace the stuffing because you need to maintain the pillow’s structure to keep it comfortable and supportive. You will also notice that polyfill is not as breathable as other materials, and clumping is a common issue that affects the pillow’s comfort.
Option #2. Memory foam
Another pillow stuffing favorite among sleepers is memory foam. What makes this a stand out consideration is its moldability and ability to adjust to every sleeper uniquely, which is an essential characteristic for a pillow. While it is also man-made, sleeping on a memory foam pillow offers a signature viscous feel as it conforms to your body and responds to heat and pressure.
Those who want to alleviate body pain and pressure will benefit well from this pillow stuffing. However, an issue that you must look out for in memory foam is that it’s prone to off-gassing. Upon arrival, you want to ventilate your memory foam pillow first as it emits chemical odors.
You will also stumble upon different foam types, such as shredded and solid, where the latter tends to retain heat and can be uncomfortable if you sleep somewhere hot. On the bright side, memory foam has good longevity and will not lose its form as quickly as polyfill. Just be mindful of care and cleaning instructions to avoid damaging the foam.
Option #3. Buckwheat hulls
Some sleepers prefer a more natural and environmentally-friendly option to fill their pillows, and a good example is using buckwheat hulls. This is also a suitable replacement for those who are sensitive to odor from synthetic materials. More so, buckwheat hulls tend to last long, as long as you don’t expose them to moisture.
A buckwheat pillow is excellent for a cool sleep, and its firmness will provide support and elevation. You also have control over the loft and malleability by adding or removing hulls to your preference. However, a drawback with buckwheat hulls as stuffing is you will hear rustling as you move, and the pillow itself is heavier and firmer for some sleepers’ liking.
Option #4. Down and feather
Down and feather stuffings are considered luxurious by some because they are at a higher price point compared to the previous fills. However, using down or feather for pillows offers a noticeable softness and lightness unique to these materials. Some manufacturers also combine the two since using only down can be too expensive.
Down and feather as pillow stuffings are breathable and malleable, making the additional costs worth it. They also don’t retain heat and can last long given that you care for them properly. However, you will need to fluff your down or feather pillows regularly to maintain the pillow’s form, and some sleepers may be allergic to these stuffings.
Option #5. Cotton
The final pillow stuffing that you can use or find in the market is cotton. It is also readily available like polyfill, and the pillow with cotton stuffing is as comfortable and breathable for use. If you’re allergic to other synthetic materials or even to down and feather, you should be safe to use cotton.
Cotton also has a reasonable price point, and some manufacturers even mix it with other materials ranging from organic or synthetic like shredded polyester to achieve a different feel. However, note that you’ll eventually need to replace the stuffing over time because cotton fibers can clump. Some sleepers also find cotton firmer than polyfill.
Conclusion
Pillow filling dictates the comfort you’ll get from your pillow. But if you’re curious about what can I use to stuff a pillow, you have five options; polyfill, memory foam, buckwheat hulls, down and feather, and cotton.
Do note that each of these stuffing will also have various kinds, so consider the ones that will offer you the best overall comfort and support. The cheapest option among them is the soft polyfill, in the expense that it loses shape over time. You can also consider memory foam if you want something uniquely conforming, but it’s essential to ventilate it to eliminate chemical odors.
Those who want something more natural can use the firm yet long-lasting buckwheat hulls or hypoallergenic soft cotton. The latter will also need replacement, and the former might be too firm to your liking. Finally, the most expensive stuffing is down and feather, which gives pillows a noticeable, luxuriously soft feel.