how-often-should-you-replace-pillows
There is no doubt that a night of deep and comfortable sleep is a guarantee of high workability and a wonderful mood. It’s always a great pleasure to feel a soft pillow under your head while flopping onto the bed with the only wish to relax and be ready for the next hardworking weekday. Every pillow has its lifetime and while it is not violated, there won’t be any sign of a necessity of its replacement. If it was difficult to choose a suitable pillow for your sleep, you wouldn’t even think about choosing another one. When you’ll see that something goes wrong with your pillow or your sleep becomes disturbed, it is a sign that the pillow's lifetime’s over and a new one should be bought.
5 Signs You Should Replace Your Pillow
Of course, small defects in a structure (small gaps of the inner or outer fabric) are not a sign of looking for a replacement. But in which cases it should be done?
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Your pillow has an extremely bad structural condition:
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you can see the filler coming out from terrible tears on the fabric;
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filler has been formed in lumps and it makes your sleep uncomfortable.
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A specific smell of the pillow appeared:
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a smell of a bacterial or fungal activity – microorganisms started their growth in the filler because of its functional time expiration.
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your pillow was leaked out with wet.
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Term of pillow use comes to more than 5-6 years – there is no doubt that there is a huge multiplying ecosystem of microorganisms in your pillow.
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You can’t get enough sleep or feel discomfort in your body after sleep:
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you get up at night because of the feeling of head compression on the side you put on the pillow.
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you feel pain in the neck or vertebral column after sleep – pillow isn’t soft enough or it is too soft.
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You suffer from allergic symptoms:
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you have night coughing or sneezing.
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a runny nose makes your breath uncomfortable at night or while getting up.
If you have noticed one of the described signs of pillows “life-ending”, you should understand all the risks. Even the pillow is high-priced and important for you, firstly, health should be taken into attention.
Why You Should Replace Your Pillows 
A lot of health-connected consequences can be caused by not changing a pillow, from chronic musculoskeletal disorders to severe allergic reactions. Unfortunately, in such cases pillow replacement will become useless.
Allergens
There is a big amount of small particles that can cause allergic reactions. Some of them can be a part of pillow filler, some – accumulate after a definite time of pillow use. The most common allergens are:
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Natural waterfowl dawn – one of the most common natural allergens, that usually causes allergic reactions in genetically predisposed people.
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Small particles of a synthetic filler – reacting to this type of allergen says about acquired allergy after use of the pillow with comforel or sintepon filler.
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Dust mites – regular contact with it may also cause an acquired allergy.
If one of these allergens is inhaled permanently, chronic inflammation of upper and lower breathing airways will appear, which can lead to the manifestation of severe allergic reactions in some allergic sufferers (bronchial asthma, bronchospasm).
Microorganisms and parasites
Mold, fungi, bacteria usually colonize the old filler of your pillow after long years of its use. Their presence can be defined by a specific smell that can be felt while contacting a pillow. The fabric can change its color into light yellow or dark brown. Contacts with microorganisms can lead to serious bacterial or fungal diseases, that are usually characterized by skin and hair defects. Parasites, like mite scab, can also become an uninvited guest of your pillow – he causes scabies, a disease that is manifested with redness and itching of the skin.
Musculoskeletal disorders
If you feel pain in your neck, back or shoulders you may be in a risk group of musculoskeletal disorders formation – osteochondrosis and arthritis may appear if the pillow isn’t suitable for you. Look for a pillow that'll be used for orthopedic purposes. A memory-foam pillow may be used in this case.
How Often The Pillows Need To Be Changed Depending On The material?
Look at your time of pillow, remember the last time you’ve replaced it, define its filler and make a decision of changing or not changing it. How often should you change your pillows depending on the filler used?
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Foam pillows are usually filled with a foam rubber – elastic material with high breathability. Such pillows are usually kept in a good condition for one to three years depending on the specific care taken for (washing it with detergents).
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Polyester pillows are filled with a polymer in a form of small white balls, which usually lose their volume after several times of washing. If you’ve used to wash them more than 3 times, count 6 months and think about their replacement.
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Bamboo pillows are hypoallergenic and good at keeping warm. Bamboo sticks don’t influence mite or microorganismal settlement on it. Such pillows should be replaced after 2 to 3 years of use.
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Down pillows are considered the most expensive and qualitative type. Down of waterfowls has a lot of properties that make pillows comfortable and suitable for different health or sleep peculiarities. The average lifetime of this kind of pillow is 5-7 years. However, in some cases down can usually lose its functions after 2 or 3 years of use.
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Down alternative pillows, in which filler consists of synthetic down constitutes may be changed after 1,5 to 2 years of use.
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Latex pillows seem to be one of the most long-termed types. They can be in a good condition for up to 4 years. Unfortunately, latex can be easily torn into pieces in a case of inaccurate use and absence of protective fabric, and sometimes may be replaced.
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Feather pillows are also filled with down, but his percentage there doesn’t exceed 20% of the general volume. Such pillows max lifetime is 3 years, but after 18 months of its use, some structural abnormalities may be discovered.
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Buckwheat pillows are much more resistant to dust accumulation than other pillow types. You can use them for 3 years, and think about their replacement after lifetime expiration.
What To Do With Old Pillows? 
Of course, getting rid of old pillows can be different. Before throwing it out of your house think about its practical application.
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gift them to your pets – making a bed for your pets with an old pillow will make one more sleeping place comfortable.
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prepare beautiful throw pillows or floor cushions – bring some variegation to your interior.
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use them for transportation of fragile materials – glass or ceramics will remain safe.
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decorate your furniture with a soft case made of old pillows.
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use filler for draft isolation – fill an old sock with down or feather and use it to cover the draft blowing points in your house.
Conclusion
Making a pillow replacement may be done after summarizing all the factors that can cut the lifetime of a pillow and make it lose its functions. Look at how often different types of pillows depending on their material are replaced, look for defects in your pillow and try to understand if it is time to think about health preservation and choosing a new pillow.