Careful attitude, or how to wash latex pillows at home

When cleaning your apartment, it is important to pay attention to textiles that are used daily. For example, bedding, mattresses and pillows also require care.

A special category is represented by latex pillows - products for orthopedic purposes that are capable of absorbing moisture when washed.

The basic principles of cleaning and caring for products will help maintain their original appearance without spoiling the material.

Determining whether latex is natural

Latex is a material made from the processed sap of the Hevea rubber tree.. During the production process of products from raw materials, special chemical components are added to it.

They increase its elasticity and resilience, therefore, when determining the naturalness of a material, the main role will be played by the ratio of natural components to the chemical composition.

1. Country of origin. The label must indicate the state where it was manufactured. There is an association of countries that are part of the community of verified latex producers. These include:
   • China,
   • India,
   • Singapore,
   • Philippines,
   • Vietnam,
   • Thailand.

   It is in these regions that the Hevea tree grows.

2. Appearance and aroma. After removing the pillowcase, you can feel the material with your hands. Natural latex will have a yellow tint and smell like rubber balls or milk powder.
   Synthetics always have a snow-white color and a dry consistency, while latex has a slight fat content.

   Artificial material, even with 20% impurities, will have a fragrant perfume smell, so it will not be difficult to distinguish a fake.

3. Factory label. Instead of having to investigate, you can trust the pillow manufacturer and look at the label. It should indicate information about the composition of the pillow. The concept “100% natural latex” will indicate the authenticity of the material, while other names will hint at the presence of synthetics in the composition.

Having decided on the type of raw material used for the pillow, you can move on to the question of the need to wash such a product.

Manufacturers strongly do not recommend washing the product in a machine to avoid compromising the integrity of the structure. Therefore, manufacturers recommend dry cleaning or hand washing in compliance with all rules and instructions.

Is it possible and how correctly?

Latex pillows have long been popular among people who closely monitor their health. The material has a lot of advantages - hypoallergenicity, porous structure and memory effect.

Many owners of such accessories do not take proper care of the pillow for fear of harming the material.

Washing rules:

1. Handwash. A large basin needs to be filled with warm water, placing a small amount of detergent in it. A soft sponge or towel is moistened in a basin with the product and gently wiped the surface on all sides. Then the product is left in the bathroom until the water drains completely.
2. Machine washable. Manufacturers strongly discourage washing latex pillows in a washing machine.This technique can greatly damage the original structure of latex, causing the product to become rigid and change its shape. Even if you use the delicate modes of an automatic washing machine, the result can be unpredictable, so it is better to avoid experiments and choose hand washing.
3. Washing temperature. The optimal temperature for hand washing will be 30-40 degrees. If you pour water at a temperature of more than 40 degrees into a basin, there is a risk of deformation of the bedding.
4. Which product should I choose? It is recommended to use only liquid detergents. This is due to the smooth but porous surface of the material.
   If you use powder or abrasive detergents, there is a possibility that granules will penetrate into the pores of the pillow.

   The following remedies are most suitable:

   • Losk,
   • Ariel,
   • Tide.
5. Is it worth the squeeze? It is not recommended to spin latex products. After hand washing, the pillow should be left to drain and then dried.

Features of cleaning products from Thailand

Caring for pillows from Thailand is easy if you follow all the manufacturer's recommendations. Regardless of the number of chemical additives to latex, all pillows do not tolerate unnecessary mechanical stress. The best way to care for them is dry cleaning..

The main features of cleaning latex pillows from Thailand:

• Machine wash is not recommended;
• temperature conditions should not exceed 40 degrees;
• if liquid gets on the surface, you can try soaking the product in warm water for a few minutes, then let it drain and dry it carefully at home;
• if it was decided to soak the product, then it is better to do it without adding detergents and washing powders;
• Drying latex products should not take place near a heating radiator - this may deform the accessory.

It is better to remove the pillow cover in advance and wash it manually or using an automatic machine. The main feature of caring for such pillows is care.

How to dry?

Latex bedding must be thoroughly dried after washing., but foreign objects cannot be used for this.

The manufacturer does not recommend using heating appliances, as well as hair dryers. Drying should occur naturally.

Some features of proper drying:

• It is not recommended to squeeze the pillow too hard - you need to let it drain on its own;
• drying should occur in a horizontal position;
• As soon as the water has drained, you can use a terry towel and soak up the remaining moisture, then lay the pillow on textiles and wait to dry;
• to maintain the shape of the sleeping bag when drying, you can periodically turn it over and beat it with your hands;
• Iron drying should not be used;
• Drying in direct sunlight is not recommended, because ultraviolet radiation negatively affects the structure of latex.

Conclusion

Now you know whether and how to properly wash latex pillows at home. Latex products can only be washed by hand, because machine washing will harm natural raw materials.

The product must be washed at 40 degrees with the addition of liquid detergent. Drying should occur naturally.

A lot of useful information about washing pillows is presented in given section.