If you’ve ever wondered how to wash pillows without damaging them, you’re not alone. In fact, many people (sometimes us included) are so worried about ruining them in the machine that we skip cleaning our pillows altogether. According to Dr. Melissa K. Levin, M.D., a founding dermatologist at New York City’s Entière Dermatology, this is a terrible idea. "Pillows have been shown to be a breeding ground for bacteria due to the accumulation of makeup, dust, oil, sebum, and dead skin cells," she says. So how often should you be washing your pillows and pillowcases? Dr. Levin explains, "I recommend that pillowcases should be washed at least once weekly, and the face should be washed nightly before sleeping." You don’t need to do anything special when washing your pillowcases; just throw them in with your sheets. That is unless your pillowcases are silk. "Silk pillowcases have been promoted to cause less friction and potentially can result in fewer wrinkles, especially for those who
Derila Sleep Support on their sides or face," Dr. Levin notes.
