sleep

Pillow Tip Sheet
By Jeff Hollander
President and CEO of Hollander Home Fahsions

how to pick a perfect pillow

One-third of our lives are spent in bed. Shouldn’t the pillows we use help us enjoy that time instead of leaving us achy and restless? To help consumers determine the best pillow for a healthy, restful and comfortable night of sleep, Hollander has developed the following five tips for finding the perfect pillow.

1) determine your pillow style: The position you sleep in says a lot about the type of support you need in a pillow. Stomach sleepers need a soft pillow with little elevation. Back sleepers need a medium pillow with moderate elevation and side sleepers need a firmer pillow with maximum elevation. When purchasing a pillow, keep in mind how you sleep to determine what to sleep with. Also, remember that down and feather pillows as well as pillows filled with polyester clusters or puff balls can be adjusted to conform to your most comfortable sleeping position.

2) keep it fresh: Pillows should be replaced every one to two years to ensure proper heath and support. Lumpy or flat pillows are a good indication that a pillow has reached the end of its lifespan.

3) beware of a pillow past its prime: Even if your pillow is not flat or lumpy, do not wait more than two years to replace your pillow. A pillow past its prime could contain a high-level of dust mites, which increase breathing disorders, asthma or allergies. The older the pillow, the more it can contribute to sleep deprivation and body aches as well.

4) take the test: Another good way to determine if your pillow might need replacing is the following test. Take your pillow and fold it in half. Place a tennis shoe on the pillow. If the pillow throws the shoe off, it still has some life. If the pillow just sits there with the shoe on top, it’s time to purchase a new pillow.

5) never settle for less, even with allergies: Hypoallergenic pillows made from cluster or puff ball polyester fibers provide people with allergies a pillow as comfortable as a down or feather pillow. Believe it or not, even with allergies, you can purchase a down and feather pillow as long as the pillow is classified as hypoallergenic. When down and feathers undergo extensive processing with specialized soaps and multiple water washings and rinsing, people with allergies can enjoy down and feather-filled pillows without the suffering.