There are some “chores” that in the 21st century seem rather passé - a waste of time really. Ironing wrinkled clothes, polishing dirty shoes, fluffing saggy pillows - the list goes on. Well, we’re not in the business of shoes (so we’ll leave that alone) and we won’t spend time discussing wrinkled shirts. So, that leaves us with pillow fluffing. 

It’s a practice that can save you money, preserve your furniture and more importantly, keep you comfortable. With that said, we’ll take a look at the various techniques you can use for pillow fluffing and how you can pull off. 

 

The Importance of Pillow Fluffing 

So why does pillow fluffing deserve a slot on your to-do list? As we mentioned earlier, it can benefit your wallets and your body. Remember how heavenly it felt when you first nestled your head against your brand new pillow? It was soft yet cushiony - it felt like you were floating in it. 

But things change over time. 

The pillow starts to lose its fluff and it starts to lose its bounce - it gets flat, like a deflating balloon. Most of the materials used in pillows naturally change shape as time progresses, that’s why your favourite position will have a bit of an indent. The problem with this is that it can wear out your furniture as a result of too much pressure being applied to the sunken area. 

It can also get quite uncomfortable for your neck, back and shoulders due to the extra strain a flattened pillow may cause. And let’s be honest, a flat pillow is the equivalent of a weeping willow - it looks sad and hopeless. 

Of course, fluffing your pillows can prevent and reverse all the issues mentioned above. So, it pays (and heals) to give your pillows a good fluffing from time to time. 

 

The Art of Pillow Fluffing

Good pillow fluffing depends largely on the type of pillows you’re considering. The two factors to consider are the firmness of your pillows along with the frequency and method (more on this later) of pillow fluffing, both of which will depend on what you use your pillow for. 

The rule of thumb here, however, is this: the softer a pillow is and the more you use a pillow, the more fluffing it will need. So, it should come as no surprise that items such as down and feather blend pillows will need more fluffing than others. With that said, we’ll take a look at the various methods of pillow fluffing.

 

“Flip it, Reverse it” Pillow Fluffing  

This trick is great for reversible cushions where the material on the back is identical to that on the front. The “flip it, reverse it” method is simple. After you’ve cleaned and/or vacuumed your cushions, simply flip and rotate the position of your pillow cushions. 

You can do this once per week. You can even use this method for flipping a mattress. For a mattress, you simply have to reverse the ends of it, by switching the foot and headboard positions. 

 

Flipping the Pillows 

The fluffing actually begins here. First, start by finding the midpoint on each side of your cushion. Begin pushing in and hitting the sides quickly with some vigour. Once you’ve completed the sides, move into the remainder of the pillow in a bottom to top motion.

 

Hit and punch it with some force (like light jabs on a heavy punching bag) so that the pillow filling gets evenly dispersed. If you want some additional punching power, you can use a tool such as a sock full of tennis balls to pat the pillow down. Don’t hesitate to be forceful here - your pillows will fluff up nicely if you put a bit of oomph into it! 

 

Finessing the Pillow Fluff

 

This next part of pillow fluffing is best described in its action sequence. 

First, squish it. 

Second, hit it. 

Last, shake it.

It sounds like a dance routine of sorts, but it’s really that simple. Of course, you can find a visual reference below.

 

It’s a proven way to restore the buoyancy of your pillows once they’ve gone flat. 

 

Karate Chop Pillow Fluffing Method 

 

The typical look for a fluffed pillow is a plump square. But if you’re feeling a little more “inspired” and see yourself as being different from your square-peg counterparts, you might opt to give your pillow a different shape. 

Enter the “karate chop”. This shape is for the design-inclined - or those who just binge-watched Bruce Lee or Claude Van Dam movies. 

Here’s an example of a karate-chopped pillow.

 

As you can see, it has an indented V-shape at its centre. Achieving this look isn’t as complicated as it may seem. First, hold onto the points of each ‘ear’ (corner) until you start to see the V formation. Of course, if you can’t help yourself, you can literally karate chop the pillow down the middle to make the V shape more accentuated. 

This look can give your furniture or bedding even a more distinct look, especially if you want to make a statement for visitors. It’s an understated yet provocative interior decor trick. 

 

“Throw it Down” Pillow Fluffing Method 

 

You’re probably thinking that these pillow fluffing methods are getting increasingly wacky not to mention, violent. And that brings us to the “throw it down” method. As its name suggests, this pillow fluffing method requires you to throw your pillow to the floor. 

Here’s an illustration of this:

 

1. Start by fitting a very snug pillow sheet over the pillow itself. 
2. Next, pat the case and pillow down at all sides. 
3. Lastly, throw the pillow to the ground. 

That’s it. You may have to repeat this a couple of times to get it fluffy but it shouldn’t take more than a few tries. 

 

The Wash Cycle Fluff Method 

 

All of the pillow fluffing methods we’ve shown you so far are manual techniques you can do by hand. But if manual labour doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can rely on some mechanical assistance - your washer and dryer. 

They can fluff your pillow cushions quite handsomely if you’re not a fan of doing it by hand. With that said, here’s a simple process you can follow if you plan on using the wash cycle method:

 

1. Toss your pillow in the washer by itself and use regular detergent and a little bit of fabric softener.
2. Set your washer to “Sanitize Mode” or the hottest wash cycle your washer offers. 
3. Select the fastest spin cycle - this wrings out as much water as possible before you put the pillow in the dryer. 
4. Set your soil setting to match how dirty you think your pillow is. 
5. After the wash is over, put your pillow in the dry with a clean, dry bath towel. 
6. Choose the “Sanitize Mode” on your dryer or put it on the highest setting. 
7. Set the washer timer for 30 minutes (maybe more for a king-size pillow). If the pillow is still damp, pull it out and put it back in for another 10 minutes. 

 

Once you take the pillows out, they should naturally be fluffy since the rotation of the drum does it for you. An advantage that your dryer offers, which your hands don’t, is that your pillows will be nice and warm to cuddle with. 

 

The “Sun-Dried” Pillow Fluffing Method 

 

Here’s another way to fluff your pillows brought to you by nature - sun-fluffing (we totally invented that). Pillows have a tendency to absorb lots of moisture - think sweat, drool even - and that can reduce their fluff. The sun, in all its glory, can evaporate that excess moisture especially on hot, dry days when UV rays shine intensely. 

If you have a couple of days like this in your local forecast, don’t hesitate to take your pillow out and let it bake. The natural heat will naturally restore some of its fluff. The caveat here is to ensure that the weather is not too humid as this would increase the moisture in your pillow and make it less fluffy. 

 

You Can Never Have Enough Pillow Fluff

 

Pillow fluffing may seem like an old school practice best reserve for your parents or grandparents, but don’t dismiss it. It’ll save your neck (and back) not to mention your furniture and wallet from premature wear-and-tear and expenses. 

With that said, make sure to practice some other basics such as using a pillow protector. Also, choose quality products that are more resistant to a loss of fluff.

By doing so, you will enjoy many days and many nights where you think to yourself “ah, this pillow feels just right!”

 

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