Did you know you should change your pillow at least once a year?

Over time pillows collect bits of skin and body oils, such as drool and perspiration, even when covered by a pillowcase. This can attract dust mites, bacteria and even mould which can be a nightmare for allergy sufferers. This is why buying a good quality pillow protector is extremely important. Pillow protectors can help make your pillows stay dirt-free for longer – in fact, they can double your pillow’s life span! Pillow protectors completely encase your pillows and prevent all the nasty bacteria from getting in.

If these facts don’t faze you, maybe a good night sleep will persuade you that it is time to replace your tired pillows. Old pillows can cause improper neck alignment that can throw off your spine, resulting in back, neck and leg pain and can cause regular headaches.  We suggest replacing top-quality pillows every year and the cheaper alternatives every few months.

If you are not sure whether your pillow has reached the end of its lifespan here are some tests to help you decide:

• If you own a man-made fibre pillow and it is no longer soft and evenly filled but instead filled with lumps and bumps, it is definitely time to replace it.
• If you are still not sure, fold it in half and place a magazine on top of the pillow, if the pillow springs back and knocks the magazine out of place it has some life left in it. If not it’s time to get yourself a nice new pillow.
• If you have a feather pillow try squeezing all of the air out of it and folding it in half, if your pillow stays in this position and doesn’t spring back to life it is time to replace it!

This news might come as a surprise to you, but think of just how many hours you spend there each year – it’s worth getting it right!

Of course this does come at a price, but it needn’t be a big cost, with top-quality bedding regularly available at brandalley.co.uk