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Facts
The Pillow History
The history of the pillow is quite interesting. Pillows were originally used mainly by the wealthy, as far back as the Ancient Egyptian tombs. The difficulty of sophisticated dyes and sewing techniques at that time led to the development of pillows as an art form. Highly decorated pillows became prized commodities in China and Persia at first and then later in Medieval Europe. Then the Industrial Revolution arrived and the mass production of decorated pillows changed everything. An interesting sidepoint is traditional Chinese pillows are often hard boxes made from stone, wood, metal, or porcelain instead of stuffed fabric. Want to sleep on one of those tonight?
What is in a Pillow?
A pillow comprises a filler made from synthetic fills, foam, feathers, or down. At one time straw was a filler, but this was uncomfortable and is rarely used nowadays. Feathers and down were the choice of the rich back in the pre-Industrial Revolution days.They offered the benefit of softness and the ability to conform to shapes desired by the user. At least more so than foam pillows. There is now hypoallergenic varieties of down pillows that allow people who are sensitive to down to enjoy the comfort of feather or down pillows. In some countries, such as Asia, buckwheat and plastic imitations are used as fillers. This type of pillow tends to be smaller than a standard pillow.
Clean and Replace Your Pillow
It is recommended that ALL types of pillow covers be cleaned regularly. The reason for this is they are the part of the pillow that is in contact with the person’s body. However, even with regular washing, pillows will accumulate dust and microbes among the fill. Therefore, they should be replaced every few years. This is especially true for those with allergies.