Why you should replace your pillow every 1-2 years

Your pillow does more than hold your head up while you sleep.

Every night, your body leaves behind sweat, oil, and tiny flakes of dead skin on it.

Tiny bugs called dust mites love to eat those skin flakes and live in your pillow.

Their droppings can make you sneeze, cough, or wake up with a stuffed nose.

An old pillow can also become flat and stop supporting your neck, which might make it harder to sleep well.

Washing your pillowcase in hot water every week can help get rid of the dust mites.

The pillow itself can be washed every few months if its label says it is safe to do so.

Even with good care, no pillow lasts forever, so you should replace it every one to two years, depending on what it is made of.