Cleaning expert Sarah Dempsey has claimed you don't actually need to use your washing machine to clean your pillows - as a vacuum and a damp cloth will do the trick

We all know that we should be cleaning our pillowcases and duvet covers regularly, but are you washing the pillows themselves as often as you should?

The Mirror recently shared exactly how long your pillows should go between washes, but the process can be a real pain when it often means putting your washing machine on for a full cycle just for one or two pillows - especially as their large size usually means nothing else will fit in the drum.

But according to one cleaning expert who spoke to Express.co.uk, you don't actually need to use a washing machine at all to achieve the same bacteria-busting results.

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Sarah Dempsey, a cleaning guru at My Job Quote, said that the most important thing to do when cleaning a pillow is to make sure all the loose dust and debris has come off, which can be done just by shaking it - or, if you want a deeper clean, by using a vacuum cleaner.

She said: "If you need to clean a pillow, the best thing you can do is begin by shaking off all of the loose debris and dust.

"If that's not enough to remove all of the dust, you should then vacuum over the pillow to get everything off it."

Alternatively, if the weather is nice, you can even just stick your pillow out on the washing line and let the wind sweep the dust and debris away.

Once that step's complete, you can then move on to cleaning the pillow - which Sarah says is best done with a damp cloth and some mild detergent, as this will kill any germs on the fabric.

The cleaning expert added: "Once the pillow is free from dust and debris, you can then move on to cleaning it. Clean the pillow with a damp cloth and use a small amount of mild detergent on it.

"If there are any stubborn stains present, you may have to resort to scrubbing. However, don't scrub too hard as you may damage the pillow itself.

"Once you've cleaned the pillow, you should then lay it somewhere flat in an open space so that it can air dry. The drying process may take some time, depending on how much water you've used."

Sarah also insisted it's "important to be patient" and wait until your pillow is completely dry before putting a cover back on it and putting it on your bed - as you don't want moisture lingering in the pillow that could cause more bacteria to grow.

After the pillow is cleaned and dried, it is a good idea to prevent it from getting dirty again, and this can be done by using a pillow protector that goes over the item before your pillowcase.

This will mean there are two layers of fabric between your face and the actual pillow.

If a stain does transfer through these layers and onto the pillow itself, you should treat the stain as soon as possible. To do this, you can try dabbing a small amount of washing powder or liquid detergent onto the area, then wash as normal.

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