Pillow Care, Directions, and Precautions for Heat Therapy Pillows

Organic Cotton Flannel Flaxseed Pillow in Citron

Attention all microwave pillow owners! We have new detailed pillow instructions that ship with our pillows. You can download a copy here. Why are these new pillow directions important? One customer reported that the outer pillow cover of one of our double layer pillows caught on fire in their microwave. We did a forensic analysis and determined that there was a soiled spot of lotion or body cream on the outer portion of the pillow. The pillow was folded over in the microwave such that the soiled spot was covered causing a hot spot to create a burn.  Please check out the new directions below about how to keep your pillows clean and safe:

Pillow Care: Store your pillow in a cool dry place away from animals. If you are using your pillow as a cold pack and storing it in the freezer, be sure that it warms up to room temperature and is completely dry before switching to use it as a heat pack in the microwave. For single layer pillows, spot clean with damp towel soap and water or oxygen cleaner. Allow to dry completely before using again. For double layer pillows with washable cover, hand wash with cold or warm water and lay flat or hang to dry. Washable covers are 100% Organic cotton and will shrink. 

Warming your pillow: Microwaves have different power levels ranging from 500 - 1650 Watts, or higher in commercial units. 1-2 minutes of heating is a guideline, but consider heating for a lower time period if you have a very powerful microwave (see cautions). When warming your pillow place it in the center of the microwave so that it does not touch the microwave wall and it can rotate during warming. If your microwave does not have a rotating tray, then stop half way through microwaving, shake the pillow, reposition and continue heating. This is to avoid scorching from hot spots in the microwave. The microwave must be clean, because food and oil may also create hot spots.

Cautions: Flaxseed and herbs are natural materials that can burn when overheated. If you overheat a flaxseed pillow, it could result in burned flax seeds, damage to the fabric, or fire. Use less microwave time when reheating already warm pillows. Staying near the microwave during heating is recommended. Keep your pillow clean from oil to avoid creating hot spots that could lead to burning in the microwave. Keep your pillow clean from metal debris; a tiny iron filing or metal shard stuck to the pillow or inside the pillow cover could create a fire in your microwave.