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Home decorator and Ideal Home contributor Ammarah Hasham says she airs pillows, cushions and duvets outdoors on dry, sunny days, following a routine she learned from her mother. The method may help fabrics lose some moisture and stale smells, but it is not a substitute for washing or a guaranteed way to disinfect furnishings.
Home decorator Ammarah Hasham has described how she airs pillows, cushions and duvets outdoors on dry, sunny days, sharing a household routine she learned from her mother. The simple, low-chemical practice is intended to let soft furnishings breathe and reduce trapped moisture and lingering odours, though Hasham’s account is a personal housekeeping tip, not evidence of a tested cleaning treatment.
Hasham, an Ideal Home Open House contributor writing about her rental home, says she first drew attention to the practice after posting a photograph of her soft furnishings outside. Followers asked what she was doing; she explained that she was sunning her cushions and other furnishings, a habit she remembers watching her mother follow. She says she prefers practical household routines that use fewer cleaning chemicals.
Her process begins with removing dust and pet hair using a lint roller, pet-hair remover or soft upholstery brush. She then checks each item’s fabric care instructions for material-specific precautions. On a dry, sunny day, she places cushions on a clean sheet or another clean, dry outdoor surface, leaving space between items so air can circulate. Duvet covers, she says, are easier to hang on a washing line.
Hasham sometimes applies a light mist of a suitable fabric deodoriser, but says this step is optional. She advises spraying from a distance without soaking the fabric. She leaves items outside for four to five hours, subject to the manufacturer’s care instructions, turning them partway through. Before bringing them indoors, she shakes and fluffs them to redistribute the filling. Her routine is an account of what she does at home; the source does not report a controlled test of how much moisture or odour the process removes.
Airing Furnishings
Pillows, cushions and duvets are in regular contact with people and can take on moisture from bodies and their surroundings. Hasham describes airing these items outdoors on dry, sunny days, saying the practice can help them feel fresher. Her account also highlights checking care labels for material-specific precautions before putting furnishings outside.
The advice is limited in scope. Hasham’s account does not establish that outdoor airing removes every allergen or reliably kills microorganisms. Its practical value, as she describes it, is in letting fresh air circulate around soft furnishings and potentially reducing moisture and stale odours.
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From Family Habit to Home Advice
The article is presented as a personal contribution from Hasham, who writes about adding personality to a rental home. She frames her housekeeping approach around caring for everyday items, including the sofa, cushions, duvets and pillows, rather than focusing only on occasional decorative pieces. She also describes having two cats and regularly dealing with fur on furnishings, which is why she removes hair before taking items outside.
Hasham says she uses feather-filled cushion inserts and is particular about pillows, but the outdoor-airing tip is separate from choosing or buying furnishings. It is described as a habit inherited from her mother and previously mentioned in her housekeeping writing. The supplied report gives no study, expert assessment or product comparison to quantify the effects; its explanation is based on the author’s household experience and general observations about moisture, sunlight and fresh air.
“I was sunning my soft furnishings, something I grew up watching my mother do.”
— Ammarah Hasham, Ideal Home Open House contributor
Limits of the Sunlight Method
The report does not provide independent testing showing how effectively outdoor airing reduces odours, moisture, bacteria, mould or allergens. Hasham says sunlight has antimicrobial properties and may help reduce certain microorganisms on fabrics, but the material does not specify which organisms, the conditions needed, or the size of any effect. That claim should not be read as proof that leaving furnishings outside disinfects them.
It is also unclear how the routine performs across different climates, seasons, fabrics and fillings. The source gives no universal exposure time: Hasham explicitly says the four-to-five-hour period depends on the manufacturer’s instructions. Sun exposure, damp weather or unsuitable surfaces may not be appropriate for every item, so readers should check care labels and avoid leaving furnishings where they could get wet or dirty.
Check Labels Before Airing
For readers interested in Hasham’s method, she advises checking the manufacturer’s care instructions, removing loose hair and debris, and placing items on a clean, dry surface on a dry, sunny day. Leave space around the furnishings so air can circulate, and turn them partway through if appropriate.
Hasham says a light mist of a suitable fabric deodoriser is optional and advises spraying from a distance without soaking the fabric. She does not specify a schedule for airing or recommend the practice for every type of pillow, cushion or duvet.
Key Questions
What is the old-fashioned pillow and cushion trick?
Hasham describes airing soft furnishings outdoors on a dry, sunny day, leaving room for air to circulate and turning items partway through where suitable.
How long does Ammarah Hasham leave items outside?
She says she leaves them out for four to five hours, depending on the manufacturer’s care instructions. That is her personal routine, not a universal duration for all materials.
Does sunlight disinfect pillows and cushions?
The report says Hasham believes sunlight may help reduce certain microorganisms, but it gives no test results or details that establish disinfection. Airing should not be treated as a substitute for washing when care instructions call for cleaning.
What should I check before putting cushions outside?
Check the item’s fabric and filling care instructions, use a clean, dry surface, and choose dry weather. Hasham also recommends removing dust and pet hair first and avoiding soaking the fabric with deodoriser.
Source: rss
