Despite sleeping on it every night, you likely don’t give your pillow much thought.

It’s pretty important to have a good pillow; not only should the right one provide comfort, but according to Better Health Osteopathy, it can maintain the alignment of your neck, relieve spinal pressure, and improve sleep quality.

Despite often being something of an investment, they aren’t meant to last a lifetime – in fact, you’re actually meant to change them from time to time.

Experts say you should be changing your pillows every one to two years to ensure it is supportive and clean.

How to tell if it’s time to change

Figuring out whether or not it’s time to toss your pillow can be hard, especially if you don’t know what to look for.

Luckily, Choice household expert Chris Barnes has a few simple tricks to help you make the call.

Do the fold test

The fold test is a simple way to quickly determine whether or not it’s time to get a new pillow, Barnes said.

All you need to do is place the pillow on a flat surface and then fold it in half and hold it down for at least 30 seconds.

‘‘If your pillow bounces back into its original shape, continue using it. If it doesn’t spring back, it’s time for a new one,” Barnes said.

The lifespan and use-by date

Pillow filling has a lifespan and some pillows come with a use-by date.

Firstly, with the filling, you need to know what material you’re working with.

Different pillows will be made of different materials and some will last longer than others.

Memory foam, latex, feather and down all have a lifespan of five to 10-plus years, whereas polyester is good for six months to two years and cotton and wool for three to five years.

Your pillow likely has a use-by date that you should follow. Photo: Getty

For the use-by date of a pillow, Barnes said you don’t need to be as strict with it as you would a carton of milk.

“But considering that you spend around eight hours daily in bed sweating and shedding oils from your skin and hair, your pillow isn’t something you want to hold onto forever,” he said.

Check tags on your pillows to see if there is a use-by date to go off.

If there are no tags and you can’t remember when you bought it, then perhaps you already have your answer.

Ditch it if you’re waking up in pain

It doesn’t matter if you sleep on your side, back or face, your pillow should be supporting your head and neck properly.

If you’re not waking up refreshed, but rather experiencing discomfort, with a sore back or neck, it may be time for a new pillow, Barnes said.

“If you’re constantly folding your pillow to get comfy, you’re probably due for a new one,” he added.

On that note, if your pillow is out of shape, it’s probably time to start shopping around for a new one.

“Pillows that lack firmness, are lumpy or become droopy likely need to be replaced,” Barnes said.