How To Wash Pillows In A Washing Machine?
QUICK ANSWER
Wash 2 pillows at a time on the warm gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent. Use 2 rinse cycles to remove all soap. Dry on low heat with dryer balls or clean tennis balls to fluff the fill. Most pillow types are machine washable except memory foam.
Most bed pillows are machine washable, and washing them every 4 to 6 months keeps them fresh and extends their useful life. The pillows pick up sweat, body oils, dead skin, and dust mites that no amount of pillowcase washing can fully address. The right method depends slightly on pillow type but the basic process works for cotton, polyester, and down. Here is what to do.
Can all pillows go in the washing machine?
Most bed pillows can be machine washed: cotton, polyester fill, down, feather, and most synthetic fills. Memory foam and latex foam pillows cannot be machine washed since the foam absorbs water and falls apart in the agitation. Check the care label first since some pillow brands have specific instructions. Decorative pillows with embellishments often need spot cleaning or dry cleaning. Once you know your pillow type, the method is essentially the same for the washable categories.
What setting should you use?
Wash 2 pillows at a time to balance the load (one pillow on each side of a top loader, or stacked in a front loader). Use the warm or hot water gentle cycle. Use about half the normal amount of mild liquid detergent (gel detergents rinse better than powder for pillows). Add an extra rinse cycle or run a second rinse manually to remove all soap from the fill. Skip fabric softener which leaves residue on the fill and reduces fluffiness.
How do you dry pillows properly?
Drying takes much longer than washing, sometimes 2 to 3 hours. Use low heat or air-dry setting on the dryer. Throw in 2 to 4 clean tennis balls or dryer balls to break up clumps in the fill as the pillow tumbles. Stop the dryer every 30 minutes to fluff each pillow by hand and feel for damp spots in the middle. A pillow that is dry on the outside can still have a wet core that breeds mildew. Make absolutely sure the pillow is completely dry before putting back on the bed.
How often should you wash pillows?
Every 4 to 6 months for daily-use bed pillows. Pillows used by people with allergies or pet dander concerns may need washing every 2 to 3 months. Pillows on guest beds can go longer. The pillow protector (the zippered cover under the pillowcase) should be washed monthly. The pillowcase itself goes in the regular wash weekly. When a pillow no longer fluffs back to shape after being folded in half (the fold test), it is time to replace it regardless of how clean it is.
Most pillows wash well in the machine at warm gentle settings with mild detergent and an extra rinse. Dry on low heat with dryer balls and take 2 to 3 hours to get the fill completely dry. Memory foam and latex pillows cannot be machine washed. A clean pillow every 4 to 6 months extends pillow life and keeps the bed allergen-free. Replace pillows that fail the fold test even if they look clean.
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