How To Wash A Pillow?
QUICK ANSWER
Wash most pillows in the machine on gentle or delicate cycle with cold water and mild detergent. Wash 2 at a time to balance the load. Dry with tennis balls or dryer balls to fluff the filling. Memory foam and some specialty pillows are hand-wash only.
Pillows accumulate sweat, drool, dead skin, body oils, and dust mites over months and years of use. Most pillows are machine washable and benefit from periodic washing to remove this buildup. The challenge is the size and shape of pillows; they need careful technique to prevent lumping or shape damage. Here is the method for the most common pillow types and the exceptions that need different treatment.
Can you wash pillows in the washing machine?
Most pillows yes. Down and feather pillows: yes, in front-loader on gentle. Polyester and synthetic fill: yes, gentle cycle. Microbead pillows: usually no, hand wash or spot clean only. Memory foam pillows: NO, never machine wash (the foam breaks down with water and agitation); spot clean only. Buckwheat hull pillows: empty the hulls first, wash the cover, refill. Always check the care label which gives specific guidance for that pillow. Most newer pillows have detailed washing instructions printed on the label or tag.
What pillows can you wash?
Standard machine-washable pillows: down, feather, polyester fill, cotton, and most blend pillows. These tolerate gentle machine washing with cold or warm water. Specialty pillows that cannot be machine washed: memory foam (water destroys the foam structure), latex foam (similar issue), microbead pillows (the small beads can leak through and damage the washer), and most decorative throw pillows with embellishments. For non-washable pillows, spot clean with mild soap and water using a damp cloth, or wash just the removable cover.
What is the right method?
Wash 2 pillows at a time to balance the load (a single pillow throws off the spin cycle). Use mild liquid detergent (not powder which can leave residue). Set to gentle or delicate cycle, cold or warm water. Skip fabric softener which leaves residue. If the washer has an extra rinse setting, use it to ensure all soap is removed. Front-loading washers are gentler on pillows than top-loaders with agitators (which can damage feather and down pillows). For top-loaders with agitators, position the pillows vertically around the agitator to reduce damage.
How do you dry a pillow?
Use the dryer on low or medium heat. Add 2 to 3 clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls to the dryer; these prevent the filling from clumping and help maintain the pillow's shape. Drying takes 1 to 2 hours; pillows hold a lot of water. Stop the dryer periodically and shake the pillow to break up any clumps, then return to drying. The pillow is dry when no damp spots remain inside and the filling fluffs back to normal shape. Wet pillows that go back on the bed grow mildew, so ensure complete drying.
Most pillows wash well in the machine on gentle cycle with mild detergent. Wash 2 at a time to balance the load. Use tennis balls in the dryer to prevent clumping. Memory foam and some specialty pillows are hand-wash or spot-clean only. Wash pillows every 3 to 6 months to remove accumulated sweat, oils, and dust mites. Replace pillows every 1 to 2 years regardless of washing; the fill flattens permanently over time.
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