Can you wash pillows in the washing machine?

Many pillows can be machine washed, but always check the care label first. Use a gentle cycle with mild detergent and balance the load by washing two pillows simultaneously.

How do I wash my memory foam pillow?

Memory foam pillows should not be machine-washed. Instead, spot clean with a mild detergent and a damp cloth. Allow it to air dry completely before use. For deep cleaning, consider a memory foam cleaner or professional service.

How Do I Wash My Pillows Without Ruining Them?

Q: How do I wash my pillow?

Check the care label for specific instructions. Generally, you can machine wash most synthetic and down pillows. Use a gentle cycle with warm water and mild detergent, then tumble dry on low heat.

Imagine a dirty pillow with dry stains all over. It has lost its natural color and is now covered with brownish-yellow wave-like patterns! Yes, it’s that filthy pillow you are lying your head on. It’s time to wash that pungent stink off of it. When cleaning bedding items, we are very particular about our sheets and mattresses, but what about the pillow?

We don’t even notice how unhygienic it has become and keep sleeping on it night after night. This has to stop now because pillows can accumulate a mix of dead skin and dust mites, which can have many harmful health effects.

We understand you can’t just throw your pillow in the washing machine to get it over with. If you do so, you might get it over with. So let’s not do that. We will tell you some safe and easy ways to shine a light on your pillow today!

How Often Can You Clean Your Pillows?

While you'll want to wash the rest of your bedding weekly, pillows have a more extended grace period. At the very least, clean your pillows every six months—but to keep them in their best condition for longer, wash them "at least every three or four times a year. As for pillowcases? Wash them with your bedding every week.

Unperceivable dust mites accumulation on a dirty pillow

How to Wash Your Pillows?

While most pillows, such as those filled with cotton, feather, down, and fiberfill, can be cleaned in a washing machine with some lukewarm water on the gentle cycle, it is a good idea to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the label or the manual that comes with the product before throwing your pillows into the washing machine. Your pillow may be one of the rare kinds that need dry cleaning.

What Do You Need?

A mild laundry detergent
Some white vinegar

Down or feather

Most down pillows can be put in the washing machine. But use cool water and a mild detergent, then dry on low heat. (High temperatures can damage the down.)

Memory foam or latex

Washer agitation can break up foam, so these pillows probably need hand-washing. Vacuum dust off the pillow, then spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Lay the pillow flat to air dry.

Polyester

Wash with warm water on a gentle cycle, preferably a few pillows at a time, to balance the load. Be sparing with the detergent—use about one tablespoon of liquid soap.

Reasons why you should always use a pillowcase with your pillow

Buckwheat

Empty the buckwheat filling onto a large cookie sheet or shallow bowl. Set the buckwheat out in the sun, which will eliminate odors, and wash the shell casing using cold water and a mild detergent.

If your pillow has gotten blood stains or saliva residue by accident, pre-soak it with an enzyme detergent to remove it.
Most pillows can be easily cleaned in a washing machine, preferably a front—or top-loading one with no agitator (the spindle within the middle of the washing machine). If you have a top-loading washing machine with an agitator, place the pillows vertically so they are less likely to get ruined.
Now, moving on, add a mild detergent to the washing machine and set it on a gentle cycle. Pillows are soft and plush, so they don’t need a complicated cleaning regime. As for the water in the machine, we recommend lukewarm water—it will get those stubborn stains right off your pillow!
After the wash cycle, dry your pillows on low heat. "To avoid lumpy pillows, throw two (clean!) tennis balls or wool dryer balls in the dryer with the pillow to keep the stuffing from clumping.

Also Read

How to Clean a Memory Foam Pillow

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Now Let Them Dry in Natural Air

It's flawlessly great to let your pillows air-dry. You can give them some time in the dryer, depending on the instructions on the label. (Foam pillows, for instance, pose the risk of catching hearth when they come into touch with heat.) If you can use your dryer, we recommend putting your pillows through several cycles to ensure they dry properly.

A woman sitting with Eli and Elm Weighted comforter wrapped around her

If Your Pillow Is Beyond Cleaning…

Since pillows can accumulate bacteria, hair, dead pores, and skin cells over the years, they can be pretty spendy. Since they can host bacteria and are used daily, you might have to replace them every year or two. The National Sleep Foundation also subsidizes this timeframe, even though it's essential to note that certain varieties of pillows can last longer.