Before coming to this article, you may have wondered, “Can you wash pillows?” We don’t blame you. Washing pillows isn’t an intuitive household task, and most of us would be wary of trying to clean such a complicated (and essential) item without a guide. 

So, we’re here to guide you. Yes, you can wash all types of pillows, but some rules will help protect your favorite plush piece. While dust mites may not bite, a dirty pillow is no place to lay your head after a long day of work. 

Read on to have all of your pillow-washing questions answered, add this new skill to your homecare toolbox, and rest your head on some clean pillows tonight.

The basics

Can you wash a pillow in the washing machine?

This may come as a surprise, but generally, you can wash pillows in a machine on the gentle cycle. You can even toss most down pillows right in the washer. You’ll want to read the label on your pillow carefully first and pay attention to any washing instructions there, as the manufacturer knows best.

We recommend using the gentle or delicate cycle on your washing machine. But if the label recommends dry cleaning, heed this advice. And, if your model has a pillow cover you can remove for washing, it’s for a reason. Wash the cover alone unless the label specifies otherwise. This is likely the case with memory foam pillows. 

Investing in washable pillow protectors is a great way to protect your pillows from allergens, and they’re much easier than pillows to clean.

Housekeeper’s tip: Pillows get heavy when wet, so be sure to wash two pillows at once in your machine so that you don’t throw the balance off and damage the washer.

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Can you put pillows in the dryer?

Again, we’ll refer you back to your pillow’s care label for the best advice, but most pillows can spend some time in the dryer. That said, there’s nothing wrong with air-drying your pillows on a clothesline, either. Take advantage of the free “solar power” that hits your porch or apartment balcony at midday. 

If you use the machine drying method, check out our tips on avoiding clumping or deformation below. 

How often should you wash pillows?

You should wash pillows every few months, or roughly four times a year. You avoid bad orders, pesky stains, and discoloration when you keep your pillows fresh. 

The supplies

How to wash pillows with bleach

When you follow the machine washing method, you can add laundry detergent and bleach to your washer as you normally would when cleaning other garments. Use your machine’s designated compartments and instructions for each liquid, and stick to around a cup of bleach. 

How to wash pillows with baking soda

Like bleach and detergent, baking soda can go right into your washing machine. For best results, apply the baking soda, directly to the pillow. Make a paste of baking soda and water and use a washcloth to spot clean the whole surface of the pillow, or at least the stained parts. Leave the solution to work 30 minutes before washing the pillows in the machine. There’s no need to remove the paste before washing.

Washing pillows right: material types 

How to wash feather pillows

As mentioned above, you can wash down pillows in a washing machine. Sounds easy, right? It is, but there are a few best practices to follow for great results:

• Avoid using detergent 

• Use the delicate or gentle wash cycle 

• Machine dry on low heat with a towel and run two cycles if necessary

How to wash polyester pillows

Just like with down pillows, here are a few best practices for washing polyester fill pillows and keeping them in great shape:

• Use mild detergent 

• Use the delicate or gentle wash cycle with warm water 

• Air-dry the pillows on a clothesline or machine dry on a low setting

Tough jobs

How to wash yellow pillows

If you have some tough, unsightly stains on your pillows, it’s time for a more advanced clean. Place them in the washing machine on the soak setting. Then, pour in 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and ½ cup of vinegar. When the soak cycle is complete, add in regular detergent and laundry booster before finishing out the rest of the cleaning cycles.

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How to wash pillows without clumping

No one likes a lumpy pillow, and there are two facets to keeping your pillows clump-free. The first is to wash them correctly. The second is to prevent lumps in the drying process as well. 

When washing pillows, avoid lumps by putting two pillows in the machine at a time, as we recommended above. Place the pillows in the washer vertically (length-wise) so they don’t curl around or get caught on pieces of the machine. Double up on the spin cycle to get out as much excess water as possible before drying. 

If you machine dry your pillows, you’ll want to protect them in this step, too. Dry on low heat, and add in a couple of tennis balls, balled socks, or dryer balls to keep the filling of your pillows evenly fluffed throughout the dry cycle. Stop the dryer every 30 minutes and remove the pillows. Use your hands to fluff them up before putting the pillows back in the dryer for the next 30 minutes. 

Make sure the pillows are dry all the way through before putting them back in their pillowcases, or worse, sleeping on them. 

Finally, some daily maintenance can keep your pillows in great, lump-free shape. Shake and fluff your pillows every morning when making the bed. 

Get cleaning

Time to tackle that pillow washing project? Let Gopuff help by picking up all the cleaning products you need so that you can spend a few more minutes relaxing before getting to work.