Ultimate Guide To Washing Pillows

Washing Pillows Can Be The Difference Maker In Keeping Your Bed Fresh and Clean

You likely pay a lot of attention to washing your sheets, blankets and other bedding. You may even take your comforters and duvets to the dry cleaner for a bit of extra care. It’s great that you’re so attentive to the cleanliness of your sleep space, but when was the last time you cared for your pillows? 

If the thought of tossing your pillows in the washing machine makes you a bit nervous, don’t worry. This guide is for you. You’ll find out when to wash your pillows and how to wash pillows, whether it’s the decorative throw on your bed or the pillow you sleep on every night.

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Professional Dry Cleaning

How to wash a pillow

Many people think that in order to enjoy clean, fresh pillows, professional dry cleaning is necessary. In some cases, that’s true. You’ll likely want to take your silks, wools and other delicate fabrics in to a professional to have them cleaned in a way that won’t damage the pillow.

However, in most cases your pillow won’t require an expensive trip to the dry cleaner. This is actually good news, not only for your wallet but also for your health and the environment. Dry cleaners often use chemicals that are harmful to your health and may even be carcinogenic, such as tetrachloroethylene, a frequently employed chemical in dry cleaning.

Tetrachloroethylene is a chemical that will remain on your pillow even after it’s returned to you, and is known to cause headaches, vision problems, eye irritation and respiratory irritation. With that in mind, it’s probably best to seek an alternative to dry cleaning when it’s time to wash your pillows.

If the care instructions on your pillow’s label says “dry clean only,” you have options. Check your local listings for a dry cleaner that offers green alternatives to chemical cleaners. These cleaners use solvents that are natural, non-toxic, or eco-friendly and not as harmful to your health and to the planet.

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Read the Manufacturer’s Label for Care Instructions

Care Tip: Read Manufacturer Label Before Washing Pillows

Taking into account the toxicity of some dry cleaning solvents, it could be beneficial to you to read the manufacturer’s label for care instructions before purchasing your pillow. Doing this could save you a lot of time and hassle later when it’s time to wash your pillows.

Let’s imagine, though, that you’re gifted pillows for a housewarming, wedding or other event. You won’t have much control over whether your pillows are spot clean, dry clean only or machine washable.

That’s when it’s important to read the label on your pillow. By law in 31 United States, manufacturers are required to properly identify each of the materials that comprise your pillow – both inside and out. Most manufacturers will take this a step further and actually print the car instructions onto your pillow’s label. Simply follow those instructions and you’ll be able to wash your pillows with no trouble.

However, even if your pillows aren’t labeled with washing instruction, you can still fairly reliably determine what those instructions might be by considering the material. If you’re unfamiliar with how a fabric should be cared for, a quick Google search will usually give you the information you need.

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How Often Should I Clean Pillows?

Make sure to read manufacturer tag before washing pillows

The frequency of your pillow washing will depend upon a few factors. The first is, obviously, how often you use it. If your pillow is more of a display item in a guest room, you probably won’t need to wash it more than around twice a year. If it’s the pillow you use every night, consider washing it more often.

There are other factors to consider. Children’s pillows may need to be washed more than adults’ pillows. People with allergies or respiratory concerns might wish to wash their pillows more frequently than those who don’t have those considerations. And if you live in a humid climate, that might be cause to wash your pillow more than some others would.

Before you toss your pillows in the wash, it might be helpful to determine whether it’s actually going to do more harm than good. Some fibers can’t withstand a lot of washing, which is particularly true for synthetics. Some synthetics have this characteristic. Of course, you won’t want to wash leathers and it’s not always a good idea to wash silks, either. These materials will have to be washed in another way.

With all that in mind, most people will benefit from washing their pillows between two and four times each year.

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How to Wash Pillows

Again, the way you wash your pillows will depend largely on the fabric from which they’re constructed. There’s more to it than that, though, including the type of washing machine you have.

If you have a top load washing machine without an agitator or a front load machine, that’s best for cleaning your pillows. The agitator in your washing machine may cause undue stress to the stitching of your pillows as well as the fabric and the filling. If you find yourself needing to wash your pillows and only have a top load washer, that’s okay! However, it’s best to load them vertically to avoid unnecessary stretching.

You can use your everyday detergent, however if you have sensitive skin consider getting a milder solution to use. Remember; your pillow is against your face for eight hours! There are many natural and non-toxic detergents on the market that will be less likely to cause irritation or breakouts.

For best results, wash your pillows on a gentle cycle, then add an extra rinse cycle. This will help to remove any excess detergent that may not have been rinsed during the initial rinse cycle. Additionally, ensure the water level fully immerses your pillows. 

If you’re uncertain about washing your pillows in your home washing machine, consider taking them to the laundromat. The larger washers usually don’t have agitators, and your pillows will be fully rinsed more easily due to the larger capacity. 

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Drying Pillows

Keep Your Bedroom Fresh By Washing Pillows and Drying Them

Once your pillows and pillow protectors are washed and fully rinsed, you’ll obviously need to dry them. You can dry your pillows in your household dryer, but be sure to use the low- or no-heat setting. For a bit of extra fluff, you can add dryer balls to the load. 

Be cautious when adding fabric softener to your dryer when you dry your pillow. If you choose to use one, be sure you select a product that’s hypoallergenic and, preferably, natural. Remember that your fabric softener won’t rinse off, and you’ll be resting your head directly on the pillow. Any chemicals in your softener will be in contact with your skin.

When you dry your pillows, it’s best to do so without other laundry. Pillows will take longer to dry than other garments, and a slightly damp pillow may begin to smell musty or, worse, grow mold or mildew.

If you do notice that your pillow smells a little musty, just leave it out in the sunshine for a few hours. That will clear the odor right up and help to kill any spores. Should the smell persist, wash your pillow again.   

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Pre-Wash Checklist for Pillows

Pre-Wash Checklist For Washing Pillows

Now that you know the ins and outs of washing and drying your pillows, you’re ready to get started refreshing your sleep space in a new way. Before you begin, however, you’ll want to do a few things. Here’s your pre-wash checklist for pillows.

1. Remove pillowcases, shams and any pillow protectors

2. Visually check for any stains on your pillows

3. If necessary, spot treat stains with a treatment or with your regular detergent and a toothbrush

4. Check your manufacturer’s label to ensure the fabrics can be safely washed

5. Note any presence of foam – remember that foam cannot be washed like other pillows

6. Check that your washer’s settings are as recommended by the manufacturer, and that your washer’s tub will fully submerse your pillows

If it’s a colorful throw pillow you’re washing, check that your fabric is colorfast. Some manufacturers will include a fabric swatch that you can wash alongside other laundry. If your throw pillow did not, just do a small spot test.

Once you’ve run through the pre-wash checklist, you’re ready to go! Wash your pillows as described above and enjoy fresh, clean bedding. 

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Spot-Treating

Can you wash pillows?

There will be instances which will require you to simply spot treat your pillows. This could simply be because you’ve just cleaned them and a new “stain” is present or maybe because your pillow’s fabrics and fillers aren’t conducive to machine washing.

Many throw pillows will have to be spot cleaned, as they’re colorful and tend to be comprised of fabrics that can’t be submerged in water. Memory foam pillows may be hand washed, but it’s usually best to spot clean. Hand washing your memory foam can take hours from initial immersion to the time the pillow is fully dry and ready to use. 

When you spot clean your pillows, mix up a solution of a mild cleanser and warm water according to the cleanser manufacturer’s instructions. Then, address the site of the stain with a soft cloth. For more stubborn spots such as mascara or lipstick smudges, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or even an infant toothbrush to gently rub the stain out.

It can be detrimental to wash your pillows too frequently. As we mentioned, you can actually damage the stitching and the filling in your pillow with too much agitation, so a gentler approach is usually better. Makeup, blood and other small messes can usually be remedied with a quick spot treatment. 

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Is it Time to Replace Your Pillow?

Wash pillows frequently or when possible to keep them looking and feeling fresh

There will eventually come a time when washing your pillow will no longer suffice; it’s time to replace your pillow. As a general rule, you should replace your pillow every year or two. However, that depends on the type of pillow you have. Some fabrics and fills will last longer than others, and synthetics will usually have a shorter lifespan than other fills. 

Here are a few other ways you’ll know it’s time to recycle your pillow:

• Your pillow has become discolored – this is usually due to your body’s oil and sweat

• There are lumps in your pillow that can’t be remedied in the dryer

• Your pillow has become flat and you can’t fluff it

• You’ve noticed itchy eyes or even sneezing while you rest

• You’ve been developing back, neck or shoulder pain upon waking

• You can fold your pillow in half and it doesn’t “spring” back to its original shape

The signs may be different depending upon the type of pillow you own. For instance, a memory foam pillow may begin to sag, or even harden.

When it does come time to replace your pillow, consider calling your local animal shelter. Many times these groups accept donations of used pillows, keeping your bedding out of the landfills.

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Freshen Up Bedroom By Washing Pillows and Pillow Covers Often As Possible

You spend a lot of time choosing and caring for your mattress and your bedding; don’t neglect your pillows! Washing pillows and learning how to wash pillows are often overlooked, but most are washable and quite easy to freshen up. Check the manufacturer’s label, then enjoy the feel of a clean and refreshed sleep space.

While upgrading your bedroom with eco-friendly touches, explore our guides to Affordable Organic Mattresses, Pillows, Mattress Toppers and Protectors.

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Jessica Lauren is Founder, contributing Author and Owner of Citrus Sleep. Citrus Sleep is an online publication that highlights brands, sleep products, women’s fashion, subscription services and ideas creating positive social change and promoting a healthy lifestyle. After spending nearly a decade working in PR and marketing for several brands and startups, Jessica knows what truly drives conversions, sold-out launches and guest posts.

Follow Jessica at @jessicalaurencs | Jessica Lauren

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