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How to wash your pillow


How to Wash Pillows | Martha Stewart

They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.

When it comes to bedding, you're probably meticulous about cleaning your sheets and comforter, but can the same be said for your pillows? Because pillows can house a mix of bugs, dead skin, and dust mites and their droppings, it's important to make sure they receive just as much attention as anything else on your bed. To ensure your pillows are fresh and clean, we asked Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications, outreach, and membership at the American Cleaning Institute, for his best tips on cleaning and caring for this essential element of the bed.

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How to Wash Pillows

Most pillows, including those filled with cotton, feather, down, and fiberfill, can be cleaned in a washing machine using warm water on the gentle cycle, explains Sansoni, but it's always a good idea to read the label for cleaning instructions first. "Your pillow may be one of the rare kinds that need dry-cleaning," he says. Foam pillows are one common type that shouldn't go into the washing machine because the agitation is too harsh and likely to break up the padding. Despite this, foam pillows can be cleaned at home using another method. "You can wash the removable cover (if there is one) according to the cleaning instructions on the label," says Sansoni. To clean the foam, use a vacuum attachment to remove any dirt or dust that's in the pillow.

How Often Should You Wash Pillows?

While you'll want to wash the rest of your bedding regularly, pillows have a bit more of a grace period. At the very least, pillows should undergo a good wash every six months. To ensure that your pillows are consistently in their best, consider washing them "at least every three months—or four times a year," says Sansoni. As for pillowcases, wash them with your bedding, which should be a weekly cleaning routine.

While washing your pillows regularly is important, it's also good to know when to replace them. Sansoni suggests changing your pillows every one to two years. This timeframe is further backed by the National Sleep Foundation, although it's important to note that certain types of pillows can last even longer.

Does the Type of Washing Machine Matter?

A front- or top-loading machine without an agitator—which is the spindle in the center of the washing machine—is preferred for cleaning pillows. However, that doesn't mean you can't use a top-loading machine with an agitator to clean pillows; Sansoni simply recommends placing the pillows in vertically so they're less likely to get damaged and agitating only one or two minutes on the gentle cycle. "After rinsing, use the spin dry feature of your washer at least twice to get as much moisture out of the pillows as possible," he adds.

How to Spot-Treat Pillows

As with washing, there's a difference in how you should approach spot-treating your pillows based on type. For foam pillow, Sansoni recommends spot cleaning any soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soap solution. For other pillow types, if the pillow has stains from substances such as blood or saliva, you may want to pre-treat the stains to help get them out. Digestants (enzyme-containing detergents) should do the trick.

How to Dry Pillows

It's perfectly fine to allow your pillows to air-dry. You can also give them some time in the dryer depending on what the cleaning instructions on the label say. (Foam pillows, for example, pose the risk of catching fire when coming into contact with heat.) In the case that you can use your dryer, Sansoni recommends running for several cycles to ensure the pillow's dry all the way through. "When drying, remove pillows and fluff them periodically to prevent clumping and promote even drying," says Sansoni. "Tossing a few tennis or dryer balls in the dryer with the pillows will also help prevent clumping."

Caring for Down Pillows

While your down pillows may seem like they need expert care, they can actually be washed at home. Of course, you'd want to check the fabric care label, but washing on a delicate setting in cool water is often sufficient for cleaning. "Launder two of them at the same time in order to help keep your washing machine balanced during the spin cycle," says Sansoni.

How to Wash Bed Pillows

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Photo: Daniela Gorny

Just like any other piece of bedding, pillows need to be washed. Pillowcases go a long way toward keeping your pillows free of build-up and allergens, but they can protect pillows only for so long.

Over time, sweat and oils from your skin can make their way through the fibers of your pillowcase and sometimes through the outer shell of your pillow to the filling inside.

It’s good hygiene practice to wash your pillows once or twice a year—and it will help them last longer, too.

Different fillings—like down, down alternative, or foam—can tolerate different washing methods, so we asked down expert Jack Sukalac, owner of All About Down, and Christian Alexander, COO and director of marketing and e-commerce at Nest Bedding, for advice.

What you need

How long will this take to clean?

Photo: Daniela Gorny

Spot cleaning a pillow shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes, plus drying time, unless the stain needs to soak overnight. You can spot clean pillows as often as needed in between deeper cleanings.

Washing a foam pillow cover (since the actual filling shouldn’t be washed) should take a single wash cycle, plus air-drying time. It can take a few hours to wash down and down alternative pillows in the washer and dryer, and with down especially, you’ll need to monitor it while it’s in the dryer.

Spot treat minor stains

Photo: Daniela Gorny

For small stains, try spot cleaning in between major washings or before you put your pillow in the washer. Spot cleaning the cover is also the only way to clean a foam pillow without removing the fill.

Follow the instructions for whatever stain remover you choose. But generally you’ll want to spray or saturate the stain directly, pinch the fabric on either side of the stain, and rub the fabric sides together to push the spot treatment into the stain.

Video: Daniela Gorny

Leave the treated stain to soak for several minutes—or overnight for dried, old stains—and then wet a clean rag to blot and rinse the soiled area.

In our guide to cleaning coffee stains, Wirecutter staff writer Sarah Bogdan spoke with Mary Begovic Johnson, Procter & Gamble’s fabric care principal scientist, who recommended using warm water instead of cold to rinse because it does a better job of loosening grime. You can also just put non-foam pillows and foam pillow covers into the washing machine once the stain remover has soaked in.

Empty foam pillows and wash the cover

Photo: Daniela Gorny

Some textile experts we’ve interviewed say you can wash shredded foam pillows (but not single-piece foam) with the stuffing inside, but manufacturers almost unilaterally say not to do it. Washing the whole pillow could affect your ability to return it or make a warranty claim.

Washing a foam pillow could change a pillow’s loft, damage shredded or single-piece foam, cause mold to grow if it’s not dried properly, or possibly even harm your washer and dryer if the shredded fill escapes. To be on the safe side, we (and most manufacturers) recommend washing the covers only.

Single-piece foam fillings are easy to remove, but for shredded foam pillows you’ll want to unzip the cover and empty the contents into a big container until the cover is washed and dried. This can stir up a lot of dust and fluff, so do it outside or somewhere it’s easy to contain the mess, like a bathtub.

Once the filling is emptied, Alexander says you should wash the cover on cold and leave it to air-dry (foam pillow covers usually aren’t cotton, so we think this is playing it safe to avoid possible heat damage). He recommends doing this no more than once a year.

Thoroughly rinse down and down alternative pillows

Down alternative pillows are less precious to wash than down, and you can just follow the care label instructions. But Sukalac’s advice for cleaning down pillows works well for both.

Sukalac says you always want to protect the oils on the down feathers inside your pillow. If the down gets wet it can become sticky and start to stink (one obvious indicator that it’s time to wash it). Eventually it will lose its loft and leave you with a flat-as-a-pancake pillow. Wash it in cold or warm water on the gentle cycle, and don’t add too much detergent—soap residue can build up on the down, just like dirt and sweat do.

It’s important to thoroughly rinse and spin the pillow to make sure the soap is fully removed, but it’s hard to know whether the down filling inside is free of soap. For an additional rinse, Sukalac suggests running a second, quick wash or rinse cycle without soap. “If you do a quick wash with no soap, just [to] try and extract all the soap out, you’re helping.”

Go easy with the dryer

Soap and dirt aren’t the only ways to damage a pillow’s stuffing. Sukalac says drying your pillows on high heat for a long time is a surefire way to bake the down inside, stripping it of oils and permanently damaging it. High heat is also unkind to down alternative stuffing, which is usually made of polyester and can warp or even melt if it’s left too long at high temperatures.

High heat is the best way to kill dust mites, bed bugs, and other pathogens, though, so Sukalac says he runs the dryer on hot for the first 20 minutes only. “Then I kick it down to medium or low to do all the rest of the drying,” he says. He takes pillows out of the dryer every 20 minutes to shake out clusters and make sure the fill is evenly drying and redistributing. “Extracting the water is really difficult,” he says. “You’ve really got to take [the pillow] out and beat it up and manually unclump it.” Don’t remove the pillow until it is completely dry.

How to take care of your pillows long-term

Photo: Daniela Gorny

We know pillow protectors are not always the most comfortable for sleeping, but Alexander recommends using them (with a pillowcase on top) so you don’t have to wash pillows as often. To keep your foam pillows fluffed, “Knead your pillow like a loaf of bread once a week to let the shredded foam inside open up.” Or put it in the dryer for 10 minutes on no heat.

Sukalac also recommends using the dryer for down or down alternative pillows. “When I sell somebody a new pillow,” he says, “I tell them once every three, four weeks, put it in the dryer for an hour on regular heat to evaporate out moisture, perspiration that has collected.” Your pillow will stay fluffier for longer this way. And if you have allergies, Sukalac recommends putting your pillow in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes to help kill off dust mites.

About your guide

Jackie Reeve

Jackie Reeve is a senior staff writer covering bedding, organization, and home goods at Wirecutter since 2015. Previously she was a school librarian, and she’s been a quilter for about 15 years. Her quilt patterns and her other written work have appeared in various publications. She moderates Wirecutter’s staff book club and makes her bed every morning.

Further reading

Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).

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How to wash pillows from different materials?

How to wash pillows from different materials? Sleeping accessories can easily become breeding grounds for bedding.

Pillows require delicate care. Like all bedding, they get dirty. Washing pillows is not as hard work as you think. For a good result, you need to follow the general instructions. Then the bed will always bring a pleasant, healthy sleep. nine0003

Proper care of pillows consists of several steps. How to clean, at what temperature to wash the product depends on its internal content.

🔴 How to wash a pillow in a washing machine?

Before first use, it is useful to ventilate the product by whisking occasionally. This removes dust, odor and textile fibers from the cover.

How to machine wash a pillow at home? This question is asked by many housewives. nine0003

Care will vary depending on the contents inside. Feather pillows are harder to clean than artificial pillows.

Type of filling required:

Machine wash pillows with organic filling and orthopedic use are contraindicated.

🟠 How to wash a down pillow?

nine0003

The most common raw materials for down and feather sets are: chicken feather, down.

Need to know: natural filling is not suitable for people with allergies.

There are two ways to wash pillows at home:

Washing down pillows by hand is considered a painstaking job. nine0003

How to wash a down garment with plain water by hand:

How to wash a down pillow in the machine - automatic:

After washing, the filler bags should be laid out on a pre-prepared absorbent material. Roll up. After that, the filler must be removed, leveled, left to dry on the balcony or near the heating system. nine0003

Down pillows can be washed in the washing machine with a special gel detergent for delicates. The use of regular powder is not recommended.

There are special rubber balls to make washing down products easier. They prevent the fluff from sticking into a ball. You can replace such an accessory with balls made of foil. The result will be unchanged.

Tips for washing down:

🟡 How to wash a feather pillow?

Washing a feather pillow without opening is not a good idea. The tight bedclothes do not pass water very well, the soap solution is not completely rinsed out. During washing, the filler gets lost in a lump, which is difficult to knead. It will take a long time to dry the pillows. As a result, your favorite sleep accessory will acquire a bad smell of mold. nine0003

This method is more suitable for the first wash of a new product with a minimum addition of liquid shampoo, gel.

Feather pillows require careful preparation. Don't stuff a big pillow into the drum. The contents of the bedding must be divided into several parts.

Sew a special cover in advance to hold the pillow filling. The width of the cover should correspond to the size of the sleeping accessory, the length is twice as long. Any fabric can be used except gauze. nine0003

The feather pillow can be washed in parts. Divide the feather from one pillow into 2-3 equal parts, put them in bags. Thus, the filler will be well cleaned of dust and dirt. In addition, the pen dries much faster after washing.

How do I wash the feathers removed from the pillow by hand? Housewives often ask this question. To do this, you need:

Feather pillows can be cleaned at home with steam. To do this, you need a steam generator, an iron with a steam generator:

Steam cleaning is not a quality wash. She just updates the products.

🟢 How to clean feathers without a feather bed?

This method is perfect when you want to wash the bedclothes better. When washing the bedclothes, it is necessary to separate white fabrics from colored ones.

To clean the pen at home, you need to prepare:

🔵 How to wash a bamboo pillow? nine0013

Bamboo-filled pillows and blankets have recently appeared in our homes. Despite the delicate and thin fibers of bamboo, the products perfectly withstand the load. They have good elasticity and at the same time remain soft. They are light, well pass air, giving away excess moisture and heat.

Bamboo has antibacterial properties, so harmful insects do not get in such sleep items. This type of filler is perfect for baby sleep. nine0003

Proper washing of a bamboo pillow will not let you lose all its positive qualities. Before washing a bamboo product, you must familiarize yourself with the tag that is sewn into the seam. It indicates the permissible degree and mode of washing. The addition of conditioners, rinses negatively affects the delicate fiber.

Remove the dust from the product before washing. If you ignore this step, unwanted streaks may appear on the pillowcase after washing.

You can quickly clean the bamboo pillow from dirt using a washing machine or manually.

When setting the washing program in the washing machine, the following must be taken into account:

Hand wash:

It is recommended to dry the pillow horizontally on a special rack so that all the remaining moisture comes out on its own.

🟣 How to wash polyester pillows?

Wash items with synthetic filler in the machine at 30C with the addition of gel, liquid shampoo. The polyester cushion is heat sensitive. The number of revolutions of the drum is up to 800. An “extra rinse” is required. nine0003

If the pillow is deformed after washing, open the seams, remove the contents and fluff well.

⚫️ How to wash padding polyester pillows?

The synthetic winterizer is afraid of very hot water, the allowable temperature is 40C. With great responsibility, you need to take the information indicated on the product labels.

🟤 How to wash holofiber pillows?

Cushion filled with holofiber should be cleaned in compliance with the following rules:

In the washing machine:

Hand wash:

Bedding is recommended to be aired frequently, periodically left in the open sun. Pillows with any filler must be thoroughly dried so that a pleasant environment for harmful microorganisms is not created. A horizontal position when drying on a clothesline or special dryers will help to dry the product with high quality.

If the product tag says dry clean only, refrain from home washing. Adhering to the general rules for the care of bedding, an excellent result will not be long in coming. A clean bed is a healthy sleep. nine0003

Author: Textile Contact


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How to wash the pillow correctly. Helpful Hints

Content

  1. Pillow care. General rules
  2. How to wash pillows. Universal Tips
  3. Features of washing certain types of pillows nine0028
  4. How often should pillows be washed?
  5. Additional care tips

How many bacteria are in your bed? Quite a lot if you clean your bed less than once every two weeks. This includes airing the mattress, washing bed linen and pillows. If you carry out these procedures regularly, you will avoid the appearance of fungus and other microorganisms in the bed. nine0003

Also, ignoring washing or improper washing of pillows is dangerous because the product is deformed and this will cause pain in the neck. Or you throw it away altogether because it has lost its shape and become too soft. If you are looking for a pillow that will fit you 100% and last for a long time, we advise you to look for it among our orthopedic pillow options. In this article, we will tell you how often to wash a pillow, depending on the filler, and how to do it correctly. nine0003

In addition to washing, there are several rules for caring for pillows. They are suitable for all pillows, regardless of the type of filler. The pillow will retain its anatomical properties longer if you follow these rules:

It is also important to use not only a pillowcase, but also a cover that will protect the pillow from dust and moisture, and its shape from deformation. As a rule, a protective cover is included with the pillow and sometimes helps to slightly adjust the rigidity of the product. Please note that the height of your future pillow depends on the firmness of the mattress. Find out why you should not save on buying an orthopedic mattress before you start choosing it. nine0003

Wash each pillow based primarily on the manufacturer's instructions on the product label. If you do not find any instructions, use the following tips:

This instruction is something universal for washing pillows. However, the question of whether the pillow can be washed in the washing machine is strongly influenced by the type of filler.

Orthopedic (memory foam)

Wash only the cover as it gets dirty.

Modern pillows that can adapt to bends are made from materials that do not accumulate odors and dust. Therefore, there is no need to wash orthopedic pillows, airing is enough. nine0003

Washing the cover will help refresh the appearance of the pillows. If you're cleaning a stain from a pillow that hasn't been covered, use a mild soap solution for light stains and dry cleaning for heavy stains.

Latex

Inside this pillow is the congealed sap of the tropical hevea tree, purified and brought to a state of foam. The main difference between latex and memory foam is that the latex pillow restores its shape instantly. It can be compared to a spring. The memory foam pillow also recovers its shape, but much more slowly. Washing a latex pillow is recommended only as a last resort. It is best to clean it manually in warm water using gentle products and a soft sponge. nine0003

Wringing and drying in the sun are contraindicated, as is the case with a memory foam product. After washing, blot the pillow with towels and leave to dry on a flat surface without wrinkling.

Synthetic fill

Synthetic products (synthetic winterizer, holofiber, sintepukh) are not so finicky and can withstand half an hour washing in a machine with a liquid detergent, unless otherwise indicated on the label. Anatomical products made of synthetics are washed on average once every six months. A short wash at 30-40 degrees is suitable. Some models can even be dried and wrung out, check this on the product label. If drying and spinning in the machine are prohibited, it is recommended to blot the pillow with a cloth and dry it on a flat surface. nine0003

Organic filler

This type includes pillows made of buckwheat husks, rice and coconut fiber. They can only be cleaned from the outside with a vacuum cleaner. You can only wash the cover. Buckwheat filler is advised not to wash, but to sift (separate the husk from buckwheat) once a year. At the same time, after sifting, you need to add buckwheat so that the product does not lose in volume. So the filler will not lose the ability to support the neck in the correct position. nine0003

Feather

Feather pillows are advised to wash the least - once a year. This is because the natural feather filler loses its properties due to frequent washing. At the same time, it absorbs sweat, dust and odors faster than any other filler.


Before washing, it is important to understand which bird pillow is made of feathers and down. If the product is made of waterfowl down, then you can safely start washing. Otherwise, it is impossible to influence the filler with water, especially if it consists of feathers and fluff of chickens. Such material practically does not dry, does not tolerate moisture and, when exposed to it, begins to disintegrate into fibers. It is better to dispose of such a pillow immediately or dry-clean it exclusively for dry cleaning. nine0003

The process of washing such a pillow will require a lot of time and effort from you. Therefore, sometimes the most pleasant solution is to give it to the dry cleaners. if you still decide to do your own washing, consider the following points. It is better to wash in the machine in several passes, dividing the filler into parts so that it does not go astray. A delicate wash mode with 30 degrees and a gentle detergent without chlorine will do. Re-rinsing at low speeds is recommended. Do not use conditioner - it will soften the filler and the pillow will lose its shape. It is better to dry in a warm, ventilated area, shaking the product from time to time. nine0003

Camel wool

You can wash this pillow either by hand or in the washing machine. Washing in the machine should take place on a delicate mode and without spinning. Use liquid laundry detergent or extra rinse if using powder. Camel wool pillows are washed by hand in warm water with detergent. Before this, the pillow should be soaked for half an hour or an hour. Carefully lift and lower the product into the water. Rinse gently, let the water drain. nine0003

How to understand which option is best? Put the pillow in the washing machine. If it takes up more than ¾ of the drum, then wash it with your hands - the machine may not give a good wash. Dry the pillow outdoors out of direct sunlight. It is not necessary to beat a pillow from such material; over time, the filler will take the desired shape.

Bamboo

The filler of such a pillow is thin and durable bamboo cellulose fiber obtained from young shoots of the plant. These pillows need to be washed every 4 months. Suitable for delicate machine or hand wash. If the pillow does not fit in the machine, it will be easier to divide the filler into parts and wash it in several passes. Wash properly on delicate mode up to 40 degrees. Choose the shortest wash and the minimum number of revolutions. nine0334 Important! When washing a bamboo pillow, do not use bleach or soak the product before washing.

Pillowcase and cover do not protect the product from dirt by 100%. So if the pillow filling is washable, don't ignore it. Pillows are recommended to be washed every six months. So, you will save the pillow from the appearance of dust and insects. If insects still appear, you need to act quickly. The most effective ways to eliminate and prevent in the article on how to get rid of bedbugs. nine0003

If the pillow (for example, memory foam or latex) is not recommended for washing, wash the cover regularly and air it out.

Whether to wash a new pillow or not is up to you.

Learn more