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Pillows in the dryer


Can You Put A Pillow In The Dryer? đŸ§ș

Washing your pillows regularly will remove unwanted materials from the pillow, like dust mites and allergens. But it can be difficult to get over the idea of dunking them in water or risking clumping these fluffy friends together. Wet washing is a great way to keep away all sorts of unwelcome guests!

You may wonder, how can I dry my pillows? Can I put them in the dryer?

You can put pillows in the dryer. Place the pillows in a dryer on the lowest heat possible. Add an extra softener sheet for freshness and two or three tennis balls to help fluff them up! Keep track of time so you can remove your pillow when it’s done getting fluffy, not burnt (or at least before). It is even recommended to put your pillows in the dryer every few weeks to kill bacteria and mites in your pillows.

Putting your pillows in the dryer is a very simple way of drying your washed pillows. It is much quicker than air-drying them. However, drying them like regular laundry will turn your pillows hard, clumped, or even completely unusable. You should know how to put them in the dryer and how often to have clean and durable pillows.

Contents

How To Dry A Pillow In The Dryer

I have found that machine drying a pillow is much more efficient than drying them under the sun. However, whether you should put a pillow in the dryer depends on the type of your pillow. The label on a pillow will mention whether it is dryer safe.

If the pillow is dryer safe, you can quickly dry it in the dryer. Here are some tips I recommend following to dry your pillows without any damage to your pillows or the dryer.

Don’t Leave Your Pillow Wet.

Leaving your wet pillow in the washer will cause the fillings to clump up. It may also retain so much moisture that the dryer may fail to dry it thoroughly. So, put your pillow immediately in the dryer from the washer.

Set The Dryer To Low Heat

Pillows tend to heat up easily because of their natural insulating properties. The pillow in the dryer will trap the heat just like it traps your body temperature. Setting a low heat option will help you avoid fire hazards.

Run Several Cycles

Because the dryer heat only touches the moist surface, you will need several cycles for the pillow to dry all the way through. “After rinsing, use the spin dry feature of your washer at least twice to get as much moisture out of the pillows as possible,” says Brian Sansoni, Senior Vice President of communications, outreach, and membership of American Cleaning Institute.

Fluff The Pillow After Every Cycle

The dryer may cause the pillows to shrink or clump up. I prefer to avoid taking the pillow out of the dryer after every cycle and fluff it up like I would when making my bed.

Use Dryer Balls

If available, you can use dryer balls instead of fluffing them after every cycle. They help to fluff the pillows by hitting them with the spin cycle. Dryer balls are also designed to keep your pillow soft and fresh.

Be Patient

Setting low heat and running the cycle over and over surely takes longer than drying laundry. I have had the temptation to speed up the process by setting a higher heat option, but having patience is important. High heat can cause a fire in the dryer.

Although it may sound like a long process, drying a pillow in the dryer is much faster than taking a whole day to air dry them. Besides, it’s a process that cannot be replaced if you live in a damp climate or in a place that gets very little sunlight.

What Precautions To Take When Putting Pillow in Dryer

The biggest problem with putting a pillow in the dryer is that pillows are naturally insulating because of their ingredients. They trap the temperature around it. When put in the dryer, pillows retain all the heat. The pillows, being in a confined space, have a chance of catching fire.

However, dryers are fire-prone by design. It doesn’t matter whether you are drying a pillow or your regular laundry. Some very simple preventive measures can help you avoid the disaster.

Set A Low Heat Option

Because a pillow can retain heat inside for a long time, it tends to reach a higher temperature than the dryer temperature. Even though this slows down the process a little, it will help you avoid any possibility of your dryer catching on fire.

Let The Cooling Cycle Finish

Dryers have a cooling cycle along with their drying (or heating) cycle. You may feel the need to fluff your pillow by taking it out of the dryer before the cooling cycle ends. Sometimes, people could be in a hurry and stop the dryer before it cools properly. This may cause sparks of fire in the dryer with a chance of spreading.

Keep The Lint Filter Clean

The lint filter catches everything from loose threads to all the fuzzy debris from your clothes. Lint is the exact kind of material you would need to kindle a fire. So, the lint filter must be cleaned after every cycle to avoid fire hazards.

Clean The Dryer Vents

The lint filter is not a foolproof tool to catch all the lint. Some of it will gather in the dryer vent. Besides, outdoor debris can block the exhaust of the dryer vent. This will trap the heat in the dryer, causing a fire.

How Often You Should Do It

People wash their laundry at least once a week. The same goes for the bed linens. So why do we avoid cleaning our pillows?

Our pillow’s shape, size, and structure usually make us believe that these can go without washing. Besides, the inconvenience of washing them may also discourage you. It is important to clean your pillows still.

Most experts suggest that you must wash your pillows two or three times a year. That is, it is best to wash pillows every 4-6 months. “If you sweat more during the night, have more sensitive skin, or have allergies, you should wash your pillows more often—about every three months or more, if you feel the need.” Natalie Barret, a cleaning supervisor at Nifty Cleaning Services, says.  

You can dry your pillow by putting it in the dryer after every wash. I also put them in the dryer without washing until the pillows accumulate too much dust or pollen from the air. In case of mold or any other pungent smell, it is best to wash them. 

If cleaning the pillows doesn’t fix them, it is time to replace your pillows. This is how you can decide if you should throw away your pillows:

Why You Should Put Your Pillows in the Dryer

Pillows are always in close contact with our skin. This makes it very important that the pillows are always clean and do not carry any bugs or infections. Our sweat glands release sweat and sebum. This moisture can become a breeding ground for bacteria and other mites and parasites.

“Pillows are perfect hosts for debris, dead skin cells, sweat, moisture, skin oils, and so on. If you leave all of that stuff be, it may attract dust mites. And sharing your sleeping space with those guys can cause allergies, itchy or watery eyes, skin rashes, and even increased risk of asthma,” says Alex Savy, a certified sleep science coach. 

Even when you are not washing your pillows, putting them in the dryer can help kill the dust mites. A clean bedroom can still lead to dust mites in your pillows. Besides, night sweats can cause the pillows to get so dampened that they fail to dry throughout the day. This will result in mold and bacteria. The heat in the dryer kills the bacteria in pillows.

Is Drying Under The Sun A Better Option?

Growing up, I have always seen my family putting the pillows up in a clothesline in the backyard every other week. Many still debate the sun has various properties that make air-drying a superior option to machine drying.

Air-drying has various advantages and disadvantages. However, which features can be considered as an advantage depends upon your convenience. I have made a list of the features of air-drying to consider: 

Saves Money And Energy

Air-drying saves a lot of energy. A dryer uses around 2 to 6 kilowatts of energy each cycle, and you must run several cycles to dry a pillow. If you have many pillows, drying them under the sun will help you reduce energy usage and electric bills.

Increases Durability

The dryer spin cycles cause friction with the clothes, which may wear out your pillow after a few washes. On the other hand, the sun does not affect the pillow shell in any way that can reduce its lifespan. 

Time Consuming

When air-drying, you have to start early in the day because you may have to keep the pillows under the sun throughout the entire day. You also have to come back to them every once in a while to flip them. However, if you have many pillows, you can air-dry them at once, but you have to machine dry them in several batches. 

Catches Pollen

It is important to keep track of the pollen count on the day you will be drying them. Being outside for hours will surely cause your pillows to trap some of the pollen in the air. If you have allergies, machine drying is a safer option.

Weather Dependent

Weather plays a big role in deciding when to wash your pillows if you are going to air-dry them. You can only wash your pillows on a sunny and breezy day. Besides, you have to check the weather reports to ensure that there is no chance of rain.

Kills Bacteria Effectively

Air-drying has a special edge to it, which is the UV light of the sun. It kills all the bacteria in your pillows. When machine washing and drying, you may need to use soap and other cleaning agents to get rid of those same bacteria.

Natural Sanitizer

The sun is called a natural sanitizer. The sunlight has properties that work as a sanitizing element. So if you dry your pillows under the sun, they will smell cleaner and fresher. 

Bleaches Clothes

The sun’s UV light also has bleaching properties. This will whiten your pillows. As a result, they will look cleaner and less stained. Air-drying will give the pillows a newer look compared to machine drying.

Clumps Feather And Down

Air-drying can take a lot of time, especially when the pillows are not set directly under the sun. The longer it takes to dry, or in other words, the longer the down-and-feather filling of a pillow stays wet, the more it clumps. These pillows should always be put in a dryer.

Only Way To Dry Memory Foam

Memory foam is easily destroyed in a dryer. Most memory foam and other pillows that are not dryer safe have to be dried under the sun because there is no other option.

Although I favor drying my pillows in the dryer, it may not be a convenient option for many. Knowing that you can easily dry your pillows in the dryer and get rid of mites makes this a choice if you need it.

While air-drying is a better option in a dryer climate, putting your pillows in the dryer is your only option when it is raining. In contrast to air-drying, you can put your pillows in the dryer any time of the year you may need to. 

Sources

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How to Wash and Dry All of Your Pillows

Washing our sheets and pillow covers are often part of our weekly chores, but sometimes we overlook pillows. Though pillowcases offer some protection from sweat, body oil, and dead skin cells, these can still build-up within our pillows. To prevent accumulating germs, it’s best to wash pillows once every four to six months.

Dead skin cells and body fluids attract dust mites and other indoor allergens. You wouldn’t want to rest your head on a pillow infested with allergens. Washing your pillows regularly maintains hygiene, preventing allergies.

Different Pillow Types and How to Clean Them

Different pillow types have various kinds of stuffing, such as feather, down, polyester, or memory foam. Pillows may feel different depending on the stuffing inside them. You can choose any type depending on your personal preference or budget.

The stuffings inside your pillows determine how your pillows can be laundered. Not all pillows can be machine washed or hand washed. Some require dry-cleaning or spot cleaning. We recommend reading the instructions on the care label before washing your pillows.

Here we discuss the washing and drying methods of some common pillow types.

Feathers or Down

Feathers or down from ducks or geese are popular pillow stuffings. The soft feathers on the birds’ bellies are called down. Down pillows feel warm. They are expensive compared to down alternatives or polyester pillows.

Down pillows can trigger an itchy throat, runny nose, watery eyes, or breathing difficulties in people prone to allergies. Despite washing, some traces of dust may remain in the feathers or down, causing allergic reactions.

Washing: Down pillows can be machine washed with a mild powder detergent on a warm setting, and a gentle cycle. Liquid detergents sometimes don’t rinse well leaving a sticky residue on the fabric surface, causing clumping.

It’s better to wash your pillows in a washing machine without an agitator (the tall spindle in the middle of some washing machines) because it can damage your pillows. But if your washing machine has an agitator, placing your pillows vertically in the washing machine reduces the chances of damage. Putting two pillows inside the washing machine at a time maintains a balance inside the machine, preventing overload.

Drying: Down or feather pillows can be dried on the no-heat air-dry setting in your dryer, or air-dried naturally. Keep two fresh tennis balls (or tennis balls tucked in socks) inside the dryer with the pillows to reduce clumping. The tennis balls bounce around inside the dryer, breaking up the clumps inside the pillow. It’s crucial to dry pillows thoroughly because any trace of moisture promotes mold and mildew growth.

Down Alternative or Polyester

Down alternative or polyester pillows are the least expensive pillows on the market. They are a good option for those who like to change their pillows regularly. Polyester pillows have a bounce to them and are very easy to care for.

Washing: Down alternative or polyester pillows can be machine washed with warm water and a mild detergent on the gentle cycle.

Drying: Air-dry your polyester pillows on the clothesline or throw them in your dryer on a low heat setting. Polyester pillows dry fast compared to all other pillow types.

Memory Foam

Memory foam pillows conform to the curvature of your neck, providing pressure-point relief and reducing pains. These pillows contain a solid chunk of memory foam or shredded memory foam as stuffing. Memory foam pillows are soft, supportive, and durable.

Washing: Memory foam pillows can’t be washed, because washing can damage the stuffing inside the pillow. That said, you can still clean your memory foam pillows. Vacuum both sides of your pillow using the upholstery brush attachment. If there are any stains, you can spot-clean them with a cloth dipped in mild detergent.

Drying: Leave your memory foam pillow on the clothesline to air-dry. Even if you can’t wash your memory foam pillows, you can air them out under direct sunlight for a few hours every three to six months. The high temperature of the sun’s rays kills microorganisms, making your pillows germ-free.

How to Clean our Amerisleep Pillows

Our Comfort Classic Pillows have a soft and breathable cover with a zipper. This removable cover can be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle. We recommend turning the cover inside out before washing for better maintaining the fabric.

The Bio-PurÂź core can be cleaned by sprinkling some baking soda over it. Let the baking soda sit for an hour before you vacuum it away. The baking soda absorbs all odors, if any, keeping the pillow fresh.

The Dual Comfort Pillow has a similar design, with a soft and firm side instead of just one feel. You can remove the cover for washing and freshen up the pillow with baking soda and a good vacuuming.

The Flex Pillow has a different design for easier cleaning. The pillow cover and core are both washable, though you should wash each item separately. You wash the cover as you would the Comfort Classic’s, while the pillow itself can be washed on a cold and delicate cycle and tumble dried on low heat.

Latex

Latex foam is made from the sap of rubber trees. If you are looking for organic pillows, latex pillows are a good option because they contain all-natural materials. Latex pillows feel bouncy and can be found in various firmness levels to suit your preference.

Washing: Latex pillows can’t be washed because washing can damage the texture of the latex foam. Spot clean any stains on latex pillows.

Drying: Air-dry your latex pillows away from direct sunlight. Sun’s UV rays can damage latex foam, causing degradation.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat hull pillows feel springy under pressure, but provide firm contouring support to your head and neck. The hulls promote air circulation within the pillow, keeping you cool as you sleep.

Washing: Empty the buckwheat hulls in a large bowl and wash the cover with cold water and mild detergent on a gentle cycle.

Drying: Keep the buckwheat hulls out in the sun to eliminate odor caused due to moisture.

How to Fluff your Pillows

A thoroughly dried pillow feels fluffy and soft. Sometimes, even if you don’t wash your pillows, moisture from sweat or body oil accumulates, making your pillows feel flat.

Air drying your pillows naturally or in your dryer in the low-heat, or the no-heat setting fluffs up your pillow. Gently shake feather, down, or polyester pillows to evenly distribute the filling.

When to Replace Your Pillows

Washing, drying, fluffing, and airing out your pillows regularly are best practices to ensure they last a long time. Pillow covers and waterproof pillow protectors can provide an extra layer of protection to your pillows.

But there is a limit to how long you can prolong the life of your pillows. Your head is heavy and  your pillow bears the heavy weight every night, causing your pillows to eventually flatten and lack support.

Your pillows may last between 1 to 4 years, depending on the stuffing and how well you maintain them. Here are a few signs it’s time to replace your pillows:

FAQs

Can we wash pillows in a top-loading washing machine?

Yes, you can wash your pillows in both front and top-loading washing machines. Place pillows vertically in a top-loading machine to prevent damage from the agitator. Front-loading machines are preferred because they don’t have an agitator.

Can we dry our pillows on the auto-dry setting in the dryer?

No, we can’t rely on the auto-dry settings in our dryer while drying pillows. The auto-dry setting senses the dryness of the outer fabric, while the fill remains wet. We recommend checking pillows thoroughly after washing, ensuring no trace of moisture. Pillows take an hour or more to dry in a low heat setting.

Can we put memory foam and latex pillows in the dryer to fluff them up?

No, we can’t put memory foam and latex pillows in the dryer because the heat damages the foam. Air drying your pillows on a clothesline once every three months can fluff them up. But avoid exposing latex pillows to direct sunlight because the UV rays may damage latex foam.

Conclusion

Washing and drying pillows are key to maintaining good hygiene, reducing allergens in your pillows, and ensuring proper support. But not all pillow types can be washed and dried the same way. Be careful about different methods of washing and drying various pillow types, otherwise, you can damage your pillow quality and durability.

Can I dry my feather pillow in a tumble dryer?

Most expensive tumble dryers have a pillow drying program in their arsenal. The main task of this program is to dry pillows, duvets, sleeping bags, etc. evenly and gently. Clothes dried with this program retain their softness and volume, while also serving for a very long time. However, not every car in the budget segment has a similar program. For such a technique, the question is very relevant: is it possible to dry feather pillows in a dryer, if so, how to do it right?

You need the right drying program

Machines with a drying function are easy to use. However, with budget options for dryers, not everything is so simple, in theory it is possible to put a pillow in such a machine, but no one can guarantee that you will get the desired result.

Depending on the manufacturer, the name of the mode in which you can dry the pillows is different. For example, for Mile dryers, it is called “Pillows”. In Beko dryers, this function is called “Careful”. In addition to pillows, this program dries delicate linen, as well as various items intended for hand washing (thin blouses, underwear, pajamas, sundresses, shirts). And, accordingly, this program perfectly copes with drying feather pillows, blankets, down jackets, etc.

Bosch dryers have a special program called Down Jackets. It allows you to qualitatively dry voluminous things, blankets, warm outerwear. When drying a large amount of clothes, it is important to monitor the maximum load of the machine so as not to damage its internal components.

LG brand tumble dryers are equipped with the “Down” programme. With it, you can also dry massive things, with this program your pillows are guaranteed to remain soft and voluminous. The instructions for LG dryers say that when drying bulky items, they dry unevenly, to solve this problem, it is recommended to stop the dryer in the middle of the cycle, fluff and turn things over to the other side.

Undoubtedly, there are many more examples of dryers of various brands. However, this will not affect the general perception of the essence. In the instructions for each dryer, you can find a complete guide to its use, as well as an explanation of some of the nuances.

How to prepare a pillow for drying?

You can get the desired results from washing if you correctly perform the preparatory work. It is worth noting that things with feather filling are very difficult to wash well. And some housewives, in order not to take risks, use a dryer to shake the filler well and disperse the accumulated dust mites. The idea is certainly not bad, but in this way you will not be able to get a pleasant feeling from the smell of washed things.

Having decided to wash a feather pillow, it is necessary to wring it out well. The instructions clearly state that you can not put wet laundry, this will affect the final drying result, things will not be able to dry enough.

Important! You should not use dry powder, the fact is that it is poorly soluble in water and can remain in the filler, the best solution would be to use a washing gel, it dissolves perfectly and does not remain on things after the rinsing procedure.

How can I get a pillow to dry evenly and completely?

  1. After the machine has finished washing, you need to remove the pillow and shake it well so that the filling is evenly distributed.
  2. We put the pillow in the dryer, choosing the appropriate mode.
  3. Halfway through the cycle, stop the machine, take out the pillow, beat well, turn over to the other side and resume drying.

For bulky items, repeat this procedure several times. After the end of the process, we check whether everything has dried out evenly, if a wet filler is found, we repeat the drying. These tips also apply to a variety of blankets, sleeping bags, and warm outerwear.

Wash and dry pillows with different fillings

With the onset of summer, under the hot sun, residents of the northern latitudes often have an irresistible desire to wash and dry all bulky items, such as pillows with different fillings, blankets, down jackets, carpets and much more.

Should pillows be washed

Over the course of a year, these warm, soft and fluffy things were soaked with dust and sweat, wrinkled, became a home for billions of microorganisms, acquired an unpleasant odor.
Of particular concern is the condition of the pillows. After all, in contact with the pillow, we spend almost half of our lives. Inhaling the dust and waste products of linen mites, people begin to suffer from allergic reactions or a persistent runny nose and do not understand that the reason is in pillows that have not been washed for a long time.

Washing pillows with different fillings

Pillow fillings made of down and feathers are the most polluted, because this is the most favorable and natural environment for the reproduction and existence of many living creatures that can only be seen under a microscope.
People also like down and feathers for a long time. Pillows made of down and feather are moderately soft, moderately elastic. They are not too hot to sleep in in the summer and not too cold in the winter. Many people who have tried to sleep on pillows with different modern fillings have returned to feather pillows, considering them to be the most comfortable.

Washing a pillow filled with down and feather filling is an exclusive occupation. Few people dare to wash a pillow with feather filler more than 1-2 times a year.
For adherents of maximum sterility and cleanliness in the house, pillows with synthetic fillers - synthetic winterizer or holofiber - are more suitable. Pillows with synthetic filling are easier to wash and dry. Ticks do not live in such an unnatural environment, and germs will settle if the pillow is rarely washed.
Sleeping on these pillows is not so pleasant: they are less breathable. This is especially felt in the heat. However, the ability to wash synthetic-filled pillows often outweighs the inconvenience.

What's inside the pillow?

If you don't like a feather pillow or a pillow with any synthetic filling, you can consider other options:

Pillows filled with husks are not washable. You can shake out the filler from the bedclothes, wash the bedclothes, and dry the husk in the sun. You just need to make sure that the wind does not dispel the light filler.
It is not yet recommended to wash memory foam pillows.
All other types of pillows are washable. Let's figure out how best to wash different types of pillows.

How to wash feather pillows

First, the pillowcase is ripped on one side, and the feather filling is laid out in pre-prepared small fabric covers for washing. Covers should be filled with feathers about two-thirds of the volume. Covers should be securely zipped or sewn shut to prevent the pillow filling from clogging the washing machine.

The pillowcases are washed separately in this case.
Small feather pillows can be washed entirely. For the best effect, wash balls are placed in the washing machine. They whip the filler and the feathers don't stick together.
Feather pillows are suitable for washing down products.
Wash pillows filled with feathers in a delicate cycle or in a special pillow wash cycle at a temperature of about 30 degrees.

Chlorine bleach is not recommended for feather pillows./warn]

How to dry feather pillows after washing

Drying pillows correctly after washing is half the success of the event. When drying feather pillows, there are two dangers:

In both cases, the pillow will be damaged.

To avoid this, dry the pillow as follows:

If the pillow is dried in the dry mode in the washing machine or in a separate tumble dryer, it is still better to dry it in the sun afterwards.

How to wash synthetic filled pillows

Synthetic filled pillows can be washed without removing the filling from the pillowcase.
We recommend washing with liquid detergents in the delicate wash cycle with a maximum spin and a temperature of 40 degrees.
Laundry balls are welcome.
It is better to run two rinses.

Synthetic pillows are also best dried in the sun and outdoors. Just like feather pillows, they need to be fluffed and turned over all the time.

If it is not possible to dry the pillow in the yard or on the open balcony, you should choose a well-ventilated place in the apartment for drying. An already dried pillow can be irradiated with an ultraviolet lamp, which is used for medical procedures and disinfection of housing.

How to wash bamboo filled pillows

Bamboo filled pillows hold up well to regular washing in the washing machine.

Learn more