Clean Your Pillows!
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Pillow talk..
..is usually sexy and almost never about how clean or dirty your pillows actually are.
I’ve investigated the situation and demonstrate the proper way to clean your pillows (watch the video below!), an often overlooked cleaning task.
There’s also a fairly interesting quick test which will let you know when it is time to replace your pillows. If they pass the test – then you can use the cleaning method explained to clean your pillows, quickly and easily!
Warning…this may get gross!
Did you know?
Your pillow doubles in weight over a span of time from absorbing dust, mold, bacteria, allergens, and dead skin when we sleep on them. Oh joy…
To test if you need a new pillow:
Fold your pillow in half and if it won’t bounce back, get rid of it.
If it springs to life when folded over, it’s still good.
Go do it now, I’ll wait…
Best pillow practices:
Wash your pillows 3x a year and replace them once every 2 years.
I usually wait until they go on sale (because what department store isn’t having their year’s biggest bargain-basement-blowout sale on the exact weekend you need new pillows?)
Fillings, nothing more than fillings…
You can wash polyester and feather-filled pillows the same way.
For memory foam or silk pillows, wash them separately and follow product care instructions. You will never be able to get the water out of a memory foam pillow (they are ‘cellular’ and won’t release soap or water) and silk pillows are a whole other scenario. I’ve never met anyone with a silk pillow nor have had the opportunity to clean one so I cannot speak from experience and have not come across any solid information on how to do it. I’d recommend taking the pillow to a dry cleaner.
To clean your pillows:
- Use a gentle detergent that is ideally scent-free.
- Press out as much air as possible before loading it into the washer.
- For top load washers, do 2 at a time for balance (or else you will hear a loud knocking sound coming from your washer and may think there is a monster, Chuckee or Jason in your basement and who the heck needs that additional stress?).
- Front load washers don’t have an agitator so you can do 1-2 per load. Set your machine to run a full cycle using warm water. Run a second spin cycle to help eliminate excess moisture. By removing excess moisture, you’ll help reduce mold growth and any unpleasant odors from developing.
- To dry, take 2 tennis balls and split them into 2 socks. Tie the socks to secure the tennis balls in place. The tennis balls will help beat out excess moisture while putting them in socks will prevent the smell and color of the tennis ball from transferring to your pillows. Put the pillows in the dryer using a low heat setting. It may take a few cycles to fully dry the pillows. Once dry, take a deep smell of the pillow to test if there’s still moisture in the pillow.
Our pillow picks
**BONUS TIP**
If your pillow smells, add half a cup of baking soda into the wash.
If you pillow is musty, moldy or has mildew, throw in some vinegar into the wash cycle.
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What about a down pillow? Is that considered a filling?
Hi Angie, down = feathers!
Would laytex pillows be considered foam? And how do you clean them if you can’t wash them?
You cannot wash a foam pillow…the ‘cellular’ structure of the foam would never allow moisture to escape. You would need to replace them every so often instead. I know that is not the popular thing to say but it is the truth.
You wash it in the tub by squeezing it over and over again until it rinses clear, then you hang it up to dry on both sides. It dries just fine.
So what if you use one of those protective pillow cases under a regular pillow case? Replacing pillows 2x a year seems so wasteful..
she didnt say replace 2 x a year she said replace every 2 years
I think if you always use the pillow protector under your regular pillow case you should be fine. Like, mine is waterproof and is supposed to keep out mites and allergens. So I just can’t imagine what there would be to clean off of it. I think as long as the protector is intact you should be okay.
A pillow protector is helpful. Test the pillow then, and see if it needs replacing! You now know what to look for.
How do you wash a tempur pedic pillow?
found this video on how to clean temper-pedic foam: http://www.ehow.com/video_4908477_use-wet-dry-vac.html?cp=1&wa%5Fvlsrc=continuous&pid=1&wa%5Fvrid=7c6e0f1c%2De3b3%2D4309%2Da1eb%2D75f1d8c239e7
You still cannot get all the moisture out, even with a wet/dry vac…the concern is that it would retain water and that would lead to mold.
Suzanne, she said every 2 years, not twice a year. And Aub, latex is actually called latex foam so yes….
Hey there!
I have one of those pillows with a divit in the center from my chiropractor… would I wash that the same as a normal pillow?
Thanks!
Get wool dryer balls, no need for stinky tennis balls! I’ve got 6 in my dryer at all times!
WHERE DO YOU BUY THE WOOL DRYER BALLS. DO THEY HELP THE KEEP THE POLYSTER INSIDE THE PILLOWS FROM ALSO BALLING UP. THIS IS SUCH GREAT INFO. MY PILLOWS ALWAYS COME OUT
CLUMPY. HELP!
June, you can get wool dryer balls on ebay or at most cloth diapering stores!
Where is that beautiful headboard from?!
Brandi, I believe the headboard is from West Elm.
LOL, you know your West Elm! I don’t think they sell it anymore. Shucks Lynn, I was going to say my husband carved it for me in his spare time
Melissa, if your husband HAD actually carved that in his spare time, I’m going to ask if he has a single older brother..lol. Just found your site and already am an avid fan.
I’ve been pinning many of your tips, but reference your site/link in each often along with your name so folks can find out more for themselves.
I sure wish you had a branch of your business in the US. I’ve been doing so much research on cleaning (quick ways, efficient ways, sometimes eco-friendly ways) out of desperation as daughter’s wedding is this coming weekend and I called local services weeks ago to no avail. Business must be great despite economy as only 1 called back & then never followed up.
Since I research data for a living I took the reins in my own hands. Your tips have been so helpful! If you ever start a US branch, just let me know. As frustrated as I am with such poor service from our ‘top recommended’ local services, I just might join with you. At least some of us know that even if you’re busy, it only takes a minute to respond to someone who could be a future customer even if you can’t service them right then.
They do still carry it at West Elm! http://www.westelm.com/products/morocco-headboard-f833/?pkey=cheadboards-bed-frames
Will your pillow get lumpy in the dryer? If so, how do you fix that?
Kristina: the tennis balls work as great agitators to help break up lumps in pillows, so they should not be lumpy after drying. I do the same thing with poly- or down-filled comforters and it works like a charm.
Rachel is right
Kristina,
I think one of the problem’s with pillow’s getting “LUMPY” in the washer is from over stuffing the washer, When I wash my pillow’s I normally got to the laundry-mat, and I use one of the triple load washer’s, and I still only put in my pillow’s, nothing else, not even the Pillow protector, a set of sheet’s, my electric mattress protector, my regular mattress protector, Comforter nothing, just pillow’s. I got tired of having to replace pillow’s ever 3-4 months, I do wash mine ever 3 months, but a few time’s it had been 4 month’s, ;( since i’d washed them for whatever reason.
What advice to you have regarding keeping the pillow from getting lumpy after washing them? Mine are never the same shape as when I put them in the wash.
Well, you can fluff the pillows…that seems to help. Just beat it up every now and then
a few punches or whacks here and there break up the lumpiness (and can be a great anger release).
I followed your instructions on my feather pillows. When they came out of the dryer they smelled worse than before. I washed them again, with baking soda and vinegar and they still stink. Any suggestions?
Feather pillows take FOREVER to dry. If they still stink when you check, keep drying. I learned that with a down duvet.
I work at a laundromat, and we wash down comforters, etc. for customers. A comforter takes over an hour, on high, to dry, so I suspect that your pillows would take that long, at least.
50% polyester 50% filling and all their new material is 100% latex foam now ????
Hi. Great article. Just wanted to share that in your “About the Author” section there is a typo. “well-know” is used where “well-knowN” should be : ) Have a great day!
Thanks – I will update that!
Can you wash pillows with the tiny beads for filling…some Japanese name, I can’t remember.
no you can not wash the sobakowa pillows (the pillows with little beans, or beads) with liquid.. but you can place them in the dryer on low heat, with fabric softener sheets tennis balls to refresh them.
I find this works better than tennis balls and I’ve done this for years……….put an old tennis shoe inside of a tube sock or big enough sock so that its tight around it, or I guess you could tie it. Put that in the dryer with your pillows. Really knocks them around and fluffs them up good. Sometimes when the pillows get really flat (I have down pillows) this really helps. Makes a lot of noise though!
Cool idea! Thanks for sharing it
Latex foam is not at all the same thing as memory foam (which is Tempurpedic). I’m curious as to how to wash latex foam as that’s what my pillow is.
Also, for those using tennis balls in the dryer, I have read studies saying that’s not recommended because the chemicals used in making them can give off toxins when heated (such as in a dryer). The wood dryer balls, or even tightly compressed balls of aluminum foil, work better and you don’t have to worry about toxins or the smell of hot tennis ball.
Hi Krista, that’s good to know. Dryer balls work just as well as the tennis balls…and I didn’t know the part about giving off fumes. Anyway, I believe any foam pillow, latex or otherwise, would have issue with releasing all moisture. I cannot find anything credible on cleaning latex pillows so I don’t want to say one way or the other, but my initial thoughts would be to be cautious and not wash it.
Humans cannot always smell toxens that products like the tennis shoes or tennis balls might give off, but pet birds can die from the toxens they give off. That is why you never ever use teflon cooking pans with pet birds in the house. I have been using dryer balls for years and did away with dryer sheets as they can cause dryer fires. I am going to try wool balls when I get around to making some.
Question: I live in a very sunny, dry country, can the pillows be dried in the sun?
I would really just let it dry in the dryer…because you don’t want any mildew or mold forming.
Hi, I have polyester fiber pillows and all the fluff inside seems to be bunching up. I don’t think we have had them for more than 2 years but should i just replace them or is there a way to fix this?
Hi there, you can try beating up the pillows (LOL) AKA fluffing them, and if that doesn’t work then yes, they aren’t too expensive. Replace!
I wanna do this, I’m just afraid my favorite pillow is going to get lumpy??
I don’t know – mine were OK…
I’ve washed my pillows like this several times and every time I put one in the washing machine it comes out like a clumpy jigsaw, they never come out the same shape as they went in regardless of what I put in with them and its almost impossible to readjust the inside of the pillow through the fabric lining. I now forget the washing, use pillow protectors which get washed every week and throw them away once they lose their spring or lose their whiteness!
A pillow protector is a great option for people who don’t want to wash pillows!
What about washing gel filled pillows???
Great video! We shared it on our Facebook page: facebook.com/IsntThisClever
be careful! I washed my pillows recently and all they did was hold a ton of water until i had to slit them and drain it all out. it was a horrible mess. im afraid to try my new ones!
Amazing. Great video and explanation. You are my new cleaning guru. And I’m all about the cleaning!
What about pillows made with real lamb fur.
i was told by my husbands allergist that in order to get rid of dust mites you need to hard freeze the pillows after drying and that is the only way to kill them. I wash and his pillows about once a month then stick them in the chest freezer for 24hrs. (normally do this when he is away at the other house)
Hi, there. Thanks for the ideas!
I just want to let you know that I read the article AND the comments so. I will not be asking you to repeat yourself for the 89th time about latex and lumps.
Seriously, people. READ first. She isn’t a paid customer service rep. Just be grateful for the info!
Hi Melissa,
I was wondering if you can stick more than two pillows in the washer at once? I have several pillows, and none are nearly as large as the ones in your video.
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wash silk pillows with shampoo. they are made of protein like hair and to keep the protein clean and undamaged use a good shampoo.
Hello, could this be done on the D Core Cervical Support Pillow type pillows. The ones you can get from your chiropractor? This is what I have and not sure if I can throw it in the washer or not
this is great info, thanks melissa for sharing!!
-i have always (at some point) had to wash my pillows in the washer. however, i have never ever put them in the dryer.. i guess i thought it would make it even more lumpy than it is straight out of the washer. So i just try to bang out the lumps and let it air dry slowly in my laundry room…
Ive seen the warnings of mildew and mold several times in the comments. What kind of danger have I been putting my family in all of this time!? Please Help! Thanks.
Hi Melissa~~Love your site! About drying the pillows outside……….I live in las Vegas, Nv. where the temps go past 100 sometimes upwards of 115° during the summers. What about drying them outside when the temps are so hot?
Hi I live in Barbados and we hang dry all our clothes no dryer. I think hanging them outside would work just as well just shake them out and pin them up . going to try it myself. mind you my washer has no agitator and its a top loader so they should be fine.
I am on board with the last two comments, I don’t have a dryer (I live in Korea, and dryers are taboo for some reason!)… but it’s getting cold, and I dry my clothes in my living room… will this work?!
I don’t have tennis balls.. is there anything else I can use?
I don’t know what kind of pillow I have the tag got ripped off it says medium??
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I live in Norway and it is very common here to hang both the duvets and pillows outside to air. This is done frequently, both in summer and winter. Bedclothes smell very fresh after being aired for a couple of hours.
Thanks for the cleaning tips!
What about body pillows? Is the test the same?
We have king feather pillows. When I fold them over they do not bounce back. Are they supposed to?
How do I clean a tempur medic pillows ??
Any suggestion ?
Thanks
If you have a memory foam or other dense pillow that doesn’t release water easily, fill a small spray bottle with 91% rubbing alcohol and spray your pillows. While this may not make the pillow look visually cleaner, it does disinfect it. One should always use an extra zippered pillow protecter over the pillow and that should be washed in hot water on a regular basis. I use on of the anti-dust mite variety, costly but worth the extra money for peace of mind. Pillows are breeding grounds for a variety of harmful bacteria and nasty organisms that are just waiting to make your life miserable!
I run feathered pillows in the dryer on air fluff occasionally to help keep them fresh and fluffy. I have never washed my feathered pillow myself but have taken them to the dry cleaners; for an additional fee they will refill them with more feathers. I also keep my pillows in a protective case and use silver threaded pillow cases from Sleep No. Store. Silver threaded pillow cases help whisk away moisture. I wasn’t confident enough to try washing them myself, but perhaps now I will.
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I don’t have any tennis balls. Would it be okay to dry without them?
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Ive been sick and snuggling with my favorite pillow and it’s round body pillow…I know I probably can’t wash it but is there anyway I can disinfect it or clean it somehow?
How do you fold fitted sheets? I have seen it done on something you may have sent me, but I have not been able to find it again.
Thanks,
June
This post makes me so happy. I’m an avid pillow cleaner!Im a tad obsessive and do it once a month but get, they are clean!
[...] How to clean pillows! [...]
I love this post. I have my pillows in the washer right now and I ws second guessing if I should attempt washing them myself. Now I know I can! Thanks for the tips. Stop by sometime at http://www.domesticingenuity.com.
From one clean gal to another.
Chelsey
Latex foam is not the same as memory foam. I’ve been using a latex foam pillow since I was 9 (before memory foam was invented I’m sure). : ) They are naturally mildew and dust-mite resistant
The best way to wash them is to wet a washcloth (add a bit of mild soap if you want, but I don’t think that’s necessary) and wash the surface only of the pillow. Don’t let it get soaked, and don’t wring them out. Use a nice thick clean towel to blot them dry and then let them air dry the rest of the way. NEVER put them in the dryer. And NEVER use bleach solution on them. Both of those will cause the pillows to become hard and brittle. I’ve also read to avoid drying them in the sun, but no idea what that does. I usually just leave it on my dresser to dry.
I replace mine when they start to get stiff and heavy – usually about 4 years or so. Which reminds me…..
When you get a new pillow, weigh it. write it down. And weigh it every 2 months or so to see how much it is “gaining weight” from dust and dead skin and yuck…
After washing, to make sure your pillow is dry… weigh it before you wash it and after you dry it.
it will come out of the washer much heaver than it went in, as water weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon. Weigh it when it comes out of the dryer, and if it is heavier than its “before” weight, it is not dry. Keep drying it until it is pretty close to its “new” weight or halfway between its “new” weight and “before washing” weight. Washing is not going to get rid of *all* the dust and dead skin, some of it will remain within the filler, but it *will* be clean dust and dead skin… So take that into consideration as you are drying it, because it probably won’t ever be its “new” weight again.
Are you wondering how to weigh a pillow? I use my kitchen scale. it shows ounces/pounds or grams/kilos, whichever you prefer. put a small empty box on the scale, then put a larger box on top of it like a pizza box. the small box needs to fit on the pad of the scale without obscuring the readout, and the larger box has to be wide enough to support the pillow without the pillow touching the table. when your boxes are in place… zero the scale. then gently place/balance the pillow on top of the boxes and wait for the readout to stabilize. There it is. If you have a good “Doctor’s office” type of scale, use that by all means. a bathroom scale could work, but the readout isn’t as accurate… especially if it is digital because a digital bathroom scale only shows pounds and half pounds, at most. Sorry this is long… but that’s how you’ll know it is dry. You don’t want moisture turning to mold deep in the stuffing. it could be damp inside there, but it would be deep enough that you couldn’t feel it.
So I just washed my pillows and they turned out great! Thanks so much for all the tips! On to my next project : any tips for cleaning a down comforter? Directions say warm wash and gentle dry but I don’t wanna screw it up. Thanks again!
Kelli, if the comforter is sewn-through, there’s not too much of any issues. If it has baffles, then you need to be very careful when washing it in a top-loading washer. The agitation can rip the baffles. So take it to a laundromat that has the large capacity front-loading machines.
Thank you Linda! I forgot to mention that I have a front loading washer and dryer. I will try it.
I just recently got “MyPillow” pillows which are meant to be washed and dried and I love them. I’ve washed them a couple of times already and they have come out amazing. They have a 10 year life I think. I was tired of having to throw out my pillows after trying to wash them and dry them and them being a bit clumpy after.
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I found this link through Pinterest and was hesitant to actually wash our down pillows. We’ve had them for six years, and they’re so comfy plus the tag says surface clean only. However, even with the pillow protectors, the pillows themselves have become dirty. I experimented on one pillow today, and it took about 3 tries in the dryer, but it’s clean and refreshed. Thank you for sharing your tips! I can’t wait to wash the rest of our pillows.
Hello, I don’t have a dryer machine and allways hang my clothes to dry. I would do this for my pillows too, except that I’m afraid to ruin them and end up having to buy new ones… So, is it possible to let pillows air-dry instead of put them in the dryer machine?
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I use Leaping Sheep wool dryer balls….thye are the best! Ive had mine for over two years and they are like new!!
I wash my pillows frequently, and have never put them in a dryer. I just wait for a very sunny, dry day, when I will be home all day, and then lay them propped on a chair (so the back is not flat on the surface, but has air moving behind it), put in the sunniest, hottest spot I can find; then I spend all day going out every hour or two, and flipping the pillow to the side that is damp again. By the end of the day, I find it is perfectly dry, and I have never had issues with residual dampness causing mold (I live in Hawaii, where the humidity levels are so high, if you stand still long enough, you WILL spawn mildew!), which I would be able to smell due to allergies.
Down filling is feathers of various types & sizes — and, YES, you can wash them in your washing machine. You will want to “fluff” them during drying times.
I just referenced your website on my blog. You have great tips on washing pillows and I had a question come in about them. I referred them to this post. Great ideas!
How do you wash the pillows picks that you suggest?
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I have a brand new washer and dryer (front loading) I washed 2 pillows. One at a time. They balled up inside the case (not a pillow case but you know the case that’s sewn around it. The balled up inside and were turned around and so lumpy they were un fixable.
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[...] Clean Your Pillows! [...]
I never knew any of that. That was worth watching,
I just washed our two feather filled pillows and they came out smelling TERRIBLE! I washed them a second time with vinegar and baking soda exactly like you said…they still have a musty smell. HELP! I don’t want to throw them away:( Any advice?
I’ve heard this happens with down pillows. Apparently, the smell goes away when the pillows dry.
GOOD ADVISE AND AWESOME PRESENTATION ! PLAIN, SIMPLE AND TO THE POINT! THANK YOU !
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Great info!! How do you dispose of an old pillow? Any way to reduce reuse recycle?… Or any pillows that have a lifetime shelf life?
Hi! I’m from South America, Not all of uss have dryer here…. How can we dry our pillows after the washing mashines so they don’t get moisty or smelly. Thanks!
What about the temper pedic pillow how do I clean it
To kill allergens you can put your pillow in the freezer. I have severe allergies to dust mites and the allergist told me that. You can also throw other non washable items in the freezer to kill allergens.