How to Wash a Pillow Properly: Washing, Drying, and Care Tips

How to wash a pillow starts with checking the care tag. It contains the cleaning instructions. Almost all cotton, polyester, or down substitutes are machine washable. Memory foam and latex pillows are not. If the tag is missing, you may also find instructions online.

How Often Should You Wash Pillows

Pillows lose their freshness over time. His sweat, oils, and tiny bugs are just a few of the things that take advantage of the pillow’s surface. By washing your pillows every 3 to 6 months, you can keep them clean. Always consider changing the pillow covers regularly. If someone is sick, wash the pillow right away. Swapping Pillows for 50 cents can help keep you and your family healthy for 2 years.

Things You Need

• Washing machine or big sink/tub
• Gentle soap
• White vinegar (optional)
• Dryer balls or clean tennis balls
• Clean towels
• Spot cleaners (optional)
• Baking soda for smell

How to Wash a Pillow Memory Foam or Latex

Memory foam and latex pillows have great differences. Refrain from throwing them in the washing machine, whether or not they are getting wet. Here is how to clean them:

Remove the cover at the outset:

Set the washing machine at the gentle cycle and wash the cover in cold water. Also, you can wash it by hand. Put the foam piece aside for the meantime.

Deal with the spaces lightly:

In a bowl, mix a small amount of mild detergent with warm water. Use a soft cloth with detergent on it to carefully scrub the dirty areas. Use a damp cloth to wipe away the soap.

If necessary, hand-wash it:

Fill a large sink or tub with warm water and add some gentle soap. Caress the pillow with your hands to remove the dirt. Neither turn nor twist it-thereby.

Rinse adequately:

Discard the soap and pour fresh water into the bathtub. Load the pillow gently, pressing it to cleanse the soap out. Do this many times until the water is decently clear. You can iron it lightly if you need to get more water out of it.

Place the pillow flat in the open air:

Cover the pillow with a towel that is to be left to dry. Place it in a well-ventilated location and store it away from the sun and heat. Using a fan would facilitate the process of drying it out. Do not use a high-temperature hot dryer-it will dry out the pillow. It can take a day or two to dry. Make sure it is not wet before you sleep on it.

Baking soda can also be sprinkled on the pillow if it is being used for repelling the odor.

Polyester, Cotton, and Synthetic Pillows (Machine-Washable)

Follow these steps to safely machine wash your pillow if the label on it says it will be alright to do that:

• Put them in evenly: Load the washing machine properly by including two pillows to make sure that the weight is evenly balanced.
• Choose gentle settings: Select the machine’s gentle or delicate cycle with warm or cool water. A small amount of mild soap only, please. You can also add one-half cup of white vinegar to the washer to make them really clean.
• Rinse and spin again: After washing, do another rinse cycle to get all the soap out. Then do another spin to get rid of the water.
• Dry well: Dry the pillows on low heat. Put clean dryer balls or tennis balls in the dryer to help them stay fluffy. Tumble them several times to shake and fluff them every time they take a short time to dry.

Polyester and cotton pillows will dry through when set on a lower temperature for drying. When a feather pillow is too wet, it is probably better to dry it outside in direct sunlight. You could shake it over and over so that it comes out completely dry and doesn’t give off an odd smell.

Feather and Down Pillows

Remember that the filling of down and feather pillows should not be injured when you wash them gently:

• Handle with care during washing: Wash the down coat on a delicate wash cycle with cold or warm (as in lukewarm) water, but never use hot water. Use a liquid down soap or a slight soap, not a harsh one. A tiny bit of soap is the only thing that can make a difference, so do not flood it with it. Do you agree with that?
• Double rinse: Use the second rinse and spin cycle to ensure that the machine is sucking all the soap out of the pillows.
• Crucial types of equipment: When you set the tumble dryer to low drying temp with the tumbling dryer and clean tennis balls, it delivers the drying you need. You may now and then interrupt the process of hand-fluffing the pillows and scratching off the sticky lumps of feathers. They may need to go through the cycle several times to dry out properly.
• Do not twist or squeeze: When removing the water with your hands, be careful not to twist or squeeze. It should be handled only by gentle pressing since twisting and squeezing can break it down inside. Make sure the mention is in the original concept. Do you remember that?

Instead of a washing machine, you can try washing it in a large tub. First of all, you need to soak them in warm water with not strong soap, next rinse them well. Try to dry them flat on the floor or by hanging them until they are absolutely dry.

A very old or a very dirty feather or down pillow is in a situation where you think of getting it cleaned by a professional or you may have to replace this pillow.

Buckwheat Pillows

Buckwheat sleep pillows are filled with dry corn shell and you should be gentle to it and to yourself in this way:

• Don’t wash the hulls: They may rot if they get wet in water, thus the best thing to do is to separate the hulls from the pillow and pour them where you see fit. Check them to make sure all of the are suitable before proceeding with the next step.
• Wash the cover: The pillow cover can be washed in a washing machine with cold water and shampoo. The cover can be dried in the sun (if the climate permits) or in a dryer on low heat.
• Dry the hulls: First, spread the hulls on a baking sheet and place them in a sunny or dry spot, stirring them as needed to help them dry uniformly. Be sure to allow them to dry completely.
• Put it back together: When the cover and the shells are fully dry, pour the shells back into the cover and pull the cover’s zip to the upper end.

By doing all this, you ensure the pillow is clean without harming its inner parts.

Gel and Microbead Pillows

Gel and Microbead Pillows can often go in the washing machine, but check the tag first:

• Check the Pillow Type: Hard-gel pillows need manual washing and are not machine washable. Pillows with shredded gel or foam can be gently machine-washed. Microbead pillows can usually be machine-washed as well.
• If Machine-Wash is Safe: When learning how to wash a pillow in a washing machine, always use a gentle cycle and mild detergent. To make sure each bead is protected, encase it in a big pillowcase or a laundry bag when washing.
• Drying: Dry gently at low heat. A tennis ball in the dryer makes the pillow nice and soft. Look through the process to avoid over-drying. Take it out when still a bit wet, then finish drying by laying it flat or hanging it up.
• Hand-Wash if Needed: This method is useful if you want to know how to wash a pillow by hand without damaging the filling. If the pillow is solid gel or foam, first hand-wash it. Use small amounts of mild soap to clean any dirt spots.

Evenly expose the pillows to fresh air through a window to avoid mold. Keep them out of the sun, as it can harm them. Do not use high heat to dry unless the tag tells you to.

Spot Cleaning Stains

Just in case a spill source is present, remove it immediately with a tissue, for example. You can cool the blood with cold water if that’s why it needs to be cleaned up.

Formulate a mild solution to clean the fabric. You can get the combination of warm water and soap. Soak a cotton ball in the liquid, then pat the clean cloth over the stain, as the fluid is a bit watery.

The next time you touch the spot with a damp, dry piece of cloth, you will manage to rid it of detergent. Haem of hard stains like blood and coffee, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar-baking soda could be options. A small one should still be tested before the hidden part.

Sunlight is a plus, it helps destroy fading stains and remove malodors. After the procedure, let it bask in the sun for a while to dry.

Drying Pillows

See that the pillows are dry well so that they do not start to smell.

• Machine dry: Set the washing machine to warm and let the pillows spin for 1 hour. You can also take a break to shake them and return them in if they are not dry. Move the tennis ball to clean the pillow, you can do this over and over until the pillow is fluffy.
• Air dry: Excessive heat may damage some pillows. Spread them out on a towel and let them dry in the open air, turning them from time to time. Do not place them in the sun.
• Stay dry: Gently pull one of the pillows out of the case to check the inside if it is dry. Pillows can mold if they get wet.

Keeping Pillows Fresh

Every day, gently pat the pillows in order to let all the air out and they will get back their fluffiness and levitation. The pillowcase will provide the best defense against dirt and sweat as well as breathing room because it is less tight. Keeping peripheral fabrics, though, minimizes the exchange of such elements.

Allowing sunlight to sit on the pillows for a few hours is a great way to kill bacteria. Wash the pillowcases once a week to prevent beads from reaching pillows. Make sure that pets cannot visit your pillows while eating your food, as they can make them dirty.

These will be the main factors for the pillows which will enable a longer period between washes and make it possible to do with the machine washing less the time of froging and typing. 

Warnings and Tips

Here are some Pillow Care Tips for It:

• Don’t twist: Squeeze the water out of the pillows. Don’t twist.
• Use small soap: A little bit of soap can do the job right, enough to keep pillows smelling good without making them too smelly.
• Dry gently: If you dry your pillows with a dryer, use a low setting. Dryers that are too hot can cause significant damage, as they can melt the pillows, since all memory foam or latex pillows do not use hot-dry. Always dry your memory foam or latex pillows in the dryer without heat.
• Wash a few: Wash just 1–2 pillows at a time to avoid overstuffing the washing machine.
• Check first: First, check the pieces for holes, and then you can wash away the troubles. Plug them first to save the mess.
• Get new ones: In case the old pillows still vomit or feel clunky or tare wo to three years old, connect the new ones.

By following these steps on how to wash a pillow, you can keep your pillows clean, fresh, and comfortable for better sleep and long-term health.