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Can you wash a bedroom pillow?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 15, 2026

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.

Is it safe to wash pillows in the washing machine?

Down or feather: Most down pillows can be put in the washing machine. But use cool water and a mild detergent, then dry on low heat. (High temperatures can damage the down.) Memory foam or latex: Washer agitation can break up foam, so these pillows will probably need to be hand-washed.

How do you wash pillows without ruining them?

Wash the pillows in warm or hot water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Add the detergent to the water and allow the machine to agitate the water a little before adding pillows. For best results, Good Housekeeping recommends washing two pillows at a time for a balanced load.

How do you wash a pillow without it being lumpy?

To stop your pillow from getting lumpy in the wash always wash two pillows together plus some sheets or towels so that the load is balanced in the machine. Use a gentle cycle with a warm or cold washing temperature. Dry your pillow naturally or tumble dry with a couple of tennis balls. I sometimes use affiliate links.

Should I put my pillow in the dryer?

The manufacturers recommend selecting a high heat setting and running the dryer at a "normal" cycle. Tumble-dry your MyPillow without any dryer balls. While most pillows will benefit from the fluffing agitation that dryer balls or tennis balls provide, these aren't recommended when drying a MyPillow.

30 related questions found

Why does your pillow turn yellow?

Pillows turn yellow because of sweat. There are other reasons why a pillow may start to turn yellow including falling asleep with wet hair, lotions and oils on the skin, and moisture. When moisture or sweat remains on the pillow for long periods of time, the pillow will turn yellow.

How often should you wash bed pillows?

How Frequently Should Pillows Be Washed? The consensus among experts seems to be that the average person should throw their pillow in the washing machine two to three times per year (so about once every four to six months).

Can you machine dry pillows?

Down pillows can be machine-washed and dried in the same manner as poly-filled pillows. However, they should only be washed on the gentle cycle and dried on medium or low heat. Down pillows can take up to three times longer to dry.

Can pillows catch fire in the dryer?

"There were pillows in it and when you're drying pillows is what happens is that they retain a lot of heat, by their very nature they have insulating properties, and so what happens is they can overheat, and spontaneously combust."

How do you refresh a pillow?

Throw your pillow in the washer, by itself, with your regular detergent and some fabric softener. Set your washer to the Sanitize mode or on the hottest wash cycle your washer provides. Choose the fastest spin cycle, too. You want as much water wrung out of the pillow as possible before it goes in the dryer.

How do you wash pillows without a washing machine?

If You Want to Hand Wash Pillows

Fill a tub or sink with warm water, enough to submerge the pillow completely. Add a tablespoon of liquid clothes detergent per pillow and mix it around in the water to make sure that it is evenly spread. Put the pillow in the water and allow the detergent to seep in.

When should you throw away pillows?

Although Greatist suggests you swap out pillows every six months, the National Sleep Foundation has a compromise for you, if you're fully unwilling to purchase a new pillow that often: Wash your pillow (yes, the full pillow, not just the pillowcase) once every six months, and then throw it out and buy a new one every ...

Do new pillows need to be washed?

Always wash your new pillows before use. Most of the reasons that new pillows might be unclean are not apparent to the naked eye. While new pillows are rarely dirty, they can have chemicals, dust mites, and more.

Should you wash pillows or buy new ones?

You can air dry the pillows or place them in a dryer on a low setting for about 20 minutes. Wash these pillows every 3 to 6 months, and replace them every 1 to 3 years. You can tell it's time for a replacement if the pillow doesn't spring back to its normal shape after you fold it in half.

Can you wash 2 my pillows at the same time?

Place 2 pillows in washer to balance. If only 1 pillow, balance with towels. Wash pillows with a full load of laundry.

Can pillows make you sick?

Pillows and upholstery can carry bacteria and allergens. But Dr. has some good news: The risk of contracting the coronavirus from these fabric surfaces is very low. “The virus that causes COVID-19 does not seem to live a long time on clothing and other fabric-type surfaces,” she says.

Can you wash pillows in a front load washer?

How to Wash Pillows. It's best to use a front-loading washer, since pillows tend to float and stay dry in certain spots when washed in a top-loading machine.

How do you machine wash a pillow?

How To Wash A Pillow In A Washing Machine?

  1. Add warm water and go for the gentle cycle.
  2. Add a bit of mild detergent.
  3. Now, add some cold water and select the rinse and spin cycle.
  4. Tumble your pillows dry on low heat.

Does washing pillows remove dust mites?

Putting a pillow in the dryer at a high-temperature setting can kill dust mites, but ideally, you'll want to wash and dry that pillow again to get rid of the dead mites, especially if you have a dust mite allergy.

How do you disinfect a pillow in the dryer?

The best way to sanitize pillows in the dryer is by drying them at the highest heat setting. This should be done for approximately 15-20 minutes to get rid of dust mites, bacterial, and/or toxins. You should do this once a month to keep the pillows in good shape.

What should you do with old pillows?

If your pillows are too well-worn to repurpose or donate, the next best option is to recycle them. Here's how: Find a Textile Recycling Facility. This is one of the best ways to recycle old pillows, as opposed to just tossing them in your recycling bin at home.

Do old pillows go in the garbage?

Throw the pillows in the garbage if you're unable to reuse them around your home or donate them in your community. If your community doesn't pick up trash, take your plastic bag of pillows to the landfill.

What happens if you don't change your pillow?

"Pillows lose their loft over time, especially if you don't wash them regularly," says Ann Romaker, MD, professor of medicine and director of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Sleep Medicine Center. "As they flatten, they offer less neck support, which can lead to neck, shoulder and upper back pain."

Can you soak a pillow?

Steps for Washing Your Pillows

For an extra deep cleaning, start out by soaking your pillows in hot water and detergent. This gives the cleaning products a head-start on tackling stains and germs.

How do you disinfect a pillow?

The best disinfectant may not be the wash, but the drying process. Tumble-drying laundry, including pillows, on high heat for at least 30 minutes is sufficient for killing most influenza germs. Don't hesitate to tumble dry for longer, however.