How to Clean Pillows
While pillows require laundering less often than sheets and other bedding, they’ll be at their best when they’re fresh and clean. When it comes to caring for your down or down alternative bed pillows or throw pillow inserts, these washing directions and basic storage tips are a good place to start. Nothing beats the manufacturer’s instructions—but we’ve gathered up the most important pillow care details here for easy reference.
How To Wash And Dry Pillows
For best results, refer to the care instructions included with your pillow before washing it. If you no longer have the instructions, consider these basic steps for cleaning down or down alternative pillows in the washing machine.
Most down and down alternative pillows are machine washable. Remove the pillow covers and wash those separately. For best results, use a washing machine without an agitator, and choose the gentle cycle.
Stains on pillows or pillow covers can be spot treated prior to washing, but read all labels to determine which treatments are safe for down, as well as which may damage decorative stitching or appliqué. Use a mild dish detergent and water solution to blot messes away, or pre-treat with a pillow-safe stain remover product.
Don’t use bleach or laundry additives like fabric softener as they can damage the fill and reduce the pillow’s lifespan.
For a balanced load, wash pillows two or three at a time. An unbalanced load can damage the machine or leave your pillows soggy at the end of the spin cycle.
Warm water is okay, but cold is better for both wash and rinse cycles. Detergent residue build-up makes down fill clump, but a second cold rinse cycle can help get rid of any lingering detergent.
Most pillows can be put in the dryer on a low-heat setting. Try shaking and fluffing the pillows a few times during the cycle to ensure they dry evenly.
