How to Wash Pillows
Updated July 2026
The short answer
Check the care label first. Most polyester fiberfill pillows, and many down and feather pillows, can be machine washed on a gentle cycle with a small dose of mild detergent, then dried completely on low heat with regular fluffing. Memory foam and latex are the big exception: keep solid foam out of the washer unless the manufacturer specifically says it is washable, and spot clean it instead. Whatever the fill, a pillow that goes back on the bed damp is a mildew problem waiting to happen.
Before you start
- Read the care label. It overrides everything in this guide, and "spot clean only" means exactly that.
- Take off pillowcases and pillow protectors and wash those separately like ordinary bedding.
- Squeeze the pillow. Solid foam (one springy piece) is treated differently from loose fill (shifting clusters or feathers).
- Check your washer's manual for capacity guidance. A pillow that has to be forced in is too big for the machine.
- Plan for drying time. Pillows hold water, and complete drying is the step people skip.
Steps: washing machine-washable pillows
- 1Confirm the label allows machine washing. Note the temperature and cycle it specifies.
- 2Load the machine with balance in mind. Washing two pillows together, or balancing one pillow with a few towels, helps the drum spin evenly. Follow your machine's loading guidance rather than a fixed rule.
- 3Use a small dose of mild detergent. Pillows rinse poorly, and leftover detergent stiffens fill and encourages clumping. A low-sudsing detergent in a modest dose beats a full cup of anything.
- 4Run a gentle cycle at the label's temperature. Add an extra rinse if your machine offers one, so no detergent stays behind in the fill.
- 5Press out water gently after the cycle. Do not wring a pillow. Supporting it with both hands keeps loose fill from shifting into knots.
- 6Dry low and slow. Tumble dry on the lowest heat the label allows. Every so often, take the pillow out and break up damp clumps by hand. Wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls can help keep fill moving if they are compatible with the pillow's label and your dryer.
- 7Confirm it is completely dry before using it. Squeeze the center. Any coolness, dampness, or clumping means more drying time. A pillow that stays damp inside can develop mildew or permanent lumps.
By fill type
Polyester and fiberfill:
The most forgiving fill. Most are machine washable per the label and handle the routine above well. If the fill has broken down into permanent lumps, washing will not restore it.
Down and feather:
Usually washable when the label agrees. Use a mild detergent that rinses cleanly, rinse thoroughly, and take drying seriously: down clumps when damp and mildews if stored wet. Dry on low heat with regular redistribution until the fill moves freely and no dampness remains.
Memory foam and latex:
Do not machine wash solid foam unless the manufacturer specifically permits it. Foam can tear under agitation, soaks up water like a sponge, and is very hard to dry all the way through. Instead, vacuum the surface, spot clean marks with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, blot with clean water, and air dry the pillow completely out of direct heat before putting a cover back on.
Pillow protectors and covers:
Wash these like sheets, per their own labels. A protector washed regularly means the pillow itself needs washing far less often.
Decorative and specialty pillows:
Throw pillows, buckwheat, and other specialty fills follow their own rules and are outside this guide. When in doubt, spot clean.
What not to do
- Do not machine wash memory foam or latex on a guess. Torn, waterlogged foam does not recover.
- Do not use high dryer heat to speed things up. It can damage fill and fabric, and the outside dries long before the core does.
- Do not overdose detergent. Residue is why pillows come out stiff, flat, or clumpy.
- Do not put a pillow away even slightly damp.
- Do not use bleach or fabric softener on pillows; softener coats the fill.
- Do not force an oversized pillow into a small machine.
What to expect
Washing removes sweat, body oils, and dust, and most pillows come out noticeably fresher. It does not rebuild broken-down fill. If a pillow stays flat, lumpy, or yellowed through the fabric after a proper wash and full dry, it is likely at the end of its life, and replacement beats another wash.
Frequently asked questions
How often should pillows be washed?
A common habit is a couple of times a year for the pillow itself, with protectors and pillowcases washed much more often. Frequency matters less than the two rules: follow the label, and dry completely.
Can a memory foam pillow ever go in the washer?
Only if that pillow's manufacturer explicitly says so; a few shredded-foam designs are labeled washable. For solid foam the answer is almost always no. Spot clean and air out instead.
Why is my pillow lumpy after washing?
Usually the fill is still damp and has bunched. Keep drying on low, breaking up clumps by hand as you go. If lumps survive complete drying, the fill itself has shifted or broken down, and that is not reversible.
When should a pillow be replaced instead of washed?
If it has permanent lumps, stays flat no matter what, or smells musty even after a proper wash and complete dry, washing has done all it can.
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