The Complete Guide To Properly Cleaning Your Bed Pillows

Dec 11, 2018

Do you really want to come home from a long day at work to lay your head on a smelly and dirty pillow?

Well, that's what you're doing if you haven't washed your pillow in over six months. While you may have a routine for keeping your clothes, sheets, and bedroom clean, how do you care for your pillows?

There comes a time where your pillows need more than a new pillow case to smell and look fresh. At some point, you will need to clean the pillow itself. If it's been half a year or longer since your pillows have seen the inside of a washing machine, you'll want to take care of that sooner rather than later.

Carolyn Forte of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab shares the following tips for best cleaning practices for various types of pillows:

When washing down and fiberfill pillows, you'll want to handle them carefully as possible so they don't get damaged by the washing machine. If your machine has an agitator, be sure to place the pillows in the machine so they are resting vertically.

Follow any additional instructions that may be written on your pillow's label. However, most down and fiberfill pillows will wash well on a gentle cycle with warm water. When rinsing these pillows, use colder water. Then, set the machine to its spin cycle. When drying these pillows, use low heat, making sure you turn the pillows every so often.

Pillows with feather filler inside them require careful washing. Before placing them in the washing machine, make sure your pillows are slit-free as to prevent any feathers from escaping.

When washing the pillows, try to limit the wash to two at a time. Set the machine to a delicate cycle and add only a bit of detergent. When drying feather pillows, throw some tennis balls inside the dryer to ensure that they are properly fluffed. If the pillow begins to form clumps, remove them with your fingers and re-fluff them. Lay your feather pillows out in the sun if they are still damp after their time in the dryer.

Foam pillows are arguably the most comfortable pillow on the planet. Since they are made of foam, you won't be able to put them into the washing machine.

In order to clean these pillows, use a vacuum to get rid of any dust. Use the vacuum on a lower suction level to help prevent any damage from occurring. Another option to clean foam pillows is to throw them in the dryer. Be sure to set the dryer to no heat or the air-only mode for 20 minutes or less.

If your foam pillows have spots on them, use a cloth with soap solution. Rinse the area off with another cloth and let the pillow dry. Be careful when caring for your foam pillows as the foam is quite susceptible to tears. Read the label on the pillows and be very gentle.

Washing your pillows once a month is the best way to keep them at their cleanest. For some pillows, however, this monthly cleaning is no longer enough. If this is the case, you'll need to part ways with your pillow.

When do you know when it's time to say goodbye to your old pillow? If your pillow is damaged beyond repair, leaking foam or feathers, filled with dirt or dust, it's a good time to let them go. Another way to examine your pillows is to give them the fold test. Try to fold your pillow in half. Does it spring back? If yes, hold on to it. If no, it's time to go pillow shopping!

Did you find this pillow care information helpful? Do you have your own routine for keeping your pillows clean and comfortable? Leave your ideas and experiences in the comments below and pass this along to your friends and family to see if they've been washing their pillows the right way!