Keeping your bed clean can feel like a humungous task: changing and washing bed linen every week, vacuuming the mattress at least weekly, airing out the duvet, turning the mattress every month, cleaning the bed frame and headboard at least once a week, not to mention keeping your pillows clean and fluffed. Bed cleaning tasks alone are a lot.
And while most people keep up with clean bed linen and mattresses, they might not clean their pillows as much as they need to. Just like the bed linen and mattress, your pillows are also at risk of stains from your morning coffee, sweat, dead skin cells, and natural body oils (with the occasional drool). And as such, they also need to be cleaned regularly to help maintain their fluff, shape, and lifespan. But how often should they be cleaned, and what’s the best method?
Use our easy-to-follow pillow washing guide and keep them looking good as new every time you tackle those bed cleaning tasks.
The right way to wash pillows
According to cleaning experts, pillows should be washed every three to six months. More often if they’ve collected more than their share of stains, or have completely yellowed.
Most pillows, including cotton, feathers, down, and fiberfill pillows, can be washed in your washing machine. However, latex and memory foam pillows should be washed by hand to maintain their structure. Before you chuck them into any washing tub, look at their care label first. This label will give you precise cleaning instructions that you must follow to prevent damage.
Materials you’ll need:
- Washing machine for usual pillows
- Hand wash basin for latex, memory foam and other unique pillows
- Mild detergent
- White vinegar
- Your preferred stain remover
Machine washing pillows
- Remove pillowcases and pillow protectors – wash those separately.
- Pre-treat stains with your preferred stain remover.
- Place at least 2 pillows into the washing machine – not less, and maybe 1 more. More or less will unbalance the washing machine and risk damage.
- Add 1/2 cup mild detergent and 1/4 to 1/2 cup white vinegar to the detergent dispenser (you can add the vinegar to the detergent slot or in the slot you usually pour fabric softener in).
- Choose the gentle or delicate cycle, ensuring cold water is used.
- After the cycle has finished, check to see how wet the pillows are. If needed, run another spin cycle to remove as much excess water as possible.
Hand washing pillows
- Remove pillowcases and pillow protectors – wash those separately.
- Fill your wash basin or bath with enough lukewarm water to submerge the pillows.
- Add 1/4 cup hand wash detergent to the water, as well as 1/2 cup white vinegar.
- Agitate the water to dissolve the detergent and vinegar.
- Pre-treat any spots or stains with stain remover, and then submerge the pillows.
- Gently squeeze and press the pillows in the soapy water. Use a soft brush for stubborn stains.
- Drain the soapy water, then refill with clean water.
- Thoroughly rinse the pillows until all the detergent has been washed out. Repeat this step as necessary.
- After rinsing, gently press out excess water from the pillows. Do not wring or twist them – this will only damage them.
Drying pillows
Pillows (except for latex and memory foam pillows) can be tumble dried. However, this can cause some damage if done regularly. We suggest air drying your pillows for damage-free and fresher results.
- Lay the freshly washed pillows flat onto a countertop covered with clean, dry towels, or on a drying rack. Avoid direct sunlight, but ensure the area is warm.
- During the drying process, regularly rotate the pillows to ensure even drying.
- Once completely dry, fluff the pillows back into shape before placing their protective covering and pillowcase back on. If you’re struggling to re-fluff the pillows, they might still be slightly wet. Leave them to dry some more before reattempting.
My pillows smell after washing/drying
If your pillows smell after they’ve been washed or dried, pop them in some direct sunlight for an hour or two. The sunlight should naturally get rid of any lingering odours, germs or bacteria. If they still smell musty or off, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda over the smelly areas and leave them in the sun. The bicarb and sunlight should take care of the smells.
If your pillows still smell or have yellow stains, read our guide below on how to tackle this.
