This is The Best Way How to Wash Your Pillows & Get Rid of The Stink

Do your pillows smell bad? Learn how to wash pillows (yes – even the delicate ones) here and finally stop struggling with smelly pillows.

When you walk into your bedroom, is there a fresh, wonderful smell welcoming you, or do you find yourself covering your nose while you adjust to the musky smell? (If you’re looking for ways to make your house smell good all the time check out the how-to list here.)

Table of contents

How often should I wash my pillows?
Are my pillows machine washable?
How to wash pillows by hand
How to wash pillows in the washing machine
How to wash feather and down pillows
How to wash memory foam pillows

I’m sure you wash your sheets and pillowcases on a regular basis, but when was the last time you washed your pillows? If you were to ask me just a little while ago, the answer would have been never. Washing our pillows never crossed my mind – I figured as long as I was regularly washing the cases, I was getting rid of all the ick that can get onto the cases.

If you stop to think about it, that ick (drool, sweat, oils, dust mites, snot, etc) that gets onto your pillowcase doesn’t stop there. It keeps going, past your pillowcase, and seeps right into that beloved pillow of yours that likely has never (or very rarely) been washed.

Yuck.

That’s definitely not something I want to spend all day thinking about.

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Even if you’re using a pillow protector under your pillowcase, your pillow will still need to be washed every once in a while.

There were two reasons why our pillows never got washed. The first was: It never crossed my mind. Then, after it did cross my mind, the second reason was: I didn’t know how to wash pillows and didn’t want to damage them.

After some research and experimenting, I have come to the realization that washing pillows really isn’t as daunting of a task as I once thought it was. Hallelujah!

I thought if I were to dare wash our pillows, they would end up coming out of the washer and dryer all clumpy and ripped, with moisture trapped in the thick stuffing causing mold to grow.

Yeah, I was slightly paranoid and thought our pillows were one of the most fragile objects in our house… or I was just too lazy to be bothered with cleaning them. Who knows.

How often should I wash my pillows?

Your pillows should be getting a well-deserved cleaning twice a year. You don’t want to go too long between cleanings, or else all that gunk we talked about earlier will build up in the pillow, but you also don’t want to wash your pillows too frequently, or the materials can break down faster and become weakened.

Aim to wash your pillows every six months.

Since many people often do a big house deep cleaning every six months, adding washing pillows to the list won’t be too big of a task.

Of course, you will still want to be washing your pillowcases, along with the rest of your sheets, every week, and you should be washing your pillow protector once a month.

When it comes time to wash your pillows, don’t worry – it’s not that difficult of a task at all. Most pillows can be washed right in the washing machine which means it requires minimal work from you, and you’re still going to end up with a clean pillow!

Are my pillows machine washable?

Before you get too excited and throw all the pillows in your house into the washing machine, you will want to be 100% sure that your pillows are machine washable.

Some pillows, for instance, such as memory foam pillows, should not be washed in a washing machine. The aggressive agitation of the washing machine breaks up the foam inside the pillow, causing it to be lumpy and weakened.

You can easily check whether or not your pillows are machine washable by removing the pillowcase and pillow protector, and looking at the tag. Most tags should tell you right on them if the pillow is safe to go in the washing machine.

If a pillow is not machine washable, the tag will likely say, “dry clean only”.

If you happen to have a pillow that cannot be washed in the washing machine, you’ll want to wash it by hand. Don’t worry, hand washing a pillow is not as difficult as it sounds.

What you will need to wash your pillows

How to wash pillows by hand

In some instances, you may have a pillow that is not machine washable (like a memory foam pillow). If that’s the case, a quick hand wash will do the trick to get your pillows clean once again.

Fill a large laundry sink or bathtub up with warm water and add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of a gentle laundry detergent. If a pillow can’t be washed in a washing machine, there’s a good chance it is pretty delicate. To avoid damaging the pillow, you will want to use warm water (not too hot, but warm enough to clean), and a gentle laundry detergent like this one. Using a gentle laundry detergent is imperative as you don’t want to ruin the fibers of the pillow.
Place the pillow in a mesh laundry bag (a pillowcase can also work), and stick the pillow in the water so it is completely submerged.
Gently squeeze the pillow in the water to push the water and detergent through the foam. Squeeze and swoosh the pillow around under the water for a couple minutes.
Drain the water and repeat the process, this time with no detergents – just warm water. Again, gently squeeze the pillow in the water to rinse the pillow and push any detergents out.
Drain the water from the tub or laundry sink. While the water is draining, grab a couple clean, dry towels from your linen closet.
With the pillow lying on the bottom of the tub or laundry sink, use a dry towel and gently push against the pillow with the towel to absorb most of the moisture. Flip the pillow over and repeat the process.
Let the pillow air dry completely. Once you have gotten a majority of the water out of the pillow with the towels, hang the pillow up and allow it to air dry. It is important that you don’t twist or wring out the pillow to remove the water, as this can cause damage to the foam.

(This works great for air-drying pillows.)

How to wash pillows in washing machine

If you checked the tag on your pillow and it’s machine washable, you’re good to go. Here’s how to wash pillows in a washing machine.

If your washing machine has an agitator, set it to the shortest, gentlest setting possible as aggressive agitators can cause damage to pillows.

Wash two pillows at a time to keep the load balanced and help the pillows get an even clean.

Here is a quick 5-step generic guide on how to wash pillows in the washing machine. If you’re looking for a more in-depth guide for each type of pillow, keep reading, we’ll go into more details below this section.

Remove the pillowcase and pillow protector. Using a pillow protector beneath your pillowcase will help keep your pillows cleaner and in better shape, longer.
Place the pillows in the washing machine and set the washer to the hottest temperature (unless otherwise stated on the care instructions on the pillow). Hot water is a fantastic natural disinfectant and kills dust mites, all without having to use harsh cleaners and chemicals.
Add your detergent and turn the washing machine on. (This detergent is gentle and recommended for washing pillows)
Once the cycle is complete, press the pillow with a clean, dry towel to remove excess water. Do NOT twist or wring the pillow out (specifically if it is foam or feather) – this can cause damage to the pillow.
Dry the pillow. The best method for drying the pillow is air drying it in the sun. The sun acts as a natural bleach and will whiten your pillows as they dry. Keep in mind that air drying pillows takes a lot of time, often around 24 hours, to completely dry.

If you have the time to air dry your pillows, it is the best method (use this for air drying your pillows). If you are pinched for time, some pillows can be tossed into the dryer on air dry. Add a few dryer balls into the dryer with the pillows to fluff them.

Be sure to let your pillow completely dry before using it. If you place your pillow protector and pillowcase on a pillow that is not completely dried, it can cause a mildew smell and even start to mold over time as the moisture is caught in the pillow.

How to wash feather pillows & how to wash down pillows

Feather and down pillows are some of the more delicate types of pillows, and when it comes to washing them you want to be sure you take the proper steps so they don’t get damaged or ruined.

Here’s how to wash feather pillows & how to wash down pillows without ruining them:

Once the pillow has been removed from the pillowcase and pillow protector (a pillow protector is like a padded pillowcase that usually closes with a zipper and helps extend the life of your pillow. I recommend using one to help keep your pillows clean longer.), quickly check the pillow for any rips – you don’t want the insides falling out all over the place. If there are rips or snags, quickly grab your sewing kit and hem them up before washing the pillows.
Using a front loading washing machine or a top loading washing machine without an agitator (if your only option is a top loading machine with an agitator, stick the pillows into the machine vertically so they are less likely to get tangled up and damaged), place two pillows into the machine.
Washing two pillows (or up to four, if your machine has adequate space) at a time will help keep the load balanced, allowing the pillows to get washed and rinsed much more thoroughly than if you were to only wash one pillow at a time.
Add Woolite laundry detergent to the washing machine (using less detergent than you would for a normal sized load – pillows are big and difficult to rinse, so if you use too much detergent it will take a long time to get them completely rinsed out).
Try to stay away from powder laundry detergents as they may cause buildup or residue to stay on your pillows. Woolite liquid laundry detergent is recommended for washing pillows as it is a delicate, gentle detergent.
Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle and start it up.
Once the wash cycle is complete, select a second rinse cycle to ensure all the detergent has been washed out of the pillows.
Drying the pillows. There are two methods for drying your feather pillows – you can either air dry them in the sun (the sun acts as a natural bleach to help whiten your pillows). Air drying your pillows is a great option if you’re worried about damaging them, though keep in mind that it is very time consuming and will likely take up to 24 hours for the pillows to completely dry.
The second drying option is to place your feather pillows in the dryer on a no-heat air-dry setting with a couple of dryer balls. This won’t take as long as air drying the pillows, but keep in mind that it will still require a decent amount of time. Placing dryer balls in the dryer with the pillows helps fluff the pillows and prevents them from becoming lumpy.

Do NOT twist or wring your feather or down pillows to remove moisture as that can cause damage to them.

How to wash memory foam pillows

Unfortunately, memory foam pillows are too delicate to be washed in a washing machine, but, the good news is that washing them by hand isn’t all that much work – it’s the air drying that takes up the most time.

Fill a large laundry sink or bathtub up with warm water and add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of a gentle laundry detergent (Woolite is a recommended brand). To avoid damaging the pillow, you will want to use warm water (not too hot, but warm enough to clean), and a gentle laundry detergent like this one.
Place the memory foam pillow in a mesh laundry bag (a pillowcase can also work), and stick the pillow in the water so it is completely submerged. Using a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase while washing your memory foam pillow will ensure all the foam stays intact and doesn’t get pulled apart.
Gently squeeze the pillow in the water to push the water and detergent through the foam. Squeeze and swoosh the pillow around under the water to allow the water and detergent to work its way through the pillow.
Drain the water and repeat the process, this time with no detergents – just warm water. Again, gently squeeze the pillow in the water to rinse the pillow and push any detergents out.
Drain the water from the tub or laundry sink. Once all the detergent is washed out of the pillow, while the water is draining, grab a couple clean, dry towels from your linen closet.
With the pillow lying on the bottom of the tub or laundry sink, use a dry towel and gently push against the pillow with the towel to absorb most of the moisture. Flip the pillow over and repeat the process.
Let the pillow air dry completely. Once you have gotten a majority of the water out of the pillow with the towels, hang the pillow up and allow it to air dry. (This works great for air-drying pillows.) It is important that you don’t twist or wring out the pillow to remove the water, as this can cause damage to the foam.

There you have it – your complete guide to how to wash pillows (with or without a washing machine!).

I’d love to know – are you someone who washes their pillows twice a year without fail, or has the thought of washing your pillows never even crossed your mind until now?

I hope this how to wash your pillows guide has been helpful and has helped you learn how to wash your pillows with confidence.

Got some pillow washing tips and tricks? I’d love to hear your thoughts!