Your Step-By-Step Guide to Washing Pillows
Fresh and fluffy pillows every time.
Regularly washing your pillows is a surefire way to boost your sleep, health and hygiene by removing bacteria, odours and mould. But with so many pillow filling and material types, finding the right way to clean your pillows can be tricky. Our step-by-step guide helps you to learn how to wash your pillows like a pro, with extra added tips on pillow whitening.
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Washing Pillows Step-by-Step
Step 1: Remove Covers & Wash
Remove your pillow cases and wash them according to their care labels. Most can be washed with your regular sheets and bedding.
Step 2: Check Manufacturer’s Care Label
Refer to the washing instructions provided on your pillows to determine if they're machine washable or require an alternative form such as hand washing.
Step 3: Place in Washing Machine or Hand Wash
If your pillows are machine washable, place two pillows in the same load to circulate the detergent better and prevent each pillow from being thrown around. Then, add in a cup of your regular liquid detergent, choose the cold or warm water setting (never hot water) and begin washing on your machine's gentlest cycle.
Once this cycle is finished, begin a second one on the rinse or spin setting to ensure that all of the soap is completely rinsed out.
If your pillows are hand wash only, fill a tub or sink with warm water, a tablespoon of liquid detergent per pillow and knead gently. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to get all of the soap out. Then press the pillows to get rid of any excess water and let them air dry.
Tip: If your machine has an agitator (a large spindle in the middle of the machine), place the pillows vertically to avoid any damage.
Step 4: Drying Your Pillows
Dry your pillows according to the recommendations on the label. If they can be machine dried, place the pillows in your clothes dryer and use a low-heat setting like tumble dry low. If your pillows are filled with feathers, use a no-heat setting.
Before pressing start, throw in a couple of tennis balls wrapped in clean, white socks. The tennis balls will beat out any excess moisture during the dry cycle and the socks will prevent any fuzz, dye or scents from rubbing off onto your pillows. If the cycle ends and your pillows are still damp, return them to the dryer for another attempt until all of the moisture has been expelled.
You can also dry your pillows by laying them out in the sun or hanging them on a line to air dry. Memory foam pillows must be laid out flat on a clean towel to air dry.
Step 5: Fluff Pillows and Add Pillow Cases
Fluff your pillows after washing to return them to their natural form and plumpness. Return your pillows to their freshly washed covers.
We recommend washing your pillows twice a year. However in between washes, you can air out your pillows by hanging them outside on a clothesline. We recommend doing so on a bright, sunny day. If you don’t own a clothesline, run them through the dryer on the no-heat cycle. This will help fluff them up and remove dust.
While a good wash can help revive dirty pillows, if you fold the pillow in half and it doesn’t spring back into shape, we recommend purchasing a new pillow.
Pillows are one of the most-used items in the home so its no surprise that over time they begin to discolour. But before you go tossing your pillows out in favour of brand new ones, you should give these whitening tips a try and see if your pillows can be restored back to their straight-out-of-the-box look.
Rather than machine or hand-wash your pillows using only your detergent, try adding a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide (most everyday cleaning products contain hydrogen peroxide). Simply add either 1/2 or 1 cup of vinegar and either 1/2 or 1 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide (depending on how many pillows you're washing) to your laundry detergent, mix well and then add to your washing machine and set to a standard wash.
If you're still not happy with the results after washing with the mixture, run a second cycle using only hot water. This will remove any remaining detergent and make your pillows appear whiter.
For whitening pillows that are hand wash only, try placing your pillows in a sunny spot and apply bleach or vinegar with a toothbrush over the discoloured areas.
In addition to whitening, you should aim to keep your pillows smelling fresh and odour free by using a linen spray between washes. Most linen sprays double up as sleep aids, meaning that a fragrant scent of lavender or cedarwood could help you get a better night's sleep.
Tip: Searching for more ways to achieve the perfect night's sleep? Then take a look at:
- Sleep Easy With These Pillows Made to Prevent Neck Pain
- Suffering With Back Pain? These Are the Best Mattresses for Pressure Relief
- All the Elements That Make Up Your Bed, Explained
