How to Wash Pillows

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Memory foam cannot be machine washed. It disintegrates. Down pillows need tennis balls in the dryer or they permanently clump.

Why Pillows Need Washing

Pillows accumulate more than people realise. Even with a pillowcase, moisture from sweat and breath penetrates through to the pillow over months. A 2-year-old pillow can contain up to 10% of its weight in dead skin cells, dust mites, and their faecal matter — a major allergen source. Saliva, body oil, and sweat also absorb into the fill over time, causing yellowing and a persistent musty smell. Washing every 3–6 months and replacing pillows every 1–3 years is the general hygiene recommendation. A simple test: fold the pillow in half. If it stays folded rather than springing back open, it needs replacing (for synthetic fill pillows; this test does not apply to down or memory foam).

Washing Down and Feather Pillows

Applies to goose down, duck down, and feather-filled pillows

1
Check the care label
Most down and feather pillows are machine washable, but some specify dry clean only. Check the label — if it says dry clean only, follow that. Cluster fill (loosely filled) down pillows can be machine washed more readily than tightly packed feather pillows.
2
Use a front-loading machine if possible
Top-loading machines with a central agitator can damage down fill by creating harsh mechanical action. Front-loading machines are gentler on down. If you only have a top-loader, place the pillow vertically (not over the agitator) and use the gentle cycle.
3
Wash two pillows at a time
Washing two pillows together balances the drum load. A single pillow off-balance in a large drum will cause the machine to vibrate excessively on the spin cycle and may not spin evenly.
4
Use a small amount of liquid detergent
Use a small amount of liquid detergent — about half the normal dose. Powder detergent can leave residue inside down clusters that is difficult to rinse out fully. A small amount of detergent is sufficient; down pillows are not heavily soiled.
5
Wash on a gentle cycle at 30–40°C
Gentle or delicate cycle at 30–40°C. Down clusters can be damaged by harsh mechanical action. The wash temperature does not need to be high — the main goal is to rinse through the fill and remove body oils. Run an extra rinse cycle to ensure all detergent is removed.
6
Tumble dry on LOW with two tennis balls or dryer balls
This is the most important step for down pillows. Down clusters clump together when wet and can remain clumped when dry, creating lumpy areas. Tumble drying with two clean tennis balls (or dedicated dryer balls) breaks up the clumps as the drum rotates. Dry on the LOWEST heat setting — high heat damages down. The process takes 2–4 hours. Remove and manually fluff every 30 minutes. The pillow must be completely dry inside — even slightly damp down will develop mould within days.
7
Check for dryness before storing
Squeeze the pillow firmly. If you feel any cool damp areas inside, return it to the dryer for another cycle. Down can feel dry on the outside while still damp inside. A damp down pillow will develop a strong musty smell within 24 hours and may mould internally.

Washing Synthetic (Polyester) Pillows

Hollow-fibre and polyester fill pillows

1
Check the label — most synthetic pillows are machine washable
Most polyester and hollow-fibre synthetic pillows are fully machine washable. Some memory foam core pillows with a thin synthetic shell can only be spot cleaned — check the care label.
2
Wash two at a time on a gentle cycle at 40°C
Gentle cycle, 40°C. Two pillows together balances the drum load. Synthetic fill is more robust than down and tolerates slightly higher temperatures, but still benefits from a gentler cycle to preserve the fill structure.
3
Use a liquid detergent — half dose
Liquid detergent rinses more completely than powder from synthetic fill. Use about half the normal dose — synthetic pillows are not heavily soiled and detergent residue in the fill causes stiffness.
4
Tumble dry on medium heat with dryer balls
Synthetic fill also benefits from dryer balls to break up clumps and restore loft. Medium heat is safe for polyester. Dry fully — slightly damp synthetic fill will also develop mould and odour, though it is less prone to clumping than down.

Cleaning Memory Foam Pillows

Memory foam cannot be machine washed.

The foam disintegrates from mechanical agitation in the drum.

1
Never machine wash or submerge memory foam
Memory foam is a polyurethane foam that disintegrates when subjected to the mechanical agitation of a washing machine drum. The structure tears apart in the machine. Machine washing destroys the pillow — this is not recoverable.
2
Spot clean with a mild detergent solution
Mix a small amount of liquid detergent with cold water. Apply to the stained area with a cloth, blot gently, and blot dry with a clean cloth. Do not saturate the foam.
3
Freshen with baking soda
Sprinkle baking soda over the pillow surface, leave for several hours, then vacuum thoroughly. Baking soda absorbs odours from the surface layer.
4
Air in sunlight
UV light has a mild deodorising and antibacterial effect. Place the pillow in direct sunlight for a few hours to freshen it. Do not expose memory foam to high heat or use a tumble dryer.

What to Avoid

Machine washing memory foam

Memory foam disintegrates in a washing machine. The foam structure tears apart from mechanical agitation. This is irreversible — the pillow is destroyed.

High heat drying down pillows

High dryer heat damages down clusters and can melt the delicate protective coating on the down feathers, causing them to clump permanently and reducing loft. Always dry down on the lowest heat setting.

Storing a damp pillow

Even 5–10% residual moisture inside a pillow is enough to develop mould within 24–48 hours. A musty-smelling pillow is almost always a mould problem caused by incomplete drying. Run extra dryer cycles if in doubt.

Washing only the pillowcase

Pillowcases need weekly washing, but the pillow itself needs washing every 3–6 months. A clean pillowcase over a dirty, mite-laden pillow still exposes you to allergens.

Folding test on down pillows

The fold test (fold and see if it springs back) applies to synthetic fill only. Down pillows will stay folded even when new, so this test gives a false result for down.

FAQ

Can you put pillows in the washing machine?

Most down and synthetic pillows are machine washable. Check the care label first. Down pillows: gentle cycle, 30–40°C, low-heat tumble dry with tennis balls to prevent clumping. Synthetic pillows: gentle cycle, 40°C, medium-heat tumble dry. Memory foam pillows CANNOT be machine washed — the foam disintegrates from mechanical agitation. Spot clean only.

Why use tennis balls when washing pillows?

Down clusters clump together when wet and can stay clumped when drying, creating hard lumpy areas. Adding two clean tennis balls (or dedicated dryer balls) to the tumble dryer breaks up these clumps as the drum rotates, restoring even loft and softness. Without them, a down pillow may come out with hard lumps even after fully drying. Synthetic fill also benefits from dryer balls for the same reason.

How often should you wash pillows?

Wash pillows every 3–6 months. Even with a pillowcase, moisture from sweat and breath penetrates the fill over time. A 2-year-old pillow can contain significant amounts of dust mites, dead skin cells, and body oils. Pillowcases should be washed weekly or more frequently. Pillows themselves should be replaced every 1–3 years for synthetic fill and 1–5 years for down.

Why does my pillow smell after washing?

A musty smell after washing almost always means the pillow was not fully dried. Even slightly damp fill — particularly down — will develop mould within 24–48 hours. Run additional dryer cycles with tennis balls, removing to fluff and check every 30 minutes. The pillow must be completely dry with no cool damp areas inside before storing or using. A pillow with established mould may need replacing.

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