The Ultimate 7-Step Guide To Washing Your Pillows (The Right Way) In 2025

Are you sleeping on a pillow that’s secretly harboring two years of dead skin, dust mites, and sweat? If you can’t remember the last time you washed your pillow, you’re not alone. Most people neglect this vital step of bedding maintenance, but a dirty pillow can severely impact your sleep health and quality. This deep-dive guide, updated for December 18, 2025, breaks down the exact, expert-approved methods for cleaning every type of pillow—from fluffy down to sensitive memory foam—ensuring you restore its freshness, loft, and hygiene.

The good news is that restoring a lumpy, yellowed pillow is easier than you think, but it requires specific techniques based on the filling material. Ignoring the care label can destroy your pillow in a single wash cycle. Follow this ultimate 7-step process to ensure your sleeping surface is as clean and supportive as the day you bought it.

The Essential 7-Step Process for Machine-Washable Pillows

This process applies to most conventional pillows, including those filled with down, feathers, synthetic fibers (polyester), and cotton. Always check the manufacturer’s care label first, but if it indicates machine washability, follow these steps to prevent clumping and residue.

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Step 1: Inspect and Pre-Treat Stains

Before tossing the pillow into the washing machine, remove the pillowcase and any pillow protectors. Look for yellowed areas, which are typically caused by sweat, body oils, and drool. Apply a small amount of a gentle, natural detergent or stain remover directly onto the problem areas. Gently rub the detergent into the stain and allow it to sit for 10–15 minutes to loosen any tough spots.

Step 2: Balance the Load (The Clumping Secret)

To ensure proper agitation and spinning, which prevents the filling from clumping into a single, hard mass, always wash two pillows at the same time. This balances the washing machine drum. If you only have one pillow, you can use a couple of large, clean towels to balance the load. Use a front-loading washer if possible, as agitators in top-loading machines can be too harsh on pillow fibers.

Step 3: Choose the Right Detergent and Cycle

Use a mild, low-sudsing laundry detergent, as too much soap can leave residue trapped in the pillow’s filling, which is difficult to rinse out and can attract dust mites. For down and feather pillows, specifically choose a cold water setting. For synthetic and cotton pillows, warm water is often acceptable. Select the most gentle setting available, such as the “Delicate” or “Gentle” cycle.

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Step 4: Add an Extra Rinse Cycle

This is a critical, often-missed step. The dense filling of a pillow can trap soap and water easily. Run the pillows through a second, full rinse cycle to ensure all traces of detergent are completely removed. Soap residue can break down the pillow fibers over time and cause skin irritation.

Step 5: The Tennis Ball/Dryer Ball Trick

Transfer the pillows to the dryer and set the heat to a low temperature. High heat can damage the casing and filling, especially for down and feather pillows. The secret to restoring loft and preventing clumping is to add 2-3 clean wool dryer balls or a pair of clean tennis balls inside socks. As the dryer runs, the balls will beat against the pillows, redistributing the filling and breaking up any clumps.

Step 6: Ensure Complete Drying

Pillows, particularly down and feather types, can take a long time to dry—often several hours. Remove the pillows every 30 minutes and manually fluff them to check for damp spots. Any remaining moisture can lead to mildew or mold growth, which will ruin the pillow and create a health hazard. The pillow must be completely dry before you put it back on your bed.

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Step 7: The Final Fluff

Once the pillow is dry, hold it by its corners and shake it vigorously to help the filling settle back into its original shape. You can also manually massage any remaining small clumps. A properly washed and dried pillow should feel light, fluffy, and smell clean.

Advanced Care: Cleaning Non-Machine-Washable Pillows

Pillows made from foam or natural materials like buckwheat should never be submerged in a washing machine, as the water will destroy the material structure. These require a specialized cleaning approach.

Memory Foam and Latex Pillows

Memory foam and latex pillows are highly sensitive to moisture and heat, which can cause the material to crumble or lose its supportive properties.

• Spot Cleaning: Mix a small amount of mild detergent with lukewarm water. Dip a clean cloth or sponge into the solution and gently blot the stained area. Avoid scrubbing or soaking.
• Deodorizing: To remove odors, sprinkle the entire pillow with a generous layer of baking soda. Let it sit for at least an hour, or ideally a full 24 hours, to absorb odors and moisture. Then, use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to thoroughly remove the baking soda.
• Drying: Air dry the pillow completely in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, which can degrade the foam. Never put a memory foam or latex pillow in the dryer.

Buckwheat Hull Pillows

These pillows are filled with buckwheat hulls, which cannot be washed. The hygiene process is focused on cleaning the casing and sanitizing the hulls.

• Remove the Hulls: Unzip the pillow and carefully pour the buckwheat hulls into a large, clean container or bin.
• Wash the Casing: The cotton casing can be machine washed using a normal cycle with cold water and mild detergent.
• Sanitize the Hulls: Spread the buckwheat hulls out evenly on a flat surface, like a baking sheet or towel, and let them air dry in direct sunlight for a few hours. The sun’s UV rays act as a natural sanitizer and the air circulation helps remove any moisture or odors.

Restoring the Brilliance: How to Whiten Yellowed Pillows

Yellowing is inevitable due to sweat and body oil buildup. To restore your pillows to a bright white, you can use a powerful but gentle DIY whitening solution. This method is best for cotton and synthetic fiber pillows.

The Whitening Soak Recipe:

Fill a large basin or bathtub with hot water (as hot as the pillow's care label allows). Add the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of Oxygen Bleach (or an oxygen-based brightener)
• 1 cup of Hydrogen Peroxide
• 1/2 cup of White Vinegar

Submerge the pillows and let them soak for at least four hours, or overnight, agitating them occasionally to circulate the solution. After soaking, run the pillows through a full wash cycle with detergent and an extra rinse to remove all residue.

Washing Frequency and Essential Pillow Entities

The best way to maintain a fresh pillow is to wash it regularly and use preventative measures. The recommended washing frequency for most pillows is every three to six months. However, if you are prone to night sweats, have allergies, or share your bed with pets, you should aim for a quarterly wash (every three months).

To extend the time between deep cleans and protect your investment, always use a high-quality pillow protector under your pillowcase. These zippered covers create a barrier against moisture, dust mites, and stains, significantly improving the hygiene of your sleep environment and extending the life of your pillow.

By understanding the material of your pillow and applying the correct, updated 2025 cleaning techniques—from the gentle cycle on your washing machine to using wool dryer balls to prevent a lumpy pillow—you can ensure your head rests on a clean, supportive, and healthy surface every night.