Prep first
Before you start
- Fix whatever let the water in, and dry the damp area within 24 to 48 hours.
- Take the pillow outside before you brush it, so spores don't scatter indoors.
- Strip off the pillowcase and any protector before you do anything else.
Mold on a pillow can be only part of the problem, since the growth started in damp conditions and the fill decides what's possible. A dry-clean-only shell or a feather fill is a job for a professional, and a stain or smell that won't clear means replacing the pillow. Machine drying can set the mark in for good, so hold off on that.
Take throw pillows outside and brush off any loose growth before you wash anything, so the spores don't drift indoors. If the cover comes off, wash it on its own so the mold stays off clean fabric. Keep the insert away from other bedding while it dries, since mold stains on pillows can spread to nearby sheets.
Before you start
What pillows can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
4 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Gloves, goggles without vents and an N-95 respiratorSo you don't breathe in or touch spores while you work. (opens Amazon)
- Detergent made for downOnly for down or feather pillows, since leftover detergent can reduce fill power. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushFor working problem spots during a down hand wash. (opens Amazon)
- Pillow protector (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Stop the water, then gear up
Fix whatever let the water in and dry the area within 24 to 48 hours, since wet areas dried in that window usually won't grow mold. Then put on gloves, goggles without vents and an N-95 respirator, and brush off the loose mold outdoors if you can.
Step 2 of 7
Strip the pillow and read the label
Remove the pillowcase and any pillow protector, then read the sewn-in care label before you do anything else. Let that label set the wash and dryer settings for this pillow.
Careful. Never use high heat or any setting the care label does not allow.
Step 3 of 7
Wash in cold or lukewarm water
Use cold or lukewarm water only, and skip the hot tap. For a polyester, down-alternative or hollow-fiber pillow, dab a little detergent on the stain, then machine wash on a gentle or delicate cycle with a second pillow to keep the machine balanced.
Step 4 of 7
Treat foam and down separately
For foam or hybrid, unzip the cover and machine wash only the cover on a cold, delicate cycle, then lay it flat to dry without a dryer. Sponge the foam itself with warm, soapy water so the inside never gets soaked.
For down or feather, machine wash only if the label allows, using a detergent made for down, a low temperature and an extra rinse. To hand wash down, use lukewarm water, work the problem spots with a soft brush and rinse until the suds are gone.
Careful. Never machine wash or fully submerge a foam or hybrid pillow, because the foam can trap water and grow mold.
Step 5 of 7
Check the stain before the dryer
Look at the spot in good light before anything goes near the dryer. If the mark is still there, air dry the pillow and keep the dryer off.
Careful. Never machine dry a pillow while a stain is still visible, because dryer heat makes it more permanent.
Step 6 of 7
Tumble dry low until the center dries
Tumble dry on low, air-fluff or with no heat, and feel the center for cool damp spots. Down may need several low-heat cycles before it is fully dry, and any clumps or odor mean it isn't done.
Careful. Never use or store a pillow until its center is completely dry, because trapped moisture causes clumping and odor.
Step 7 of 7
Replace the pillow if it won't clear
If the stain or smell will not come out after the wash and a full dry, replace the pillow. Replacing it is the honest end point for a mark that won't lift, and it's easier than repeating the wash over and over.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mold on pillows
Pick a detergent made for down if your pillow is down, since leftover detergent can reduce fill power.
TEMPUR-Protect Pillow Protector
Dawn Ultra Dish Soap Refill Jug
These are the everyday supplies the steps above use, in the versions most people buy on Amazon.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain should look lighter after each wash, and the fabric should show no dark shadow once it dries. Before you use the pillow again, the center must be dry all the way through, with no cool damp spots, odor or clumps.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Throw pillows
Throw pillows follow the same steps, but check the cover and the insert separately. Read the label on the cover first, since a decorative fabric can need a different wash from the insert.
If the cover has a zip, wash it alone and leave the insert out of the machine unless its label allows it. If there's no readable label, don't guess: spot test a hidden seam with a little detergent in cold water, and keep the cover out of the dryer until it's dry.
Pillowcase and protector
A pillowcase and protector come off first and can go in the wash on their own. Each one has its own label, so check it before you pick a setting.
Wash them in cold or lukewarm water, the same as the pillow. If only the case carries the mark, wash the case alone and leave the pillow out of that load.
Body pillow
A body pillow is long and dense, so the center is the hard part to check. Feel it in several spots along its length before you call it finished.
If the label is unreadable or doesn't name the fill, don't guess: wash only the cover on a cold, gentle cycle and keep the insert out of the machine. Lay the whole pillow flat to dry without a dryer until it is fully dry.
Memory foam pillow
Memory foam is foam all the way through, so the foam rule applies to the core and only the cover can go in the machine. Keep the core dry at every stage, because the foam cannot release all the water it absorbs.
Sponge the core with warm, soapy water, then lay it flat in a dry room until the center is dry all the way through, with no odor.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
An old mold stain on a pillow may not come out, even with the full wash. Mold can damage the fiber itself, and the dark mark can be that damage, so a stain that has been there a long time may stay. Fabrics badly damaged by mildew may be impossible to clean.
If the stain dried in before you noticed it, rewet only that spot with cold water and repeat the wash, working gently because mildew weakens fibers. Give it a second round rather than a harder scrub.
If the mark is still there after a second wash and a full dry, the stronger set-in option is the last step before replacing the pillow. Use it only on a colorfast cover after a small test. If it still won't come out, replacing the pillow is the realistic result for an old mark.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mold on pillows?
These are the home remedies people usually reach for with mold on fabric. Most belong on hard surfaces or have no place in a pillow wash, so the steps above stick to cold water and detergent, and only the stronger options are kept for a set-in mark.
Helps2Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach.
Chlorine bleach is not safe for pillows here, and it isn't a routine fix for mold anyway. Never mix it with ammonia or any cleaner that contains it, because toxic fumes could be produced.
Don't wring a wet down pillow.
Press the water out with your hands and keep the pillow as flat as you can while you do it. Twisting is the wrong move for a wet down pillow, so skip it entirely.
Don't use hot water on this stain.
Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, and you may not know what this stain is. A hot wash can make a bad mark permanent, so the cold-water rule is not optional.
Don't skip the water source.
Mold needs water or moisture to grow, so a clean pillow in a damp room will grow it again. Fix the leak or the humidity first, or the same stain will come back.
When to call a professional
If a down pillow's shell fabric is dry-clean-only, have it dry-cleaned and talk to a reputable dry cleaner first, because dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils. For feather pillows, professional cleaning can remove the feathers and sterilize them with UV light, so it's worth asking about that option.
Questions
Can mold stains come out of a pillow for good?
Sometimes. Mold can damage the fiber itself, and the dark mark can be that damage, so an old or deep stain may stay after a full wash. Fresh, light mold on a washable cover has the best chance.
How do I tell what fill my pillow has?
Check the care label sewn into the pillow first. If the label is gone or doesn't name the fill, don't guess: wash only a washable cover in cold water on a gentle cycle, and keep the pillow out of the dryer until it is fully dry.
Does a musty smell mean the mold is still there?
It can. Moisture trapped in natural fill can cause odor, so a musty smell often means the center is still damp. Dry it fully on low heat before you judge the smell.
How long does drying take?
There's no fixed time, so check the center instead of the clock. Down often needs several low-heat cycles, and foam dries best lying flat. Wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold, so aim to get the pillow fully dry inside that window.
Should I replace a pillow with mold on it?
Only if the stain or smell stays after a full wash and dry. If it lifts and smells fresh, the pillow is fine to keep, and fixing the damp is what keeps it that way.
Is it safe to clean a moldy pillow yourself?
Yes, as long as you protect yourself. Gloves, goggles without vents and an N-95 respirator keep spores out of your breathing zone and off your skin.
Mold on other materials
Other stains on pillows
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.