First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the stain, don't rub it, and use cold or lukewarm water.
- Keep the pillow out of the dryer until the stain is gone.
- Check the care label before any cleaner touches the fabric.
- If the stain or smell won't come out, replace the pillow.
Pillows pick up stains from sleep, spills and everyday use, and the fill inside decides how much water they can take. Foam and feather pillows behave very differently, and a down pillow with a dry-clean-only shell needs a dry cleaner who knows down first. The dryer is the one step to avoid until the mark is gone, because drying a stained item makes the mark more permanent.
Spot clean a pillow from the outside of the mark inward, and keep the cloth only lightly damp. A prewash stain remover spray is a good first step on stains on pillowcases. For yellow pillow stains, dab a little detergent on the spot before anything stronger.
Before you start
What this material 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
5 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Laundry detergentDabbed onto the stain and used in the wash for most pillows. (opens Amazon)
- Detergent made for downOnly for down or feather pillows, where leftover detergent can reduce fill power. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushWorks problem spots on a hand-washed down pillow. (opens Amazon)
- SpongeCleans the foam core of a foam or hybrid pillow, which must never be submerged. (opens Amazon)
- Pillow protector (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
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. Use cold or lukewarm water for the whole job, and avoid hot water altogether.
Tip. If the label is missing or unreadable, don't guess the fill. Stick to cold water and test a hidden spot first.
Step 2 of 6
Sponge foam and wash the cover
Unzip the cover and machine wash it on a cold, delicate cycle, then lay it flat to dry without a dryer. Sponge the foam itself with warm, soapy water, and keep the foam out of the dryer as well.
Careful. Never machine wash or fully submerge a foam or hybrid pillow, because the foam can trap water and grow mold.
Step 3 of 6
Machine wash polyester pillows cold
For a polyester, down-alternative or hollow-fiber pillow, dab a little detergent on the stain first. Machine wash it on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water, and wash two pillows together to keep the machine balanced.
Step 4 of 6
Wash down pillows gently or by hand
Machine wash a down or feather pillow only if the label allows it, using a detergent made for down at a low temperature with an extra rinse. Leftover detergent can reduce fill power, so don't skip that rinse. To hand-wash, use lukewarm water and a little detergent, work problem spots with a soft brush, rinse until the suds are gone, and press the water out without twisting or wringing.
Step 5 of 6
Check the stain before the dryer
Look at the spot in good light as soon as the pillow comes out of the wash. If any of the stain still shows, repeat the wash before anything goes near the dryer.
Careful. Never machine dry a pillow while the stain is still visible, because dryer heat makes it more permanent.
Step 6 of 6
Tumble dry low until fully dry
Tumble dry on low, air-fluff or with no heat, and keep going until the center is completely dry. Down may need several low-heat cycles, and you should feel no cool damp spots, odor or clumps when you're done.
Tip. Check the center by hand, not just the outside of the pillow.
Careful. Never use or store a pillow until its center is completely dry.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for pillows
Pick a plain laundry detergent for most pillows, and a detergent made for down if you have a down pillow. Skip hydrogen peroxide, oxygen bleach and rubbing alcohol on pillow covers.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on pillows, and its directions fit the steps above.
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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on pillows
Discoloration & marks5
Wax, gum & sticky1
Oil & grease1
Makeup & personal care2
Mold & outdoor1
Dye & color1
Ink, marker & crayon1
Water, rust & minerals1
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The stain is gone when the spot looks the same as the rest of the fabric once it is fully dry, since a damp spot can hide a mark. A clean pillow also feels even through the center and smells neutral, with no lumps.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Yellow pillows and pillowcases
Yellow marks tend to look worse once they have dried, so treat them as soon as you see them. Heat is what makes a stain harder to shift, so the dryer stays off until the yellow has washed out completely.
If the mark stays after the cold or lukewarm wash, don't reach for a stronger product, because the pillow method doesn't include one. Repeat the wash for the fill type, then check the spot before any heat.
Pillowcases and pillow covers
Pillowcases and protectors come off first, so they can be treated on their own. Check their care label separately, because a cover can often take a different cycle than the fill inside.
Give the cover a cold, gentle wash and check the stain before it goes near the dryer. A cover that comes out clean can go back on the pillow, while a stain still showing means it goes back in the wash.
Pillows after sleeping or waking up
A fresh stain from sleep is much easier than an old one, so treat it as soon as you notice it. Use the same cold or lukewarm approach as the rest of the method, and don't let the spot dry before you start.
A pillow protector keeps the next stain off the pillow itself, so it's worth using one. Keep the pillow out of the dryer until the spot is gone, and check it again after each wash.
Throw, decorative and body pillows
Throw and decorative pillows often have a removable cover, so check that cover's care label first and treat the insert separately. Body pillows are large, and if the core is foam, use the sponge method on it rather than the washer.
A body pillow with polyester or down fill follows the matching wash step above, using cold water first. The dryer stays on low and only after the stain is gone.
Blood, milk and egg stains
Blood, milk and egg are protein stains, so cold or lukewarm water is the only place to start with them. Work from the outside of the stain inward so you don't spread it.
If you can't tell what caused a stain, don't guess at a stronger treatment. Use the cold wash from the steps, and if the mark or any odor stays, replace the pillow.
White pillows and pillowcases
The wash steps don't change for white covers, but chlorine bleach is not an option for pillows, so skip it even on white fabric. Let a white cover air dry between washes and check it in good light, because a faint mark is easier to miss on white. Stick to the detergent and cold water from the steps.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old stain on a pillow is harder, because it has had time to dry into the fabric or fill. Start again with the cold or lukewarm wash for the fill type, and don't skip the label check.
If it has dried, don't soak a foam or hybrid pillow, since the foam must never be submerged. Work the detergent in gently and run the full washing step again before you judge the result.
If the stain went through the dryer, expect it to be more stubborn, since heat makes stains more permanent. Harsher treatments can damage the fill, so if the stain or smell remains after the washing steps, replace the pillow.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on pillows?
Kitchen and drugstore remedies come up often for pillow stains, but most of them don't belong in a pillow routine. Cold water and detergent are the safest tools for a pillow, and most remedies are too harsh for it.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use hot water on a stain you can't identify
Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, and you may not know which one you are dealing with. Stick to cold or lukewarm water until you do.
Don't bleach or iron a down-filled pillow
Down-filled products shouldn't be bleached or ironed, so skip both. If the stain needs more than the washing steps, the replacement advice applies.
Don't use high heat or a setting the label doesn't allow
Heat is what makes a pillow stain harder to remove, so keep the dryer on low or air-fluff only. If the care label doesn't allow a setting, don't pick it anyway.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The middle still feels damp or smells
Keep tumble drying on low, air-fluff or no heat until there are no cool damp spots, odor or clumps, because moisture trapped in natural fill causes clumping and odor.
The fill has clumped after washing
Clumps point to moisture. Give down several low-heat cycles, and fluff the pillow by holding opposite sides, pushing gently inward, rotating and repeating.
When to call a professional
If a down pillow's shell is dry-clean-only, take it to a reputable dry cleaner and discuss the method first, since dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils. Feather pillows are a separate case, because a professional cleaner can remove the feathers and sterilize them with UV light. If a new pillow arrives damaged or defective, contact the maker before cleaning it.
Questions
What does spot clean only mean on a pillow?
It means the care label rules out a full wash, so the pillow shouldn't go in the machine or be submerged. Clean only the stained area with a little detergent and cold water, and keep the pillow out of the dryer until the spot is gone.
Can you wash or disinfect a spot clean only pillow?
Not in the washer if the label says spot clean only. For disinfecting, skip chlorine bleach, which is not an option for pillows, and stick to the gentlest cold, detergent-based cleaning in the steps. If the stain or smell remains, replace the pillow.
Can you remove pillow stains without washing?
Only in a limited way. On a foam or hybrid pillow you can sponge the foam itself with warm, soapy water, and on other pillows a light dab of detergent with cold water is the closest no-wash option. Rinse thoroughly afterward, because leftover detergent can reduce fill power in down.
Can I use a stain remover or hydrogen peroxide on a pillow?
No, skip hydrogen peroxide; a plain laundry detergent is the product to use on a pillow. It is unsafe on colored fabric that is not colorfast, and oxygen bleach and rubbing alcohol are out too, so stick with the steps.
How long does a pillow take to dry?
The time depends on the fill, so check the center rather than the clock. Down may need several low-heat cycles, and a pillow is done only when there are no cool damp spots, odor or clumps.
When should I replace a pillow with a stain on it?
Replace it if the stain or smell won't come out after washing, since there's no stronger fix to try. A pillow that still smells or clumps after drying is also a sign it's time for a new one.
Related
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.