Prep first
Before you start
- Read the sewn-in care label first, since it overrides general guidance.
- Work out the fill: foam or hybrid, latex, down or feather, or polyester, down alternative or hollow fiber.
- Check whether the shell fabric is dry-clean-only; if it is, a down pillow goes to a dry cleaner instead.
- Take off the pillowcase and any protector, and shake out loose dirt.
Pillows are harder to clean than they look, because the fill holds moisture long after the outside feels dry. The fill also decides everything: foam and hybrid pillows can't be machine washed or fully submerged, while polyester, down alternative and down can be washed at home. Trapped water is the real risk, since a damp center can clump and smell.
Can you wash pillows in the washer? For most fills, yes, as long as the label allows it and the pillow is dried all the way through. Start with the sewn-in label, and expect the drying to take longer than the wash.
Before you start
What pillows can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat (dryer, iron, hot air)
Avoid2
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
8 items
What you'll need
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- Mild liquid detergentFor the wash and for spotting visible stains. (opens Amazon)
- White vinegarHalf a cup goes in the wash for polyester, down-alternative and down pillows. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaSprinkled on the dry pillow to help absorb odor. (opens Amazon)
- Two tennis ballsTossed in the dryer, they help the fill keep its shape and fluff.
- Clean white towelsFor laying a hand-washed down pillow flat to air dry. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushFor gently working on stained spots on a down pillow. (opens Amazon)
- Sink or tubFor hand washing a down pillow in lukewarm water.
- Pillow protectorShields the pillow from sweat, oil and dirt between washes. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 65 minutes
Spot-treat any visible stains
Put a dab of mild liquid detergent on each visible spot and rub it gently with a soft cloth. Let it sit briefly, and don't scrub hard into the fill.
Tip. Test a hidden spot of the cover with a little of the same detergent first.
Careful. Never use hot water on a stain you can't identify, because it can set protein stains such as blood or egg.
Step 2 of 6
Wash on a cold, gentle cycle
Wash two pillows together so the machine stays balanced. Choose a gentle or delicate cycle with cold water, and for polyester or hollow fiber pillows, use the Wool setting if the machine has one.
Tip. Hand washing in a sink or tub works too, using lukewarm water; the down card below describes that method.
Careful. Never machine wash or fully submerge foam, hybrid or latex pillows, because the foam keeps the water and can grow mold. Those pillows skip this step and follow the memory foam card below.
Step 3 of 6
Add detergent and white vinegar
Add a regular amount of mild detergent, plus 1/2 cup of white vinegar for polyester, down-alternative and down pillows. The vinegar helps rinse away soap residue.
Careful. Never use chlorine bleach on a pillow, and never add it to the same wash as any other cleaner or acid.
Step 4 of 6
Spin out the water
Run natural-filled pillows through the spin cycle to remove as much water as possible. Less water left in the fill means the drying step, which takes the longest, goes faster.
Careful. Never twist or wring a wet down pillow; press the water out instead.
Step 5 of 6
Dry on low until fully dry
Dry on low heat, or air-fluff with no heat, with one or two tennis balls in the dryer to help keep the shape and fluff. Check on the pillow as it dries and keep going until the center is completely dry, which can take several hours.
Tip. Turn the pillow now and then so it dries evenly.
Careful. Never dry on high heat or on any setting the care label does not allow.
Step 6 of 6A few hours
Freshen and fluff the pillow
Once the pillow is completely dry, sprinkle it with baking soda and leave it for a few hours. Then shake off or vacuum away the excess, and fluff the pillow before use.
Tip. Air the pillow outside in fresh air and sun, which may help with lingering smells.
Careful. Keep baking soda away from the vinegar, since mixed in equal parts they neutralize each other.
What makes the job easier
Best products for cleaning pillows
Choose a pillow protector that can go through the washer, so it can be cleaned with the pillowcase and the pillows.
TEMPUR-Protect Pillow Protector
How we picked these: each product is made for cleaning pillows, its maker doesn't warn against using it on pillows, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →Spots that survive a deep clean are usually stains, and each stain has its own method.
Find the guide for your stain →Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The pillow is clean when no spots show and it smells neutral. It is fully dry when the center has no cool or damp areas, no odor and no wet clumps; if it isn't, keep drying it on low and check again.
Treat stains with their own method
Got a stain on it?
A deep clean lifts everyday dirt, but most stains need their own method. Pick yours:
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillow fill
Memory foam and hybrid pillows
Foam and hybrid pillows can't be machine washed or fully submerged, because the foam keeps the water and can grow mold. Latex pillows follow the same limits, so hand wash them and air dry them. Only the cover comes off for washing: wash it cold on a delicate cycle and lay it flat to dry, never in the dryer.
The foam itself is only spot cleaned. Sponge the surface with warm soapy water, let it air dry completely, and never soak it. Check the sewn-in tags to confirm the cover is removable.
Down pillows
Pillows are the easiest down product to wash at home, and washing is better than dry cleaning for the filling itself. Hand wash in a sink or tub of lukewarm water with a little detergent and 1/2 cup of white vinegar, massaging the pillow underwater and using a soft brush on stained spots.
Rinse until all the suds are gone, then press out the water without twisting or wringing. Air dry it flat on clean towels, turning it now and then so it dries evenly, which can take hours.
Feather pillows
A feather pillow is usually machine washable unless its label says otherwise, but it has to be completely dry before use or it may smell. Hang it outside in fresh air when the weather allows, and shake it occasionally while it dries.
Because feather pillows may benefit most from professional cleaning, it is worth sending one out, where the feathers are removed and sterilized with UV light.
Polyester and down-alternative pillows
Polyester, down-alternative and hollow fiber pillows are usually machine washable unless the label says otherwise, and they are the fill the steps are written for. Use the Wool setting if the machine has one, and add the 1/2 cup of white vinegar with the detergent.
Cold water helps stop these pillows from clumping. Once they are fully dry, break up any clumps by hand so the fill spreads evenly.
Between deep cleans
How often to clean it
Deep clean pillows at least twice a year, and wash them about once per season if the label allows it. Between washes, fluff the pillow by holding opposite sides, pushing gently inward, rotating and repeating, and shake it daily to keep dust down and the shape.
Wash the pillow protector and other removable layers regularly, since a protector shields the pillow from sweat, oil and dirt and can reduce how often it needs cleaning. Replace pillows every one to two years, since cleaning can't guarantee restored loft or remove all odor.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work for cleaning pillows?
These are the household remedies people reach for most, checked against what a pillow can take. Only the remedies that work on a pillow are worth using; skip or avoid the rest.
Works2Skip1Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't follow general advice over the label
General guidance is a starting point, and the sewn-in label wins whenever the two differ. Follow the label's settings even if the steps here suggest something different.
Don't put a damp pillow back on the bed
Moisture trapped in natural fill causes clumping and odor, and it can stay hidden deep in the center for hours. Give the pillow more time to dry, then fluff it before it goes back in use.
Don't wash a new pillow that arrived defective
A new pillow that arrived damaged or defective should be checked with the maker before you clean it. Washed items may not be returnable, so contact the maker first.
Don't open seams on a pillow that isn't adjustable
The fill gives the pillow its shape, so a pillow that isn't adjustable should keep all of it. Only pillows built to be adjusted should have fill added or removed.
Troubleshooting
If it still isn't clean
Pick what you're seeing:
Clumps after washing
Make sure the pillow is completely dry, then break up the clumps by hand. Cold water in the wash also helps prevent clumping in the first place.
A smell after drying
Repeat the baking soda freshening from the last step, then give the pillow time in fresh air and sun, which may help with the smell.
A stain still shows after washing
Don't put the pillow in the dryer yet, since dryer heat makes a stain more permanent. Treat the stain again with its own method, then wash or dry as normal.
When to call a professional
If the shell fabric is dry-clean-only and the pillow is down, take it to a reputable dry cleaner with experience in down, and talk through the method first. Dry cleaning can strip the natural oils from down and leave it brittle, so use it only when the shell truly requires it.
Questions
What if my pillow has no care label?
Don't machine wash it until you know what the fill is. Foam and hybrid pillows should only have their cover washed, and a pillow you can't identify should get spot cleaning only. Once you know the fill, follow the matching card above.
Can I wash a throw or decorative pillow?
Check the tag first, since it decides whether the whole pillow can go in the machine. If the cover is removable, wash it on the label's settings and treat the inner form by its fill type, following the steps above.
Will washing make a yellow pillow white again?
Washing can help, but nothing guarantees the color or the loft will come back fully. Treat any visible stain first with its own method, the way the spot-treat step describes.
How do I clean a buckwheat, bamboo or body pillow?
Check the label first, since the label decides whether the pillow can be washed. If the fill is unclear or the label doesn't say, don't submerge it; spot clean the cover with a little mild detergent and freshen it as the last step describes.
What can I do with a pillow that can't be washed?
Vacuum or brush the pillow, then spot clean the cover with a damp cloth and a little mild detergent. Work in small areas so the cover doesn't get soaked, and air the pillow outside in fresh air and sun, which can also help with smells.
Is it safe to put a pillow in the dryer?
Yes for washable fills, on low heat or with no heat, and tennis balls help the fill keep its shape. A pillow with a foam or hybrid fill shouldn't go in the dryer at all.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Odor guides
Still smells?
More cleaning guides
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.