Prep first
Before you start
- Blot up standing water with a dry, white absorbent cloth or paper towels.
- Use as little liquid as possible, and don't rub the spot.
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden area first.
- Check the care label before you wash anything.
A water stain on a pillow shows up as a ring or a damp patch, and the fill decides how you clean it. Foam, polyester and down each respond differently to a wet wash, so check what's inside before you wet the spot. Machine-drying a stained pillow can set the mark for good, so keep it out of the dryer until it's gone.
Blot a fresh water spot on pillows with a clean, dry cloth before the ring has time to set. If the stain is still there, work a little enzyme laundry pretreater into the damp spot and let it sit before washing. Stubborn water stains on pillows usually need a second round, so check the spot once it's fully dry before you move on.
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
7 items
What you'll need
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- Dry, white absorbent cloth or paper towelsTo blot up standing water without rubbing it in. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid detergentA small amount goes on the stain and into the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Detergent made for downFor a down or feather pillow, since leftover detergent can reduce fill power. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushFor working problem spots on a down pillow. (opens Amazon)
- SpongeFor spot-cleaning the foam with warm, soapy water. (opens Amazon)
- Cold or lukewarm waterThe water temperature for everything in this method.
- Wash basin (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Blot up the standing water
Press a dry, white absorbent cloth or paper towels onto the wet area until it stops soaking up water. Keep the pressure light and don't rub, because rubbing works the water deeper into the fabric. Work from the outside edge of the spot toward the middle.
Tip. A white cloth keeps any dye from transferring onto the cover.
Step 2 of 7
Strip the pillow and read the label
Take off the pillowcase and any protector before you do anything else. Find the sewn-in care label and read it closely, since it decides which washing method you can use. If the label is missing and you can't tell what the pillow is filled with, sponge the spot only with cold water and a drop of detergent, then let it air dry.
Step 3 of 7
Pretest, then use cold water
Test any cleaner on a hidden spot of the cover first and check for color change before you go further. Use cold or lukewarm water for everything that follows, since it's the safer choice for a stain you haven't identified.
Careful. Never use hot water on a stain you can't identify, because it can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood.
Step 4 of 7
Clean a foam or hybrid pillow
Unzip the cover and machine wash it on a cold, delicate cycle. Sponge the foam itself with warm, soapy water on the stained spot, then lay the pillow flat to dry without using a dryer.
Careful. Never machine wash or fully submerge foam, because it can trap water and grow mold.
Step 5 of 7
Wash a polyester or down-alternative pillow
Dab a little detergent directly onto the stain, then machine wash the pillow on a gentle cycle in cold water. Wash two pillows together to keep the load balanced in the machine.
Step 6 of 7
Wash a down or feather pillow
Your label decides whether the pillow can go in the machine. If it can, pick a detergent made for down, set the water low and add an extra rinse.
If you'd rather wash by hand, fill a basin with lukewarm water and a little detergent. Go over the trouble spots with a soft brush, then rinse until no suds are left and press the water out.
Tip. Leftover detergent can reduce fill power, so don't skip the extra rinse.
Careful. Never bleach or iron a down-filled pillow.
Step 7 of 7
Check, then dry on low
Before the dryer, check that the stain is gone. If it's still there, wash the pillow again instead of drying it. Tumble dry on low, air fluff or no heat until the center is completely dry, with no cool damp spots, odor or clumps.
Tip. Down may need several low-heat cycles to dry all the way through.
Careful. Never use or store a pillow until its center is completely dry, because trapped moisture causes clumping and odor.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for water stains on pillows
A mild liquid detergent works for most of these washes. For a down-filled pillow, choose a detergent made for down.
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.
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 lighten during the cold wash, and the rinse water should run clear. If it's still visible when the cycle ends, don't dry the pillow yet; repeat the wash first.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Water on a pillow
Foam and hybrid pillows can't be submerged, so the cover goes in the machine and the foam only gets sponged. Polyester and down-alternative pillows can go in the machine on a gentle cold cycle, two at a time.
Down and feather pillows need a detergent made for down, a low temperature, an extra rinse and a soft brush for problem spots. Press the water out gently and dry the pillow on low until the center is completely dry.
Foam or hybrid pillow
The cover is the only part that goes in the machine, so unzip it first and wash it on a cold, delicate cycle. The foam gets a light sponge with warm, soapy water on the spot and nothing more.
Lay the pillow flat to dry without a dryer. Foam that stays damp inside can hold odor, so give it time to dry all the way through before you use it.
Polyester or down-alternative pillow
These pillows can take a full machine wash, so the detergent goes straight onto the stain before the cycle. Use a gentle cycle in cold water and wash two pillows together to keep the load balanced.
After the wash, check the stain is gone before any drying starts. Then tumble dry on low until the center is completely dry, with no cool damp spots.
Down or feather pillow
Check the label before you use the machine, and only wash that way if it's allowed. Use a detergent made for down, a low temperature and an extra rinse. When the label says no machine, wash the pillow by hand in lukewarm water.
Brush problem spots with a soft brush and rinse until the suds are gone. Then press the water out gently. Down can take several low-heat cycles before the middle is fully dry.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old water stains often take more than one wash. Just repeat the same mild method instead of grabbing something harsher. Pillows don't have a special fix for old stains, so keep the liquid to a minimum and be gentle on the spot.
Did the stain dry before you could treat it? Wet the spot with cold water, then go through the steps in order. Don't scrub hard at a dried mark, and save the soft brush for down pillows only.
If it already went through the dryer, don't run the pillow through again. Wash it in cold water once more first.
Still seeing the stain or smelling it after washing? Time to replace the pillow.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on water stains on pillows?
Several home remedies come up for water spots, but most of them don't belong on a pillow. Below is what each one does here and where it could cause trouble. The washing steps above are the method to follow.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put the pillow in the dryer while the stain shows
Dryer heat makes a stain more permanent, so a pillow with a visible mark should never go in the dryer. Wash it again and check it before any drying starts.
Don't use high heat or a setting the label doesn't allow
High heat can set a stain and can damage the fill. If the label rules out a setting, skip it and use the lowest safe option instead.
Don't twist or wring a wet down pillow
Twisting can tear the down and clump it inside the shell. Press the water out gently with your hands instead.
When to call a professional
Check the care label on a down pillow. When the shell says dry clean only, go to a dry cleaner you trust and ask how they'll do it before you hand it over, because dry cleaning can strip the natural oils out of the down.
Feather pillows are different: a pro can take the feathers out and sterilize them with UV light. And if a brand-new pillow shows up damaged, call the maker first. Don't start cleaning it yourself.
Questions
Can you wash a water stain out of a pillow?
Often yes, as long as the cover and fill can be washed. Blot the water first, follow the steps for your pillow's fill, and check that the stain is gone before the dryer.
Can I put a foam pillow in the washing machine?
Not the foam itself. Unzip the cover and machine wash only the cover on a cold, delicate cycle, then sponge the foam with warm, soapy water and let it dry flat.
Would a hot wash lift it faster?
No. Use cold or lukewarm water, since hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, and you may not know what the stain is.
Can I dry a pillow in the dryer with a stain still on it?
No, not while the stain is visible. Dryer heat makes the stain more permanent, so wash it again and check it first. Once the stain is gone, tumble dry on low.
Is vinegar a good way to remove water spots from a pillow?
No. Detergent and cold or lukewarm water are the safer choice for an unidentified stain on a pillow. Stick to cold or lukewarm water with a little detergent, since the stain's cause is unknown.
Why do I need to know the fill before washing?
Foam, polyester and down handle water differently, and a foam pillow can't be submerged. Knowing the fill tells you whether to machine wash the cover or only spot-clean.
What if the water stain won't come out?
Repeat the wash with the same cold-water method, and don't dry the pillow until the stain is gone. If the stain or smell still won't come out, replace the pillow.
Water Stains 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.