Most people wash their pillowcases every week and never wash the pillow inside them. Then one day the case comes off and the pillow underneath is yellow, a little lumpy, and smells faintly of last summer.
The good news is that most pillows can be washed. The catch is that “most” is doing a lot of work in that sentence. Knowing how to wash pillows properly starts with one question — what is inside it — because down, polyester, memory foam, latex and buckwheat each need a different approach, and the wrong one can ruin a pillow in a single cycle.
Below is what we’d tell a neighbor across the counter: how to clean pillows by fill type, how to dry them completely, what causes yellowing, and what to do with the ones that can’t go near a washer.
Contents
- Check the fill before anything else
- How to wash pillows by fill type
- Machine washing, step by step
- Drying: the step that decides everything
- Why pillows turn yellow
- How to sanitize pillows you can’t wash
- Protectors, and when to replace a pillow
- When to hand it to a professional
- The bottom line
- Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
- Down, feather and polyester pillows can usually be machine washed; memory foam and latex usually cannot, because agitation breaks the foam apart.
- Wash two pillows at a time so the drum stays balanced, and run an extra rinse cycle because detergent is hard to flush out of thick filling.
- A pillow is not dry until the center is dry — a damp core under a dry surface is how mildew starts.
- Yellowing comes mostly from sweat, drool, wet hair and skin oils soaking through the case, which is exactly what a zippered pillow protector blocks.
- WebMD suggests replacing most pillows every one to two years; a pillow that stays folded when you bend it in half is spent.
Check the fill before anything else
Before you work out how to wash pillows of any kind, find the law tag or care label sewn into the seam. It will tell you the fill and usually whether the pillow is machine washable. If the tag is gone, you can often tell by feel.
- Down or feather: light, squashy, and you can sometimes feel a quill through the ticking.
- Polyester fiberfill: springy and even, often a little heavier than down.
- Memory foam: a single dense block, slow to spring back when you press it.
- Latex: a solid block, but bouncy and quick to recover. Often has pinholes.
- Buckwheat: firm and crunchy, sounds like a bean bag.
Also check the ticking (the outer fabric). Split seams or leaking feathers mean the pillow will come apart in a machine.
How to wash pillows by fill type
Here is the short version of how to wash pillows by what’s inside them. The guidance on water temperature, foam and buckwheat lines up with WebMD’s pillow-cleaning guide.
| Fill type | Machine washable? | Method | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down / feather | Usually yes | Gentle cycle, cool water, mild detergent, extra rinse | Low heat with dryer balls; takes a long time |
| Polyester fiberfill | Usually yes | Gentle cycle, warm water, a small amount of detergent | Low heat with dryer balls |
| Memory foam | No | Wash the removable cover; spot clean the foam; hand wash only if the tag allows | Air dry flat, away from direct heat |
| Latex | No | Wash the cover; spot clean gently | Air dry flat, out of direct sun |
| Buckwheat | Casing only | Empty the hulls, wash the casing on cold with mild detergent | Dry the casing fully before refilling; air the hulls |
How to wash feather pillows
People ask how to wash feather pillows more than any other kind, because down and feather feel too delicate for a machine. They generally aren’t. The feathers handle water fine; what damages them is heat and leftover detergent. Use cool water, a gentle cycle and a small amount of mild detergent, and add that extra rinse. Detergent residue left in feathers makes them clump and stops the pillow lofting back up.
Foam and latex
Agitation tears foam, and a waterlogged foam block takes a very long time to dry. Wash the cover and spot clean the core instead (more on that below).
Machine washing, step by step
For down, feather and polyester pillows, this is how to wash pillows in a machine.
1. Wash two at a time. A single wet pillow slumps to one side of the drum and throws the load off balance. Two pillows on opposite sides keep it steady. 2. Use a gentle cycle. If you have a top-loader with a central agitator, set the pillows upright around it so they don’t get wrapped and torn. A front-loader is easier on them. 3. Go light on detergent. A small amount of mild liquid detergent is plenty. Powder can lodge in the filling. 4. Run an extra rinse. Thick filling holds soap, and soap residue attracts dirt and causes clumping. 5. Spin twice if you can. An extra spin pulls out more water and shortens the drying time.
If a pillow is too big for your drum to move freely, don’t force it. It needs room to tumble or it won’t rinse properly.
Drying: the step that decides everything
This is where most home pillow cleaning goes wrong. The outside of a pillow feels dry long before the middle is.
Tumble on low heat with two or three wool dryer balls (or clean tennis balls). They knock the filling apart as it dries and stop it setting into clumps. Every so often, take the pillows out, pull them into shape, and feel for cold, heavy spots. Those spots are still wet.
Down and feather pillows take much longer than polyester. High heat can scorch feathers and melt synthetic fibers, so resist the urge to turn it up.
When you think the pillow is done, squeeze the center hard and smell it. Any mustiness means moisture is trapped inside, and a pillow put back on the bed damp is a mildew problem waiting to happen. Here in Mesa a few hours on a shaded patio after the dryer helps finish the job, but keep feather pillows out of direct midday sun, which is harder on the fabric than it looks.
Why pillows turn yellow
Yellow stains are almost always moisture and oils that got through the pillowcase: sweat, drool, wet hair, and the natural oils and products on your skin and hair. Consumer Reports recommends pillow covers for exactly this reason, to protect pillows from sweat, body oils and face cream.
Going to bed with damp hair after a late shower is a common culprit.
Washing a washable pillow using the method above often lightens yellowing, and a second wash can take it further. Old, set-in yellowing sometimes never fully comes out, though. If a pillow is deeply stained, lumpy and flat, the stain is telling you its age, and replacement is the honest answer.
How to sanitize pillows you can’t wash
Foam, latex and some specialty pillows can’t go in a machine, but you can still freshen them and cut down on dust.
- Vacuum both sides with an upholstery attachment to lift dust and skin flakes.
- Spot clean marks with a cloth dampened in mild detergent and water, then blot with plain water. Never soak the foam.
- Deodorize by sprinkling baking soda over the surface, leaving it for a few hours, then vacuuming it off thoroughly.
- Air it out in a well-ventilated room or a shaded outdoor spot. Fresh air and dryness do more than most sprays.
- Use a fabric disinfectant spray only if its label says it’s safe for the material, test it on a hidden corner first, and let the pillow dry completely.
Then wash the removable cover, which is where most of the grime actually sits.
Protectors, and when to replace a pillow
A zippered pillow protector is the single best thing you can do for a pillow. It sits between the pillowcase and the pillow and catches the sweat and oils before they reach the filling. You wash the protector with your sheets; the pillow itself stays clean far longer.
If anyone in the house has dust allergies, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends zippered allergen-barrier covers for pillows and mattresses, made from fabric with pores too small for dust mites and their waste to pass through.
As for how often: WebMD suggests washing pillows at least twice a year, and more often if you eat in bed, have pets or sweat heavily at night. WebMD puts the usual replacement point at one to two years, and the AAFA recommends replacing pillows every two years. A simple test at home: fold the pillow in half. If it stays folded instead of springing back, the filling is spent.
When to hand it to a professional
Some pillows are more trouble than they’re worth to do at home: oversized down pillows that won’t fit a home drum, decorative pillows with trims or non-removable covers, and any pillow you can’t be sure you’ll get fully dry.
We clean pillows at Bartoli — it’s on the sign above our door, alongside comforters and rugs. Pillow cleaning is part of our specialty cleaning services, and it pairs naturally with your bedding. If you’re bringing pillows in, it’s often worth bringing the comforter too; our guide on washing a comforter at home explains when that’s safe to try yourself and when it isn’t.
We can’t promise every old yellow stain will come out, and we’ll tell you honestly when a pillow is past saving. For the everyday bedding that can simply be washed, our wash and fold service takes that off your plate too.
The bottom line
Learning how to wash pillows comes down to three things: know the fill, keep the machine balanced, and dry the pillow all the way through. Down, feather and polyester pillows handle a gentle machine wash well. Foam and latex need the cover washed and the core spot cleaned. A protector keeps all of them cleaner for longer.
If you’d rather not wrestle with it, give us a call at (480) 969-9982 or drop your pillows at 1911 E Brown Rd in Mesa. The 24-hour drop-off box outside the store works when our hours don’t, and we run pickup and delivery across the East Valley on Wednesdays and Fridays — just call to schedule.
Bipin Kanabar — Owner, Bartoli Cleaners & Laundry, serving Mesa since 1957.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wash pillows in the washing machine?
Yes, most down, feather and polyester pillows can go in the washing machine, but memory foam and latex pillows usually cannot. Check the care label first. Wash two pillows at a time to keep the drum balanced, use a gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent, and add an extra rinse so no soap stays trapped in the filling.
How do you clean yellow pillows?
You clean yellow pillows by washing them with the method for their fill type, then drying them completely. For washable pillows, a gentle cycle with mild detergent and an extra rinse often lightens the stain, and a second wash can help. Old yellowing may never fully lift. Once it’s clean, add a zippered protector so sweat and skin oils don’t stain it again.
Can pillows go in the dryer?
Yes, down, feather and polyester pillows can go in the dryer on low heat, but foam and latex pillows should air dry. Add two or three dryer balls to break up clumps, pull the pillows out now and then to reshape them, and keep going until the center is completely dry. High heat can scorch feathers and melt synthetic fill.
How do you sanitize pillows that can’t be washed?
You sanitize pillows that can’t be washed by vacuuming, spot cleaning and airing them rather than soaking them. Vacuum both sides, dab marks with a cloth dampened in mild detergent and water, sprinkle baking soda to absorb odor and vacuum it off, then air the pillow in a ventilated spot. Use a disinfectant spray only if its label says it’s safe for the material.
How do you wash feather pillows without ruining them?
You wash feather pillows safely by using cool water, a gentle cycle, a small amount of mild detergent and an extra rinse. Heat and leftover soap are what damage feathers, not water. Dry them on low heat with dryer balls for as long as it takes, and check the center before calling them done, because damp feathers clump and can start to smell.
How often should you wash your pillows?
You should wash your pillows at least twice a year, according to WebMD, and more often if you eat in bed, have pets or sweat heavily at night. Pillowcases and protectors need washing far more often, ideally with your sheets. If a pillow stays folded when you bend it in half, it’s time to replace it rather than wash it.
