The Best Way to Wash Your Pillows (And the Kind You Should Never Put in the Washer)

You put a fresh case on your pillow every week, and then one day you take it off and the pillow underneath has gone yellow and smells a little sour. The pillow itself almost never gets washed, and the wrong kind of wash ruins it. I'm Alma. I cleaned other people's houses for twenty five years. Here's the best way to wash your pillows, step by step, the three mistakes that ruin them, and what to do with memory foam instead. WHAT THE YELLOW IS A sleep guide: "Face and hair oils, sweat, drool, and other dirt can also seep through pillowcases and get trapped in your pillows, causing yellow stains on the surface." MISTAKE ONE: NEVER WASHING THE PILLOW A major washing machine maker: pillows "should be washed at least twice a year to remove dirt, oil, dust mites and bacteria that build up over time." A down pillow maker suggests "about once per season." MISTAKE TWO: FOAM IN THE WASHER "To keep the foam from breaking apart, memory foam pillows should never be washed in a washing machine." A foam pillow maker agrees: "memory foam and latex pillows can't be washed in a machine." MISTAKE THREE: BACK ON THE BED BEFORE IT'S DRY "Make sure pillows are completely dry before removing them to help prevent mildew growth." And the catch: "The shell can feel dry while moisture remains in the center." THE BEST WAY, IN ORDER 1. Read the label first. The makers disagree on water temperature, so the label wins 2. Two at a time "to balance the load," or small polyester pillows "three or more together" 3. "Only add about a tablespoon. Liquid detergent is best since it's less likely to leave behind residue." "Do not assume that more product will clean the lofty fill better." 4. "A gentle cycle will help protect your pillow's structure," and "an extra rinse option to ensure all the detergent is rinsed off" 5. Lift it whole, "never by one corner, and never wring it." Dry on "a low heat setting for synthetic pillows and a no-heat, air fluff setting for down or feather pillows," with dryer balls "to help fluff the pillows" 6. "There is no universal number of minutes or dryer cycles." Separate damp clumps and "Do not raise the heat simply to shorten the process." 7. "Press the center firmly between both palms and compare it with the outer edges." "Do not use or store a damp pillow." MEMORY FOAM Wash the removable cover on its own. For the foam, "vacuuming gently or tumbling on a no-heat setting in a dryer can remove unwanted dust." To freshen it: "Sprinkle each side of the pillow with a generous amount of baking soda, let sit for 1 hour, and vacuum clean." The makers disagree on getting foam wet at all, so your tag decides, and when in doubt keep it dry. THE WEEKLY HABITS "Wash your pillowcases at least once a week." For allergies: "Wash bedding in hot water (at least 120 degrees F) once a week" and "Cover mattresses and pillows with allergen encasements." WHEN TO REPLACE IT "Most experts recommend replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years." The fold test: "You can tell it's time for a replacement if the pillow doesn't spring back to its normal shape after you fold it in half." CHAPTERS 00:00 Yellow under the case 00:18 Why we only wash the case 00:39 Who I am 01:00 What the yellow is 01:25 What you can't see 01:49 Two habits 02:06 Three mistakes first 02:17 Mistake 1: never washing it 02:41 Most pillows can go in the machine 03:05 Mistake 2: foam in the washer 03:29 Don't soak or sponge foam 03:54 Mistake 3: back on the bed damp 04:07 Why damp means mildew 04:30 Dry outside, damp inside 04:52 The method, in order 05:06 Step 1: read the label 05:31 Step 2: two at a time 05:55 Step 3: a tablespoon of detergent 06:19 Step 4: gentle cycle, extra rinse 06:41 Step 5: the right dryer setting 07:05 Step 6: patience 07:29 Step 7: the centre test 07:53 The whole method 08:11 Memory foam pillows 08:24 Wash the cover, not the foam 08:49 Baking soda and spot cleaning 09:14 Where the makers disagree 09:36 The weekly habits 09:48 Pillowcases every week 10:12 The zipped cover 10:35 When to replace it 10:58 The fold test 11:22 All of it in one place SOURCES Whirlpool, "How to wash pillows for a clean night's sleep." Pacific Coast Feather Company, "How to Wash Down Pillows Without Damaging the Fill." TEMPUR UK, "How to Wash Pillows Properly." Sleep Foundation, "How Often Should You Replace Your Pillows?" American Lung Association, "Dust Mites." Washing at the start of each season, reading the label first, the zipped cover under the case and the spring fold test are my own practice. Left out because I couldn't source them: tennis balls in the dryer, bleach or peroxide whitening recipes, how much of a pillow's weight is dust mites, sun-drying to kill mites, and named detergents. #cleaningtips #laundrytips #howtowashpillows #homemaintenance