To wash most pillows, run them through the washing machine on a gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent — two at a time to balance the load — then dry them thoroughly (with dryer balls or a clean towel to keep the filling fluffy). The exceptions: down and feather pillows do best hand-washed and air-dried, and memory foam and latex pillows should never be machine washed — just spot-clean and air them out. Wash pillows about every six months and replace them every couple of years, since an old pillow accumulates a surprising amount of dust mites, dead skin, and fungi. Here’s how to clean every type.
June 3, 2026
The Best Ways on How to Wash and Clean Pillows
We all clean our sheets regularly, but pillows get overlooked — and they accumulate a lot. According to materials published by Ohio State University (and echoed by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), up to about 10 percent of a two-year-old pillow’s weight can be dead dust mites and their droppings. Researchers at the University of Manchester found the average pillow contained more than a million fungal spores.
Given how many hours your face spends pressed against it, it’s no surprise the state of your pillow is linked to allergies and asthma flare-ups. The most common fungus the Manchester study found, Aspergillus fumigatus, can cause serious infections in people who are severely immunocompromised (such as some leukemia and transplant patients), though it’s not a concern for most healthy sleepers.
Pillows are simply a good environment for microbes: warm, humid, and fed by the dead skin cells we shed. Studies of hospital pillows have turned up bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococcus, and a 2011 Sleepbetter.org study reported hundreds of thousands of bacteria colonies on the average pillow. Most of what’s in a typical household pillow — dust mites, dander, fungi, dead skin, and sweat — isn’t dangerous to a healthy person, but it can worsen allergies and asthma (and it’s reason enough to wash them).
How often should you clean your pillows?
The general guidance is to wash pillows about every six months and replace them roughly every two years (check the manufacturer’s recommendation). You can extend their life by using washable pillow protectors, washing regularly, fluffing them daily, and airing them outside for a few hours each month — or, if you can’t, running them through the dryer on a no-heat cycle.
The best washing method depends on the fill. Whatever the type, treat pillows gently: mild detergent, no harsh chemicals, and avoid excessive heat.
How to clean down or feather pillows
Down and feather pillows do best hand-washed, which lets you work a mild, low-suds detergent through them without clumping the filling. Wet them thoroughly in a little detergent and water, massage gently, and rinse well. Don’t wring or twist, which damages the filling.
If you machine wash, use cold water on a gentle cycle, then run an extra rinse to remove all detergent (residue causes clumping). Skip fabric softener, which damages the delicate feathers. Down and feather pillows should be air-dried, or tumbled on no-heat with dryer balls.
How to clean polyester pillows
Polyester is the most popular fill — inexpensive, soft, and machine washable. Wash on a gentle cycle in warm water with a small amount of detergent. If you have a top-loader with a center agitator, wash pillows in pairs to balance the load and use the shortest cycle to minimize the agitator’s wear on them.
How to clean latex or memory foam pillows
Never machine wash latex or memory foam — the agitation and spinning break the foam apart. Instead, use a pillow cover and spot-clean stains; memory foam is also naturally more resistant to dust mites, so it stays cleaner than most fills.
If a foam or latex pillow really needs washing, fill a sink or tub with lukewarm water and a little detergent, submerge it, and squeeze gently (never twist or wring). Rinse, squeezing until the water runs clear, then air dry flat on a ventilated surface — no heat. A fan speeds it up. A thick memory foam pillow can take up to 24 hours to dry completely; make sure it’s bone-dry before use, since trapped moisture breeds mold.
How to clean buckwheat pillows
Buckwheat pillows are a natural, supportive, hypoallergenic, dust-mite-resistant option that can last for years. To freshen one, pour the buckwheat hull filling onto a flat surface like a baking sheet and let it sit in the sun for several hours to remove odors — never wash the hulls themselves, as water ruins them. Wash only the empty fabric shell by hand in cold water with mild detergent, and let it dry fully before refilling.
How to dry pillows properly
Thorough drying is essential — a damp pillow grows mold and mildew. Don’t trust a dryer’s auto-dry sensor, which can’t detect moisture deep inside a pillow and may stop too early. Instead, dry on low or moderate heat for about 1 to 1.5 hours (for washable fills), and fluff afterward to check the center is truly dry. Drying alongside a clean dry towel, or with dryer balls or tennis balls, prevents clumping and speeds things up.
For delicate down and feather pillows, air drying is best to protect the feathers; if you must use a dryer, use no heat plus dryer balls.
It’s easy to forget, but washing your pillows twice a year — and replacing them every couple of years — keeps them fresher, helps prevent allergy and asthma flare-ups, and makes for a better night’s sleep.