How to Clean Foam and Fiberfill Bed Pillows

　

When was the last time you cleaned the pillow you lay your head on every night? Don’t say the answer out loud, just use these guidelines to determine what type of pillow you have and the best way to clean it so you can sleep on a clean bed pillow tonight.

Foam Bed Pillow

If your bed pillow is a solid piece of foam (like Memory foam or a chiropractic support type pillow) remove the cover and wash according to manufacturer’s directions. Vacuum both sides of the pillow with the upholstery attachment to remove all the dust and possible dust mites.

To spot clean any stains, mix a few drops of dish washing liquid into a cup of warm water. Dip a clean cloth into the soapy water and wipe the stain until it disappears. Re-wet cloth with soapy water if needed, rinse with a clean cloth dampened with clean water. Some foam bed pillows have instructions for hand-washing the entire pillow, be careful if you opt for that cleaning method as foam is very heavy when wet and tears easily. Also allow for a couple days of air drying time if you opt to hand-wash a foam pillow.

Then for an extra clean and fresh smelling spot-cleaned pillow, toss it in the dryer along with a new dryer sheet and tumble on a low heat setting for 5 minutes, then on a no heat/fluff setting for 10 more minutes.

Fiberfill Bed Pillows

Fiberfill bed pillows and throw pillows are usually machine washable (read manufacturer’s label for washing instructions). If your fiberfill pillow is machine washable, wash 2 at a time for cleaning friction and to keep the machine balanced.

Wash fiberfill pillows in warm water on a gentle cycle, then rinse in cold water. Tumble dry on low heat, stopping the drying cycle once to fluff and turn the pillows.

Between Cleanings

Use a hypo-allergenic pillow cover or pillow liners under the pillow case to keep dust and dust mites out. Fiberfill bed pillows can be tossed in the dryer once a month for a 10 minute, high heat tumble to remove dust, kill dust mites and fluff the fiberfill. Foam pillows can go for 10 minutes no-heat spin in the dryer once a month to fluff and remove dust.