How to Wash Pillows: Step by Step for Every Pillow Type (UK Guide)

Last updated: October 2026

Most pillows can be washed. The trick is knowing which method your pillow needs, because the wrong one ruins it. This guide gives the exact steps for each pillow type, how to dry them properly, and how often to do it.

First, check the label and the fill

Every pillow has a care label on the seam. It tells you the fill, the maximum wash temperature and whether the pillow can be tumble dried. If the label has gone, squeeze the pillow: a solid block of foam is memory foam or latex, a loose fill that moves around is polyester or feather. Feather pillows usually have quills you can feel through the cover.

Two things apply to every type:

• Remove the pillowcase and any pillow protector first. Those go in a normal 60C wash.
• Wash two pillows at a time in a front loader so the drum stays balanced. In a top loader, stand them vertically either side of the agitator.

How to wash polyester, hollowfibre and microfibre pillows

These are the easiest. The fill is synthetic and survives a hot wash.

1. Check for rips in the cover and sew them up, or the fill will escape in the drum.
2. Put two pillows in the machine, no other laundry.
3. Use a small amount of liquid detergent. Powder can leave residue in the fill.
4. Wash at 60C on a normal cycle. This kills dust mites as well as cleaning the pillow. If the label says 40C, use 40C.
5. Run an extra rinse. Pillows hold a lot of water and soap.
6. Spin on the highest setting the label allows.
7. Tumble dry on low with two clean tennis balls or dryer balls to break up clumps. Stop every 20 minutes and shake the pillow out.
8. Check the centre is completely dry before using. Damp fill goes mouldy.

How to wash feather and down pillows

Feather pillows can be machine washed, but gently, and drying is the slow part.

1. Check the cover for weak seams. Feathers escape through the smallest gap.
2. Wash two pillows together on a delicate or wool cycle at 40C.
3. Use a small dose of mild liquid detergent or a down-specific wash. Avoid fabric softener, which coats the feathers and stops them lofting.
4. Run two extra rinses. Feathers trap detergent.
5. Spin on a low to medium setting. A high spin can crush the feathers.
6. Tumble dry on the lowest heat with dryer balls. Expect two to three hours. Take the pillow out every 30 minutes, shake it and feel for cold damp patches.
7. Do not use until bone dry inside. Wet feathers smell and rot.

How to clean memory foam pillows

Never put a memory foam pillow in the washing machine or tumble dryer. Water breaks down the foam, the weight of a soaked pillow tears it in the drum, and heat warps it. The same applies to latex. Clean it like this instead:

1. Take off the removable cover and wash that at the temperature on its label, usually 40C.
2. Hoover the foam with an upholstery attachment to lift dust and skin.
3. Mix a few drops of mild detergent into lukewarm water. Dip a cloth, wring it almost dry and dab any marks. Do not scrub and do not soak.
4. Wipe over with a clean damp cloth to remove any soap.
5. Press the pillow between two dry towels to pull out moisture.
6. Air dry flat, out of direct sunlight, for 24 hours or until completely dry. Sunlight and radiators degrade the foam.

For a full refresh, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the foam, leave it an hour and hoover it off. It lifts odours without water.

How to clean bamboo pillows

A bamboo pillow is almost always a memory foam pillow (solid or shredded) with a bamboo-blend cover, so the foam follows the memory foam rules above. The cover is the part you can wash:

1. Unzip and remove the cover.
2. Wash the cover on a gentle cycle at 30C to 40C with mild detergent. Hot water shrinks bamboo fabric.
3. Air dry the cover or tumble on the lowest setting.
4. Spot clean the foam insert and air dry as for memory foam.

Shredded foam bamboo pillows can occasionally go in the machine on a cold, gentle cycle if the label allows it, but they take days to dry and often come out lumpy. Spot cleaning is the safer route.

Machine wash or hand wash?

Hand washing is only worth it for a single pillow you cannot fit in the machine, or a synthetic pillow with a fragile cover. Fill the bath with warm water and a little detergent, press the pillow under repeatedly for a few minutes, drain, rinse until the water runs clear, then press (never wring) and dry as above.

How to dry pillows properly

Drying matters more than washing. A pillow that is damp in the middle will develop mould and smell within days.

• Tumble dry synthetic and feather pillows on low. High heat melts synthetic fibres and scorches feathers.
• Add dryer balls or clean tennis balls to stop the fill clumping.
• Take the pillow out every 20 to 30 minutes, shake it and check the centre with your hand.
• If you have no dryer, lay the pillow flat on a clothes airer in a warm, airy room and turn it every few hours. Outside on a breezy day is ideal. Expect a full day or more.
• Memory foam always air dries flat, away from sunlight and radiators.

How often should you wash pillows?

• Pillowcases: weekly, at 60C
• Pillow protectors: weekly to fortnightly, at 60C
• Synthetic and feather pillows: every three to six months
• Memory foam covers: every one to two months
• Memory foam inserts: spot clean as needed, hoover monthly

Wash sooner if you sweat heavily, have allergies, or have been ill. Over two years an unprotected pillow builds up a noticeable weight of sweat, skin and dust mites, which is why a pillow protector is worth it: it takes the hit instead of the pillow and goes in the weekly wash.

When to replace a pillow instead

Fold the pillow in half and let go. If it stays folded rather than springing back, the fill has collapsed and washing will not revive it. Other signs: lumps that do not shake out, yellow stains that survive a wash, a smell that returns within days, or waking with neck ache on a pillow that used to be fine. Most pillows last two to three years; good memory foam lasts longer.

If it is time for a new one, the REM-Fit pillow range covers every type of sleeper:

• 500 Cool Gel Pillow: gel-infused memory foam with a removable, washable cover. Good Housekeeping Institute winner 2026 for Best Memory Foam Pillow. For hot sleepers who want support.
• Bamboo Charcoal Pillow: hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant memory foam in 8cm or 12cm depths. For allergy sufferers.
• Snow Pillow: Nordic chill fabric that is cold to the touch over a memory foam core, for anyone who flips the pillow to find the cold side.
• 400 Memory Foam Crumbed Pillow: crumbed foam that moulds to you, for a softer, more adaptable feel than a solid block.

Whichever you choose, add a Tencel Cool Pillow Protector and the pillow itself rarely needs more than a hoover and the occasional spot clean.

Frequently asked questions

Can you put pillows in the washing machine?

Polyester, hollowfibre, microfibre and feather pillows, yes. Memory foam, latex and solid bamboo pillows, no. Check the care label; if it shows a crossed-out wash tub, spot clean only.

What temperature should you wash pillows at?

60C for synthetic pillows and all pillowcases and protectors, because that is the temperature that kills dust mites. 40C on a gentle cycle for feather and down. 30C to 40C for bamboo covers.

Can you tumble dry pillows?

Synthetic and feather pillows, yes, on low heat with dryer balls. Never tumble dry memory foam, latex or bamboo foam inserts.

How do you get yellow stains out of pillows?

Yellowing is sweat and body oils. For a washable pillow, soak it for an hour in warm water with a cup of white vinegar or an oxygen-based stain remover before the normal wash. For memory foam, dab the stain with a cloth and diluted mild detergent, then air dry. Stains that survive a wash are a sign the pillow is due for replacement.

How do you wash pillows without a washing machine?

In the bath: warm water, a little liquid detergent, press the pillow under for several minutes, drain, rinse until clear, press out the water between towels and air dry flat. Allow a full day or two to dry.

Can you wash a memory foam pillow cover?

Usually, yes. Most memory foam pillows have a zipped, removable cover that washes at 40C. Air dry it or tumble on low, then put it back on once the foam is dry. If yours has no zip, keep a pillow protector on it and wash that instead.