How to Wash a Pillow Without Ruining It - The ultimate Pillow washing guide

Do I Really Need to Wash My Pillow? (Short answer: yes)

We’re great at remembering to wash our sheets. We strip the bed weekly, run our sheets and pillowcases through the wash, and always enjoy flopping into lovely fresh bedding at night. But what about our pillows?

For many of us, pillows are the forgotten part of the bedding equation – either because we don’t realise we should wash them, we don’t know how, or we think it’s far too hard so we skip it entirely.

Here’s why washing your pillows matter: every night we spend 6–9 hours with our faces pressed into our pillows, breathing onto them. Over time, they soak up body oils, sweat, saliva, and litres of water vapour from our exhaled breath. Add to that dust mites lurking around causing allergies and bacteria causing odours and potential skin infections, and you’ve got an invisible mess that could be affecting your sleep quality, skin health, and even your respiratory system.

The good news? Washing your pillows 2–4 times a year with gentle, non-toxic cleaners will clear away grimy build up and unwanted hitchhikers, keeping your pillow fresh, hygienic, and free from odours – all without adding to your home’s or your chemical load.

Why Does My Pillow Go Yellow?

Yellow stains build up over time and are a mix of body residues that are transferred during sleep. Primarily yellow stains on pillows are:

• Body oils - from skin and hair.

• Sweat – especially in summer or for hot sleepers.

• Breath vapour – the moisture you exhale with each breath, that vapour is exactly what fogs up a mirror.

• Saliva and skincare residue - from heading to bed without washing your face or sleeping with your mouth open

These yellow stains aren’t just cosmetic. The dampness and oils can create a home for bacteria and dust mites – both of which can affect set off allergies and asthma - leaving you short of breath at night and waking up with a stuffy nose and itchy watery eyes. The good thing is, you can easily remove these stains and return your pillow to fresh and white. 

How Often Should You Wash a Pillow?

It's best to keep up with pillow washing, it doesn't need to be done weekly. But a few times a year goes a long way to keeping your sleep zone hygienic. Standard pillows can be washed every 3–6 months. If you suffer from allergies or asthma it makes sense to wash pillows more often, aim for 4-6 times a year, this is to ensure allergens don't build up. Hot sleepers may also want to refresh their pillows more often, and a 2–3 monthly wash would work well.

You can use a pillow protector to help extend time between washes, pillow protectors keep the surface of a pillow clean and choosing a tightly woven cotton protector will also keep dust mites at bay. Pillow protectors should be washed with bed linen more frequently.

What pillows wash up well?

All pillows can be wash. But depending on what filling they have determines the best way to wash and dry them. 

Dacron fibre pillows – these are the most common type of pillow, they are easy to wash at any temperature, spin our easily and quick to dry.

Down and feather pillows – wash well with care using warm water. Feather pillows benefit from through drying to keep loft and restore fluff - using a dryer on a medium setting is ideal.

Wool pillows – can be washed, but always check care instructions. Typically a gentle, short warm wash with a slower spin is best. Air dry well. 

Latex pillows – don't machine wash or spin these ones or put them in the dryer. They’re best to be spot cleaned. If you do hand wash them, it's worth noting that because they are so dense they can become waterlogged, it's important to ensure they dry out all the way to the middle so they don't get a dank smell!

What you'll need to wash your pillow

You don't need anything fancy to wash your pillow with great results, a few trust natural laundry staples will do the job gently and thoroughly. All the cleaning supplies needed are available from the Figgy & Co website

Figgy Home Cleaning Castile Soap – gentle yet effective cleaning without damaging fibres.

Borax – antifungal, brightening and deodorising.

Oxygen Bleach - Green bleach for lifting stains from synthetic pillows

Figgy Bar Soap – for stain removal (especially blood or yellowing).

Optional – a few drops of eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil for dust mite control.

Washing machine or bath tub.

Sunshine and/or dryer (reduced heat).

Stain Removal: Blood, Drool & Yellowing

It's not uncommon to get a bleeding nose at night, especially for kids. Blood stains are best treated as soon as possible and often only require spot cleaning. 

Blood stains on Pillow

1. Rinse the stain with cold water (never hot – it can set blood), if spot cleaning only, try to only wet the pillow where treating the stain

2. Rub the area with Figgy Bar Soap and work into a later to lift the mark.

3. Rinse out the soap, and repeat if needed before washing.

Drool or sweat marks

Pre-treat the area with Figgy Bar Soap, then wash as required.

Yellowing from oils

Soak in warm water with Figgy Castile Soap and borax before washing - rub over area with a cloth or brush - target stubborn marks with bar soap directly. Then wash as required.

Easy Pillow Washing Machine Method

Using a washing machine works best for Dacron, down, and some wool pillows (check the care label).

1. Balance the load – wash two pillows together so your machine stays stable.

2. Dissolve 1/2 cup borax in hot water add this and 1/4 cup Figgy Castile Soap and  directly to the drum.

3. Use a warm to hot wash cycle for hygiene and best results.

4. Spin twice – start with a slower spin to gently remove the bulk of the water, then a faster one to remove as much water as possible without unbalancing the machine.

Bath Tub Pillow Washing

You don't need a washing machine to do a good job of washing your pillows. Though it is a bit more hands on, using a bath tub or large sink to wash your pillows can be just as easy. This works well for Down pillows, large pillows, or if you want a thorough soak.

1. Fill the bath with enough warm to hot water to cover the pillows.

2. Add ¼ cup Figgy Castile Soap and 1 cup borax; stir to dissolve.

3. Submerge pillow fully, squeezing gently to help the water penetrate.

4. Soak for 5–15 minutes.

5. Spot treat stubborn marks with Figgy Bar Soap.

6. Drain bath and press water out of pillow (push to one end of the tub to avoid splashing).

7. Fill the bath again to rinse the pillows,

8. Drain the bath as before then hang outside to drip dry or transfer to the washing machine in a laundry basket (without holes!) for a spin cycle

How to Dry a Pillow After Washing it

It's important to make sure you thoroughly dry your pillows – a damp pillow can at best smell dank and at worst start to grow mould! neither is good and one is bad news for your health. If you have a pillow mishap and it goes mouldy - it is best to throw that pillow out, it's not worth the risk of getting sick. 

• Air drying – hang in direct sunlight; UV light naturally deodorises and kills bacteria. turn the pillow over every few hours fluffing up the fill as you go.

• Dryer – use a reduced heat setting to protect fibres. Down pillows benefit from dryer-safe balls or clean tennis balls to keep filling fluffy.

• Combination – sun dry first, then finish in the dryer to ensure the inside is completely dry.

How to refresh you pillow without washing it

In between washes your pillow will benefit from some fresh air and sunshine. This makes sure all breath vapour is removed and helps reduce bacteria and dust mites.

• Place in direct sunlight for several hours.

• Shake out to redistribute filling and to remove dust.

• Airflow helps remove moisture and UV light will freshen naturally.

What to avoid when you are refreshing your pillows

• Don’t machine wash latex pillows.

• Don’t use chlorine bleach – it damages fibres and leaves chemical residue.

• Don’t put a damp pillow back on the bed – always ensure it’s fully dry.

Top tips to keep your pillows in tip to shape

• Use pillow protectors – tightly woven cotton works best to block dust mites.

• For commercial-sized loads, take your Figgy cleaning products to the laundromat and wash several pillows at once.

• Dacron fibre pillows can be safely soaked in oxygen bleach – but avoid this for feather, down, or wool pillows.

FAQ: How to Wash a Pillow

Q: Can I wash a pillow in the washing machine?
A: Yes, if it’s Dacron, down, or wool (check label). Wash two at once for balance.

Q: Is it worth washing a pillow?
A: Absolutely – it removes dust mites, bacteria, sweat, and odours.

Q: Will washing get rid of dust mites?
A: Yes – hot water, borax, and drying in the sun or dryer will kill them.

Q: Why does my pillow go yellow?
A: Oils, sweat, breath moisture, saliva, and skincare residue build up over time.

Q: Can pillows go in the dryer?
A: Yes – reduced heat is best. Finish air drying if needed.

Q: How often do I wash my pillow?
A: Every 3–6 months, or 2–3 months for allergy sufferers/hot sleepers.

Q: How do I dry my pillow after washing?
A: Sun dry or use a reduced-heat dryer, ensuring the inside is completely dry.

Q: What do I wash my pillow with?
A: Figgy Castile Soap + borax for the main clean; Figgy Bar Soap for stains.

Q: What happens if I never wash my pillow?
A: Dust mites, bacteria, mould, and odours build up, which can affect sleep and health.

Q: What pillows can’t go in the washing machine?
A: Latex pillows – spot clean or quick hand wash only.

The Takeaway

Washing your really pillow is easier than you think – and by following these simply steps, you’ll get a clean, fresh pillow without harsh chemicals or added toxins. Just add a reminder to your phone for 2–4 washes a year and you will be rewarded with a  comfortable, hygienic sleep zone – so you can sleep soundly knowing your head’s resting on something truly clean.

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