How To Wash Pillows Properly and Leave Them Sparkling Clean

There are a number of steps you need to follow when washing pillows, in order to get the best results. The specific steps to be followed depend on whether you are cleaning the pillows in a washing machine or hand washing them.

How To Wash Pillows Properly In A Washing Machine

If you are washing the pillows in a machine, these would be the steps to follow:

Remove the pillows from their cover

You can’t wash the pillows while in their covers. So you first remove them, as a preliminary step.

Manually get rid of any obvious stains

The washing machine is usually ill-equipped to remove stubborn stains. So you are better off removing them manually. That you do by simply identifying the stained spots, them applying enzyme remover (or strong detergent) there. Let it stay there for a while. Subsequently rub away the now softened stains using a soft brush.

Pick the washer cycle you will be using

The best cycle for washing pillows is the gentle cycle. The water used for this purpose should cold, though there are also cases where you may opt for warm water. Water level should be as high as possible. Detergent should be applied very sparingly: like just 2 teaspoons.

Now get the pillows into the washing machine

How exactly you get the pillows into the washing machine depends on its design: whether it is a top load or front load machine. Adding white towels can help in keeping the pillows balanced.

Ensure that the pillows are properly rinsed

Once the washing machine has worked on the pillows, you can run one more rinse cycle, so as to rid the pillows of any lingering detergent.

Once the pillows are properly rinsed, you can proceed to dry them. Your options here are either to use a dryer or simply air dry them.

How To Wash Pillows Properly By Hand

If you are washing the pillows by hand, these would be the steps to follow:

Remove the pillows from their covers

Open the pillows’ protective covers and remove the pillows in readiness for their washing.

Manually get rid of any obvious stains

So you check the pillows keenly, to see if there are any visible stains. And in case there are any such stains, you dab the stained spots with enzyme cleaner or strong detergent, wait for a few minutes, then rub off the stains using a soft brush.

Prepare the bathtub, water and detergent

First clean the bathtub you will be using in cleaning the pillows. Then warm some water (so that it becomes lukewarm, not hot). Ensure that what you have is adequate water to fully submerge the pillows you wish to wash. Transfer the water into the bathtub. Then get detergent (a modest amount of it, like 2 teaspoons) into that lukewarm water.

Submerge, soak and knead the pillows

This is where the actual washing takes place. So you first fully submerge the pillows in the lukewarm water you prepared earlier. Then allow them to soak for several minutes: like a quarter of an hour. Wash the pillows by gently kneading them, for like 5 minutes

Rinse the pillows

Here, you need to remove the water that was earlier in the bathtub completely. Then replace it with plenty of cold water. Knead the pillows again for like 5 minutes. Drain the water, and replace it and knead the pillows… Repeat this until you see no more suds in the water.

Then dry the pillows: either in a dryer or by way of air drying.

Getting Rid Of Odors, Dust And Mites

Another key aspect of pillow cleaning is that of getting rid of odors, dust and mite.

Odor removal you can do using baking soda. Fabric freshener can also be helpful here.

As for getting rid of dust and mites, it is best done through vacuuming.

Note that whereas the pillows need to be washed once or twice per year, ridding them of odors, dust and mites should ideally be done more regularly as need arises.