3 Simple Ways to Fluff a Pillow

Everyone wants to lay their head to rest in a cloudlike, cozy sleep-scape—and fluffing your pillows can help make that dream come true! Fluffing a pillow makes it more comfortable and supportive, meaning you’ll get better sleep. Plus, the fluffed-up look of a pillow adds a refined and elegant touch to any bed. Read this guide for every way to fluff a pillow, plus tips and tricks to understand why pillows go flat (and when they’ve reached the point of no return).

Easy Ways to Fluff Pillows by Hand

Lay the pillow down and find any lumpy spots in the fill.
Massage out the lumps, using a similar motion to kneading dough.
Pick up the pillow and hold opposite sides of the pillow in each hand.
Move your hands together and apart, squeezing the pillow like an accordion.
After fluffing, reshape the pillow with your hands.

Section 1 of 5:

Fluffing Pillows by Hand

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1
Squish and stretch the pillow like it’s an accordion. Grab opposite ends of the pillow in each hand. Push the ends of the pillow in and out as if you were playing a squeeze box or accordion. Reshape the pillow with your hands so it sits correctly on the bed and fits into a pillowcase. ^{[1]
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- This method will break up any clumps in the fill and restore the air in the pillow.
- The accordion method works especially well for down pillows that need a fresh fluff.
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Massage the pillow, especially if it’s lumpy. Find the lumpy areas of the pillow that you’d like to target. Use your fingers to massage out the lumps in the fill, using the same motions you would to knead dough. Fluff the pillows again using a different method to redistribute the fill. ^{[2]
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- Massaging works especially well for down alternative pillows with lots of lumps.
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Hold the opposite diagonal corners of your pillow, one in each hand. Bring your hands together quickly so that your pillow “claps” together. Avoid clapping too hard, as too much force could make your pillow even flatter.
If the pillows aren’t being weighed down by moisture (e.g. they’re compressed due to the weight of your head rather than a lot of sweat or oils), you can fluff them by hitting the sides simultaneously with your fists. If you have a feather pillow, hit it very lightly, as the fill material is very light. Then, Take your pillow and whack it on your bed a few times to even it out. ^{[3]
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5
Release and catch the pillow. Hold the pillow at the top. Make sure the pillow is going up and down, not side-to-side like you have it when you are sleeping. Move your hands down to about the center of the pillow. Quickly squeeze, let go, and catch the pillow. Repeat this action about five times.
- After squeezing the pillows, shake them strongly, put them on your bed again, and then beat the pillow with your flat hand on every side.

Section 2 of 5:

Fluffing Pillows in the Dryer

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Place two pillows together in a dryer. Place the pillows on opposite sides of the dryer so that the drum is balanced and can spin properly. You can use this method when pillows are fully dry, or after you’ve just washed your pillows and let them air dry for 1-2 hours until mostly dry. ^{[4]
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- However, the pillows will come out fluffier if they start the cycle fully dry.
- If your pillows are dry before going in the dryer, start with a 10-minute cycle on medium to low heat. If your pillows are slightly damp from a wash, run them through a full dryer cycle on the lowest temperature setting available.
- Check the pillow’s care label to make sure it’s dryer-safe before using this method.
- If it can be machine-dried, you should still check to see if the fill material requires a low heat setting or any other special precautions to avoid damage.
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Put pillows in the dryer with a tennis ball in a tube sock. Place a tennis ball in a tube sock and tie the sock at the end. Load the pillows into the dryer with the tennis ball. The movement and agitation of the tennis ball will help your pillows dry evenly and retain extra volume. ^{[5]
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- If you don’t have a tennis ball, you can also use knotted clothing, clean towels, or a dry stuffed animal.
- This method works best for down pillows that have some clumps in their filling. The agitating tennis bell will help work out some of those clumps.
- You can also use dryer balls to help keep your pillows fluffy in the dryer, but most dryer balls won’t be heavy enough to act as an agitator and break up the clumps in your pillows.

Section 3 of 5:

Fluffing Pillows with Sunlight & Fresh Air

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Leave the pillow out in the sun for 3-4 hours. Remove the pillowcase or other protective barrier and place the pillow in a clean, dry, and sunny spot. Leave the pillow to lay in the sun until it’s completely dry, usually 3-4 hours. Along with fluffing your pillow, the warmth, heat, and ultraviolet light of the sun can help remove foul odors and kill bacteria. ^{[6]
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- Usually, pillows lose their volume because of moisture, so the sun can help dry them and increase fluffiness.
- This method is especially useful for memory foam pillows and other solid fills.
- Keep in mind that this method should only be used if the weather is warm and dry.
Pin the pillow in a spot that receives a lot of sun. Let the pillow dry outside for several hours so it has time to expand and fluff up. The clothesline method also allows fresh air to flow into the pillow, which will help fluff the fill. ^{[7]
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Section 4 of 5:

Understanding Why Pillows Go Flat

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Pillows go flat due to weight, moisture, accumulated dirt, and dead skin cells. After sleeping on a pillow for a long time, especially in the same sleep position, the pillow will eventually compress under the weight of your head. Pillows also collect skin cells and natural oils as you sleep, which can weigh down the fill and attract dust mites. ^{[8]
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- Moisture, in general, is also easily absorbed by pillows. The moisture from your sweat or sleeping environment may weigh down the pillow and reduce its fluffiness.
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Certain types of pillow fillings flatten more easily than others. Down and down alternative pillows compress easily and require daily fluffing.
- Shredded memory foam and shredded latex pillows also require regular fluffing.
- On the other hand, solid foam, solid latex, and buckwheat pillows don’t need regular fluffing. However, they might need a little refresh from time to time.

Section 5 of 5:

Signs You Need to Fluff or Replace a Pillow

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Fold your pillow in half. Note if it immediately springs back or takes a second before laying flat again. If your pillow stays folded or is slow in springing back, your pillow needs to be fluffed or replaced. ^{[9]
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You may experience an increase in allergy symptoms due to your pillow. If a pillow hasn’t been cleaned, fluffed, or replaced in a long time, it likely has a build-up of dirt and dust particles. These particles may be causing you to sneeze or have a stuffy nose that feels like allergies. ^{[10]
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You shouldn’t have to sleep with multiple pillows or constantly adjust your pillow throughout the night to be comfortable. If your pillow has gone flat to the point that you need more pillows to compensate for it, it’s time to replace it or give it a good fluff. ^{[11]
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Your pillow is putting pressure on your neck and shoulders. If you’re constantly waking up with neck or shoulder pain, this is a sign that your pillow is sitting at the wrong height. It may be putting your neck out of alignment, leading to your pain in the morning. ^{[12]
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- Similarly, your neck being out of alignment may restrict blood flow to your arms and hands.
- If you’re waking up with your arms feeling numb or tingly, this is a sign that your pillow needs to be fluffed or replaced.
5
Your pillow remains flat despite your fluffing attempts. Sometimes, pillows have just run their course. If you’ve tried all the fluffing methods above and nothing seems to be working, it may be time to throw in the towel and replace the pillow. ^{[13]
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- Another sure sign that your pillow needs to be replaced is that it has odors, stains, or a persistent lumpy fill. ^{[14]
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- Experts suggest replacing pillows every 4-6 years, primarily for the removal of dust mites.
- Some pillows can last longer than others based on quality and fill. More affordable, polyester pillows only last about one year.
- Latex pillows, on the other hand, can last around 5 years, while memory foam and down pillows last for 2 to 3.

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What does fluffing your pillow do?

Karen Parziale
Home Stager & Interior Designer
Karen Parziale is a Home Stager, Home Organizer, and the Founder of The Real Estate Staging Studio based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Karen has over 15 years of home staging and decorating experience and has staged over 5,000 homes. She specializes in project management, space planning, material selections, and builder, architect, and client relationships.

Karen Parziale

Home Stager & Interior Designer

Expert Answer

Well, pillows tend to flatten out over time. It's just a simple way of breathing some life back into your pillows!

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How often should you fluff your pillows?

Karen Parziale
Home Stager & Interior Designer
Karen Parziale is a Home Stager, Home Organizer, and the Founder of The Real Estate Staging Studio based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Karen has over 15 years of home staging and decorating experience and has staged over 5,000 homes. She specializes in project management, space planning, material selections, and builder, architect, and client relationships.

Karen Parziale

Home Stager & Interior Designer

Expert Answer

Whenever you want! This isn't a mandatory kind of thing; it's just something people do to make their pillows more comfortable whenever they flatten out.

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Whenever I fluff my pillow, it doesn't seem any softer or fluffier. It's new. Is this normal?

Community Answer

It depends on what it's made out of. If it's feathers, then yes, that's weird, but foam is not fluffable and denser polyfills can be harder to fluff.

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Make sure you're not allergic to feathers or down before you sleep on or fluff up pillows containing them. Feather and down are reasonably common allergies, especially in people with asthma or other lung conditions.

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If you have an adjustable pillow, you can fluff it manually by unzipping the outer layer and adding more fill. Purchase fill from the manufacturer if you didn’t receive some when first buying the pillow.

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If your pillow came out of the wash looking flat, manually break up any clumps and let it dry completely. Use the dryer method or leave the pillow in a warm, sunny area to re-fluff it.

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3 Simple Ways to Fluff a Pillow

Easy Ways to Fluff Pillows by Hand

Steps

Fluffing Pillows by Hand

Fluffing Pillows in the Dryer

Fluffing Pillows with Sunlight & Fresh Air

Understanding Why Pillows Go Flat

Signs You Need to Fluff or Replace a Pillow

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

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