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Feather pillows can be soft and luxurious, but you need to take good care of them by washing them at least once a year. Washing will help kill any dust mites and bacteria. It will also clean off dust, dirt, sweat, and oils. This article will show you how to properly wash a feather pillow.
Steps
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Take the pillow out of the pillowcase. If the pillow is inside a pillow protector (a zippered, padded pillowcase), take it out of that as well.
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Check the pillow for any rips or holes. Be sure to check along the seams. If there are any rips or tears, you will need to sew them back up.Advertisement
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Put two pillows into the washing machine. This will help things balanced inside the washer. [1] X Research source If you are unable to fit the pillows in the drum, squeeze them first to get the air out. [2] X Research source Try not to use a top-loading washer, as the agitator may damage the pillows. If you do not have a front-loading washer, consider visiting a Laundromat; they should have one available that you can use. [3] X Research source
- If you must use a top-loading washing machine, put the pillows in vertically instead of horizontally. That way, they won't get tangled in the agitator. [4] X Research source
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Pour a low-sudsing laundry detergent into the detergent compartment. [5] X Research source Use less detergent than you normally would. This will prevent any buildup or residue. Also, try to use liquid detergent instead of powder one. Powder detergent is more likely to cause buildup and residue. [6] X Research source This can lead to skin irritations and allergies. Pillows are bulky, so they do not rinse out well. The less soap you use, the less you will have to rinse them.
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Set your washing machine to the delicate cycle. If you can, try to use hot water. This will help kill any dust mites that might be living inside your pillow. [7] X Research source Keep in mind, however, that hot water may also damage the feathers. If you are worried about this, use warm or cool water instead. [8] X Research source
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Consider using an extra rinse and spin cycles. This will help get any soap residue out. The extra spin cycle will help get rid of any excess moisture.
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Squish the water out of the pillows using a towel. Place the pillow between two towels, and press down on it. The towels will help soak up any extra water. Repeat this step for the other pillow. Do not wring or twist the pillows. [9] X Research source
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Put the feather pillows into the dryer. Use a delicate cycle, with either a low-heat or no-heat setting. Using low-heat will help the pillows dry faster, but it may damage the feathers inside. Using the no-heat or air-only cycle may take longer (and two to three cycles), but it will be the safest for the feathers. [10] X Research source
- Be sure to fluff the pillow between cycles. Do this by taking it out of the dryer and beating it. This will also help break up any clumps inside the pillow.
- If you are using a low-heat setting, consider using the air-only setting towards the end of the cycle. This will help keep the pillows from overheating and getting ruined.
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Add some dryer balls into the dryer to keep the pillows fluffy. If you do not have any dryer balls, you can use some clean tennis/canvas shoes instead; be sure to put them inside a clean pillowcase first, however. You can also stuff a tennis balls into a clean sock. This will help keep the pillow fluffy as it is drying. [11] X Research source [12] X Research source
- You can also add a thick towel into the dryer. This will help soak up any water that might be left in the pillow. [13] X Research source
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Fluff the pillow once you take it out of the dryer. Even with dryer balls, there may still be some clumps inside the pillow. Hold the pillow by two corners and shake it up and down for a few minutes. Repeat this step for the other side.
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Cover the pillows with clean pillowcases once they are dry. Do not use your pillows if they are still damp. Doing so can lead to rot and mildew.
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Add 1 cup (240 milliliters) of hydrogen peroxide and ½ cup (120 milliliters) of white vinegar to whiten yellowed pillows. Set the washing machine to a "soak" cycle. Add the hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar directly into the drum. Once the soak cycle has finished, add the detergent. [14] X Research source
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Use ¼ to ½ cup (45 to 90 grams) of baking soda to get rid of smells. [15] X Research source Use ¼ cup (45 grams) if you have a front-loading washer, and ½ cup (90 grams) if you have a top-loading one. Add it directly to your detergent.
- Baking soda may also help get rid of stains.
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Use ½ to 1 cup (120 to 240 milliliters) of white vinegar to get rid of mold and mildew. [16] X Research source Add it into the detergent compartment. White vinegar may also help get rid of smells. [17] X Expert Source Safir Ali
Professional Dry Cleaner Expert Interview. 15 September 2020. -
Try adding a few drops of essential oil into the rise cycle. This will give the pillow a nice, subtle scent. Try something soothing, such as lavender, rosemary, or vanilla. [18] X Research source
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Think about using pillow protectors. These are padded pillowcases that you put over the pillow. You can then put a fabric pillowcase over these. Pillow protectors will help keep the pillow clean longer, and keep it from getting stained.
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Set musty-smelling pillows out in the sun. [19] X Research source If your pillow still smells musty, leave it out in the sun for a few hours. The sunlight, heat, and fresh air will help kill any odor-causing bacteria. It may also make your pillow smell fresher.
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Expert Q&A
Search
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QuestionHow can I get my pillows white again?Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.You can spot treat the stains using a solution of white vinegar and water. After you lift up most of the stains, just wash it as you normally would.
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QuestionMy feather pillows have tons of feathers that stick out, causing the pillows to be very uncomfortable. Will washing them improve this or are they just cheap and need to be discarded?Community AnswerIt's unlikely that washing the pillows will help with this problem, but adding a high-quality pillow protector would likely help keep the feathers in.
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QuestionHow do I in plump feathers in a washed small feather pillow?Community AnswerYou can try using a tennis ball in the air dry setting in the dryer.
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Tips
- Wash your pillows at least twice a year. [20] X Research source It would be better to wash them three to four times a year, however.Thanks
- If your pillows still smell musty after you have washed them, lay them outside in the sun for at least two hours. This will help get rid of any bad smells.Thanks
- Always use a delicate or gentle washing cycle. Other cycles can cause the feathers to clump.Thanks
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Warnings
- Do not use your freshly washed feather pillows until they are completely dry. If you use them too soon, they will start to smell bad. They may also become lumpy.Thanks
- Most feather pillows can be washed at home, but it is always a good idea to read the how-to-wash tag attached to your pillow, just in case it contains something that shouldn't be washed (such as silk).Thanks
- Never wash feather pillows in their pillowcases. They will not get washed all the way.Thanks
- Do not use bleach or fabric softeners on feather pillows. They can damage the feathers.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Feather pillows
- Washing machine
- Laundry detergent
- Tennis balls or tennis shoes (optional)
References
- ↑ Good Housekeeping, Washing Feather Pillows
- ↑ Tree Hugger, Do You Know How to Clean Pillows?
- ↑ Better Homes and Gardens, How to Wash and Dry Down-Filled Items
- ↑ My Frugal Adventures, How to Clean and Dry Pillows
- ↑ Apartment Therapy, How to Wash a Pillow
- ↑ Tidy Mom, How to Wash Pillows
- ↑ Apartment Therapy, How to Wash a Pillow
- ↑ Better Homes and Gardens, How to Wash and Dry Down-Filled Items
- ↑ Apartment Therapy, How to Wash a Pillow
- ↑ Simply Shellie, Pillow Care 101: How to Wash, Whiten & Dry Pillows
- ↑ Tree Hugger, Do You Know How to Clean Pillows?
- ↑ Good Housekeeping, Washing Feather Pillows
- ↑ Tidy Mom, How to Wash Pillows
- ↑ Pop Sugar, How to Naturally Whiten Pillows
- ↑ Tree Hugger, Do You Know How to Clean Pillows?
- ↑ Tree Hugger, Do You Know How to Clean Pillows?
- ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
- ↑ My Frugal Adventures, How to Clean and Dry Pillows
- ↑ Good Housekeeping, Washing Feather Pillows
- ↑ Pop Sugar, The Supersimple Guide to Washing Your Pillows
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To wash feather pillows, put two pillows in the washer to balance the machine and add some liquid laundry detergent. Put in less detergent than you would normally use and run the machine on the delicate cycle. Use hot water to kill dust mites or cool water to ensure the feathers are not damaged. After your pillows are washed, use towels to remove excess water from the pillows and then dry them on low or no heat, fluffing them after each cycle until they are dry. To learn how to deodorize feather pillows with vinegar or baking soda, scroll down!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 567,401 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "It helped me very much and was cheaper than the pillow-cleaning service that comes to town once a year. They clean the feathers and put new ticking on. I did not need new ticking, so I tried your method. I have 4 feather pillows on my bed and had been very ill over the last year, and just wanted to freshen them up. The article was very helpful. Keeping things simple and the pictures were a great added touch. I have already told friends about the website." ..." more
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"It helped me very much and was cheaper than the pillow-cleaning service that comes to town once a year. They clean the feathers and put new ticking on. I did not need new ticking, so I tried your method. I have 4 feather pillows on my bed and had been very ill over the last year, and just wanted to freshen them up. The article was very helpful. Keeping things simple and the pictures were a great added touch. I have already told friends about the website."
..."
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"This is the best of the best articles on how to wash feather pillows. I never knew it could be done. It can and it was! Now hubby's feather pillows smell almost new! They're clean, fresh, and stain-free. If you own feather pillows or have avoided using them because you thought they couldn't be washed, never fear, wikiHow is here. I can't convey my gratitude enough! Thank you, wikiHow!"
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"I was so happy to find this! I have washed all the pillows in the house (feather or not) using these instructions and all stains, yellowing and odors are gone. The cost is minimal - hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, white vinegar, and a little bit of laundry detergent cost next to nothing. I'll be doing this every six months. Thank you for this most informative piece!"
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"I purchased down pillows, which came today. They had obviously been stored in a damp environment, so didn't smell great. I washed them as recommended, and they now smell lush - can't wait to get them on the bed and have a good night's sleep."
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"I never knew I could wash feather pillows! My husband's pillows stank awfully. I tried spraying them with Febreze and hanging them outside all day with no change! Finally, the odor is gone after washing them!"
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