Washing pillows

How should one wash a pillow?

Washing pillows: Washing laundry correctly

How can I wash a pillow in the washing machine and then dry it in the dryer to achieve an ideal result? We show everything about washing and the proper care of pillows here in our Mister Sandman Guide. Depending on what kind of filling the pillow has, you must wash the pillow at the specified temperature. The most important pillow fillings for a pillow are:

One must also pay attention to the corresponding laundry symbols. As long as one can observe these, it is easy to wash a pillow. The label of the laundry symbol indicates how to wash the pillow, for example, the down pillow in the washing machine with down filling correctly. Additionally, the label provides information on ironing, drying, bleaching, and chemical or professional cleaning. With our expert knowledge, we will show you in the following sections how to master the topic of washing pillows cleanly and correctly.

Washing pillows - Does it fit in the washing machine?

From the outset, one must consider that the pillow finds enough and proper space in the washing machine to be washed and cleaned properly. Therefore, when washing the pillow, one should wash the item individually and not with other bed linens, blankets, etc. Pillows need a lot of space in the machine, so one should not save space for the down pillow or feather pillow when washing a pillow with filling.

To additionally protect the filling, such as cotton, polyester, and down, you can place them in an extra laundry bag to ensure they are cleaned gently. Meanwhile, modern washing machines have gentle wash cycles that remove all dirt, house dust mites, and the like while also caring for them gently.

Washing pillows - At what temperature should one wash pillows?

For a more robust item, such as a feather pillow with feather filling or synthetic fiber filling, it can be washed at a temperature of up to 60 degrees. Covers made of polyester are also good and durable, so such covers can be washed in the washing machine without much effort even at a higher temperature .

Additionally, always pay attention to the treatment method to be well protected in all categories. If the label is faded, you can also play it safe and clean the pillow (feather pillow, down pillow) at a lower temperature, which will also remove all dirt particles and stains.

If your head pillow does not fit in the washing machine or the filling requires special care treatment, you can also hire a cleaning service to professionally clean the head pillow. The high temperature also helps to remove house dust mites in an optimal way, which is very beneficial for those allergic to house dust mites.

How often should one wash a head pillow?

Similar to bed linen, a pillow, especially a head pillow, should be cleaned and thoroughly washed one to two times a year. Particularly, impurities that accumulate at night from sweat, saliva, and skin flakes can trigger allergies, such as house dust mites, which feed on dead skin flakes. Therefore, head pillows, as well as neck support pillows, feather pillows, and down pillows should be washed more often than, for example, a duvet or the covers of a mattress.

We sweat overnight especially from the head, so the pillow should be cleaned more often. Additionally, it is helpful to provide the pillow with enough fresh air in the morning after getting up. Fluffing is a good tip, as new air ventilates the pillow, remaining moisture disappears, and in a down pillow the down-feather filling does not clump. When the pillow filling clumps, it has less loft and does not feel as soft and fluffy anymore. Therefore, fluffing is particularly important.

Washing pillows : Which detergent should I use?

Pillows with a filling of down and feathers, such as down pillows and feather pillows, are products that should only be washed with liquid delicate detergent . Delicate detergent is - unlike regular detergent - much gentler and softer on laundry, so that the filling of down, feathers, and also cotton does not get damaged during the washing process.

If you are cleaning wool or do not have a special down washing program in the washing machine , use a wool washing program. The wool washing program washes the laundry at a low temperature and degree setting and is super gentle. Avoiding high heat input protects the laundry in the washing machine.

Washing pillows: Why no fabric softener?

Using fabric softener when washing the pillow is not recommended. Fabric softener causes the down and feathers in the pillow to clump together when washed in the washing machine . Other materials, such as polyester items and cotton items are also affected by this. Therefore, using fabric softener is not advisable and should be avoided.

Durch das Verzichten von Weichspüler beim Kopfkissen waschen, bleibt das Kissen schön fluffig und weich, damit Du auf Deiner Matratze angenehm schlafen kannst. Bei Daunenkissen waschen bietet sich Feinwaschmittel an, da diese ohne optische Aufheller sind und besonders sanft und schonend sind. Feinwaschmittel entfernen auch alle Flecken vom Kissen-Bezug. In Kombination mit einem Wollwaschprogramm, wird das Kopfkissen waschen zum Kinderspiel.

Washing pillows: Which washing program?

If the pillow comes out clean from the laundry and a wool wash program or a special down-feather wash program was chosen, you can't go wrong. As a tip to prevent the filling from clumping: Just place a clean sports shoe or tennis ball in the washing machine. It is a popular method that is read as a rule and tip in many knowledge guides. Down pillows and also other pillows as well as pillows are nicely kneaded and are nice and fluffy after the wash program .

Washing pillows: Spin yes or no?

Spinning pillows in the washing machine is possible. However, when dealing with natural products, such as a down pillow with a down-feather filling, one should use a spin cycle with a low rpm. For example, the washing program with 400 rpm is recommended here. If the spinning is set to too high a speed, the filling can be damaged, for example, down and feathers become brittle and lose their natural structure.

Additionally, you can run an extra rinse cycle after spinning to properly remove the last residues, whether it be delicate detergent or for other fillings and full wash detergents, from the pillow. Enjoy your clean and fresh pillow on your mattress after drying in the dryer.

Washing pillows: How do I wash a down pillow?

The best answers to the question: How can I wash down pillows in the washing machine? Here it is: If a pillow has a down-feather filling, it is recommended to regularly fluff it up after getting up, so that the feather-down filling mixture does not clump and to remove various deposits such as residual moisture.

Pillows should be washed at a temperature between 40 degrees and 60 degrees and preferably with gentle detergent and a wool wash program in the washing machine. In general, it is important not to use regular detergent, as this is a crucial rule when washing down pillows. Otherwise, the down and feathers will clump together. You can save on detergent and should only add one third of the normal amount. You must absolutely avoid fabric softener, as it can damage the pillow.

Washing pillows: Drying in the dryer

Is drying in the dryer after washing the pillow possible? We answer this with: Of course, it is an important process that is unavoidable! For down pillows and feather pillows, it is necessary to dry the laundry in the dryer, otherwise mold can form in the pillow. For other pillows, such as a neck support pillow, polyester pillows, visco pillows, you just need to check the label to know if the item is suitable for the dryer.

As a rule, it can be said that most pillows can be dried in a dryer at a low temperature. Additional fluffing is recommended to ensure that the filling does not clump and is evenly distributed inside the cover. Especially down pillows and feather pillows should be properly dried. A tip is to add a tennis ball to the dryer to help the filling get well kneaded and dry.

 

Article written on June 13, 2023
Updated on June 26, 2023