How to Wash a Pillow (and Dry It Properly)

By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026

Most people wash their pillowcases weekly, but the pillow inside is easy to forget. Here is how to wash a pillow in a home washing machine, which most synthetic pillows allow. The part that needs care is the drying: a pillow that feels dry on the outside can still be damp in the middle, and that is when the fill clumps.

This guide is for fibre-filled pillows like ours. Feather, foam and latex pillows each need different care, so always follow the label.

Before you start

• Read the care label. It tells you whether the pillow can be machine washed, at what setting, and whether it can be tumble dried. Our classic microfibre insert is machine wash cold, gentle cycle, tumble dry low. Our microgel insert is machine wash cold on a gentle cycle; its care instructions do not include tumble drying, so dry it naturally.
• Check the seams. Look for any split or loose stitching. A small opening can let fill out in the drum, so sew it up first.
• Take off the pillowcase. Wash cases separately with your sheets; our guide to washing cotton and linen bedding covers those.
• Check your drum size. A standard pillow fits most home machines. A king pillow or a body pillow needs a large drum, with room to move.

How to machine wash a pillow, step by step

Step 1: Wash two at a time

Put two pillows in together, or one pillow with a couple of towels. A single pillow on its own can throw the drum off balance during the spin, and the machine may stop or leave it sodden.

Step 2: Choose a cold, gentle cycle

Use the cold or lowest setting and a gentle or delicates programme, which is what most fibre pillow labels ask for.

Step 3: Use a little mild liquid detergent

About half your usual dose of a mild liquid detergent is plenty. Powder and too much of any detergent are hard to rinse out of something this thick. Skip fabric conditioner, which can coat the fibres.

Step 4: Add an extra rinse

If your machine has a rinse-plus option, use it. A pillow holds a lot of water, and an extra rinse helps clear the last of the detergent.

Step 5: Spin well

Run a full spin, or an extra spin on its own, so the pillow comes out as damp rather than wet. The less water left in it, the faster and more evenly it dries.

How to dry a pillow properly

Drying takes far longer than washing. Plan to start in the morning so the pillow has the whole day.

In a tumble dryer (if the label allows)

1. Set the tumble dryer to low. High heat can damage synthetic fibre.
2. Add two or three dryer balls, or clean tennis balls in a pair of socks. They knock the fill about and stop it gathering in lumps.
3. Every 30 minutes or so, take the pillows out, shake them hard from each end and swap them round.
4. It can take two or three cycles for a standard pillow, and longer for a king.

On an airer or washing line

Lay the pillow flat on an airer, ideally outside on a dry, breezy day or in a warm, airy room. Turn it and shake it every couple of hours. Pegging a pillow by one end on a line lets the wet fill sink to the bottom, so flat is better. Air drying can take a day or more.

How to tell it is completely dry

Squeeze the thickest part of the pillow hard and hold it for a moment. If it feels at all cold or damp in the centre, it needs longer. A pillow put back in its case while still damp can end up smelling musty and with clumped fill, which is much harder to fix than finishing the drying.

What if the pillow comes out lumpy?

Lumps after washing are usually fill that dried in clumps. Put the pillow back in the dryer on low with dryer balls for another cycle, then pull the clumps apart gently with your fingers through the shell and shake it out. Our guide to fluffing a pillow has more ways to bring the loft back. If the lumps will not shift, or the pillow stays folded when you fold it, it may simply be worn out; see how often to replace pillows.

How often should you wash a pillow?

There is no fixed rule. A common routine is every few months, or at the change of seasons, and whenever there is a spill. Every wash puts some wear on the fill, so a weekly wash of the pillowcase plus an occasional wash of the pillow is a sensible balance.

Our pillows and how to care for them

All our pillow inserts have synthetic polyester fibre fill, with no feathers, and can be washed at home.

• Classic microfibre pillow insert: medium-firm, standard £23.90 or king £29.90. Machine wash cold, gentle; tumble dry low.
• Microgel pillow insert: soft, medium or firm, from £33.90. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle; no tumble drying is listed, so dry it flat.
• Body pillow insert: 48 × 125 cm, £37.90. Machine wash cold, gentle; tumble dry low, in a machine large enough to let it move.

For fabric-by-fabric washing advice on the cases, see our care guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can you put a pillow in the washing machine?

Most fibre-filled pillows can go in a home washing machine on a cold, gentle cycle. Check the care label first, because feather, foam and latex pillows usually need different care.

Why should you wash two pillows at once?

Two pillows keep the drum balanced. A single pillow can throw the machine off balance during the spin and come out soaking wet.

What detergent should I use to wash a pillow?

A small amount of mild liquid detergent, about half your usual dose. Skip powder and fabric conditioner, which are harder to rinse out of a thick pillow.

How long does a pillow take to dry?

In a tumble dryer on low, often two or three cycles for a standard pillow and longer for a king, if the label allows tumble drying. Flat on an airer it can take a day or more, so shake it regularly either way.

Why is my pillow lumpy after washing?

The fill dried in clumps, usually because the pillow was not shaken during drying or was not dried for long enough. Dry it again on low with dryer balls and shake it out between cycles.

How do I know if my pillow is fully dry?

Squeeze the thickest part hard for a moment. If the centre feels cold or damp at all, it needs longer. Only put the case back on once it is dry right through.