Easy tips for machine washing pillows! This easy cleaning tip makes it simple to machine wash pillows and get them clean again. Check out how to machine wash pillows.
My son came back from school field trip last week. I washed all of his clothes, sleeping bag and pillowcase. When I pulled the pillowcase off I couldn't believe how disgusting the pillow was. I decided I would machine wash the pillows too. If you have never washed your pillows in the washing machine it is easy. I don't recommend using this on memory foam pillows, it will ruin them.
How To Wash Pillows In Washing Machine
To wash the pillows in the washing machine you will need a few things.
- laundry detergent
- baking soda
- essential oils (if you would like)
I like to fill the machine up with water first. Use the hottest water possible. If your water isn't hot enough it won't kill off the bacteria and dust mites. While the water is filling up I add liquid detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda.
The baking soda is great to help with any smells from the pillows and helps boost the laundry detergents power.
Let the machine mix for a minute or two to get the soap and baking soda mixed well in the water. Then, add the pillows to the machine. It is best to wash two at a time so they can balance out the load. It may take a minute or two for them to absorb the water and sink down.
I set my machine to extra rinse because those pillows really need it!
Once they are done in the washing machine move one pillow over to the dryer. They will need to dry for a long time. It always seems like they are dry, but once you let them sit for a few minutes they feel damp again.
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Make sure to get them completely dry so you can avoid mold in the pillow. Once they are completely dry you can put them back in their pillowcases.
I like to put a drop or two of lavender oil or serenity oil on the pillows. It helps me sleep better at night.
So how well does it clean the pillows? Check out my before and after pictures. It's easy to machine wash pillows and it gets them clean too!
Looking for more things to clean? Check out how to clean your mattress at home. It's easy to do!
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Stasia says
So helpful… consider it pinned 🙂
Julie says
Glad I could help!
Marjie says
Wow! What a difference in those pillows! Do you have any tips to keep the pillow stuffing (batting) from wadding up inside the case while they are being washed? I've tried washing pillows in the past and end up with lumpy, uncomfortable balls of fiber... Any suggestions?
Julie says
Dryer balls can help with that, or if you don't have dryer balls then tennis balls will work. Hope that helps!
Marjie says
Thanx Julie, I'll give that a try!
Julie says
Your welcome!
Debbie @ Bible Fun For Kids says
Thank you for sharing these tips! Good to know! Pinned it!
Julie says
Your Welcome! 🙂
Javeriya @Believe&inspire says
This is great! Pinning it up for later, because I'm sure I'd be needing this.
Julie says
It works great and is so easy. Thanks for stopping by!
Anna says
They look great after. I tried this once but had terrible problems with getting the pillows to submerge - air kept getting caught in them and it took ages to squeeze enough out that the cycle could even run. Now I wonder if that was because my old washer was High Efficiency. Any thoughts on that, anybody? (I wonder if I should try again now that I have a regular old-fashioned washer - we moved.)
Julie says
It might be worth another try. I haven't tried it with a high efficiency washer, but I know a lot of people that haven't been happy with how they clean.
Anita at LiveLikeYouAreRich says
Funny enough I have on my to-do list to wash my pillows today. Great idea about the lavender oil, I love it! I've also found if you put something into the dryer like a clean tennis ball or lint ball it will help them dry faster because it moves the pillow filling around (especially for down pillows). Thanks again!
Julie says
Thanks for the tip. I will have to try the tennis ball trick next time we have a clean one. 🙂
Joyce @ My Stay At Home Adventures says
I will be trying this today, seriously. I never heard of this but my kids pillows need some love and bad this week. Thanks!
Julie says
Thanks for hosting the link up!
Jen says
I love your tutorials! I wash my pillows frequently and have found that they dry faster if I run them through the spin cycle at least one or two more times before putting them in the dryer. Extracting more water out of them helps dry them faster (obviously lol). Also using dryer balls help dry them faster too. The dryer balls are about the size of tennis balls but are plastic with little bumps all over them. I found them at Fred Meyer and they really help cut down dry time on all laundry. Anyway thank you sharing your tutorials! Have a great day!
Julie says
Great Tips, thanks! I will have to try the dryer balls, they sound great.
Liz says
To get laundry submerged into the water I keep a handy dandy laundry stick available. I bought a new cheapie orange colored bathroom plunger, wrote "laundry stick" on the handle and keep it beside my washer. Perfect for getting clothes submerged!
Julie says
Great tip! Thanks for sharing.