You spent a lot of time creating your perfect bed. Thanks to a high-quality mattress, comfortable sheets, a cozy top blanket like a down comforter, and supportive pillows, you’re now sleeping on the perfect slumber oasis. As discussed in our luxury linens washing and care article, if you don’t take care of these products, though, they won’t stay this way for long. Yes, just like your car occasionally needs an oil change and your floors need to be mopped, your bedding needs a little TLC from time to time as well!
How to Wash a Bed Pillow
Wait - can you wash a bed pillow? Yes! Not only can you wash your pillow, you really should. Even with a pillowcase, your pillow eventually gets, well, dirty. Most people do not realize that their pillow can harbor lots of gross things that build up over time, including oils, saliva, sweat, bacteria, mold, and even fungi. These things can break down the fill in your pillow, causing it to lose the ability to give the support your head and neck need. Thankfully, washing a bed pillow isn't difficult at all! If your pillow has a wet stain that you’re trying to remove, immediately treat it with a stain cleaner that targets the type of stain before popping it into the wash. Otherwise, your pillow can go right in the washing machine. If your washing machine is large enough, wash more than one pillow at a time. Placing one on each side of the machine will help balance the load, allowing the water and detergent to circulate more effectively and keeping it from spinning off its axis.
A quick note about memory foam or latex pillow types: These can’t be washed because they’re not supposed to be soaking wet. Your best bet is to spot treat any stains, preferably as they happen. In order to avoid the need for a deep clean, use a pillow protector to extend its life.
How Often Should I Clean My Pillow?
You should wash a pillow, especially for the latex and memory foam pillows mentioned above, about twice a year. If a stain happens, spot treat it right away and throw it in the washing machine an additional time if it doesn’t come out. No matter what material pillow you have, make sure you’re always following the care label instructions.
How to Dry a Pillow
Now you know how to wash a bed pillow. What about drying? It’s crucial to get the pillow completely dry. Otherwise, you risk nasty mildew growth inside. This isn’t the time to be as eco-friendly as possible. The auto-dry setting on your clothes dryer isn’t recommended for a pillow because the sensors will detect only surface moisture, leaving you with a pillow that’s still damp on the inside. Instead, place the pillow inside the dryer for an hour on moderate heat.
When drying down or feather pillow types, use the no-heat air-dry setting with dryer balls or tennis balls to break up clumps. This will take a while, but it’s better than ruining your luxury pillow! If the weather is mild, you can also place the pillow outside in the sunshine until it’s dried all the way through. Whichever drying technique you decide to use, be sure to check for moisture inside the pillow before you make the bed back up.
How to Wash Bed Sheets and Blankets in the Machine
How often should you wash your bed sheets? Most people should wash their sheets once per week. You may need to do it even more often than this if you sweat while you sleep and don’t yet have a temperature-regulating mattress. Since you will be washing bed sheets so often, it’s good news that it’s very simple to do. White and light-colored cotton sheets wash well in any water temperature. To keep darker colored sheets from fading, use cool water to wash and rinse.
That being said, read all labels before washing bed sheets to be sure you don't have any specific cleaning requirements to follow. Some require you to know what setting to wash bed sheets on. For instance, you’ll always want to wash your Tencel sheets in cold water and on the gentle cycle no matter what color they are. Also, use a mild detergent in order to avoid premature breakdown of the fibers. Avoid using bleach no matter what material sheets or linens you are washing.
Washing Blankets by Hand
There are certain occasions when you may decide to wash a blanket by hand. If your blanket is quite large, like a king-size down comforter or a weighted blanket over 20 pounds, you’ll need to clean it without the use of your washing machine. Fill your bathtub with water and mild detergent. Then add the blanket, swishing it through the water. Soak the blanket for up to 30 minutes, and only that long if it is very soiled. Drain the water and gently press out excess sudsy water. Fill the tub again with cool water. Swish the blanket around. Drain, rinse again, and repeat until all the soap is gone and the water is clear.
Can You Wash a Mattress Pad?
Similar to washing pillows, you absolutely can wash a mattress pad. You’ll want to keep in mind that mattress pads and protectors can be bulky. Choosing to wash them separately from a pillow is your best bet for avoiding overloading the washing machine and dryer. To wash a mattress pad, you’ll first want to check the care label. Most mattress pads are washable like comforters, but you might need to hand wash or dry clean certain types. Once you know that it’s safe to wash them in your usual machine, you can get started by checking for any stains.
Although mattress pads are covered up by other bedding, you might find that they accumulate stains that can soak through the top sheets, such as a spilled drink. If you find stains, then no worries! You can use your normal stain remover to do a pre-wash treatment that gets the mattress pad squeaky clean. Once the treatment is complete, you’ll wash according to the instructions on the label. Usually, this means using a cold or lukewarm temperature setting and drying on low heat.
Can You Wash a Mattress Protector?
When you’re wondering, can you wash pillows, you may also be curious about how to clean your mattress protector. Since most mattress protectors have stain-resistant and water-resistant qualities, you’ll want to use a gentle washing method that aligns with the instructions on the label. If you wash your sheets weekly, then you may not need to clean the mattress protector as often. Opting to wash the mattress cover every other week can help preserve its life, provided that it stays mostly clean, being tucked under the top layers of bedding.
One of the primary features of a mattress protector is being waterproof. To make sure your protector continues to guard against sweat and spills, you’ll want to avoid using bleach or fabric softener. Mild detergents work best for preserving the waterproof qualities of the fabric. Next, you’ll want to follow similar instructions as you did for your pillow. Using cold water and a gentle cycle gets the protector clean without stretching the fibers. To finish, dry the protector according to the label. Many waterproof mattresses require air drying, but you might be able to use a low temperature cycle for machine dryers.
You now know how often you should be washing bedding, the reasons your pillows need to be washed, how to wash bed pillows, and more! Many sleepers spend hours of time and hundreds if not thousands of dollars finding their favorite bedding essentials and then treat them like an afterthought once they have them. Don’t do this! Keeping your pillows, sheets, blankets, and other bedding essentials totally clean is the best way to ensure you’re as healthy as possible and they last as long as possible. Your future self will thank you!
Making a soft, comfortable place for you to sleep starts with having the right foundation, and you can shop all mattresses here to cover with your freshly washed linens.
