How to Wash Feather Pillows


Updated: June 6, 2019

Explore this Article Washing the Pillows Drying the pillows Treating Yellowing, Odors, and Mildew Article Summary Questions & Answers Related Articles

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.

Part 1
Washing the Pillows

  1. 1
    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.
  2. 2
    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.
  3. 3
    Put two pillows into the washing machine. This will help things balanced inside the washer.[1] If you are unable to fit the pillows in the drum, squeeze them first to get the air out.[2] 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]
    • 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]
  4. 4
    Pour a low-sudsing laundry detergent into the detergent compartment.[5] 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] 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.
  5. 5
    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] 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]
  6. 6
    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.

Part 2
Drying the pillows

  1. 1
    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]
  2. 2
    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]
    • 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.[11]
  3. 3
    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.[12][13]
    • You can also add a thick towel into the dryer. This will help soak up any water that might be left in the pillow.[14]
  4. 4
    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.
  5. 5
    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.

Part 3
Treating Yellowing, Odors, and Mildew

  1. 1
    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.[15]
  2. 2
    Use ¼ to ½ cup (45 to 90 grams) of baking soda to get rid of smells.[16] 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.[17]
    • Baking soda may also help get rid of stains.
  3. 3
    Use ½ to 1 cup (120 to 240 milliliters) of white vinegar to get rid of mold and mildew.[18] Add it into the detergent compartment. White vinegar may also help get rid of smells.
  4. 4
    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.[19]
  5. 5
    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.
  6. 6
    Set musty-smelling pillows out in the sun.[20] 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.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    My 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 Answer
    It'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.
  • Question
    How do I in plump feathers in a washed small feather pillow?
    Community Answer
    You can try using a tennis ball in the air dry setting in the dryer.
  • Question
    Should I spin the pillow in the washer?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Consider an extra rinse cycle and high speed spin to remove as much water as possible before drying.
  • Question
    Can I put a feather pillow on the line instead of in the dryer?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but it will take several days to dry, even on sunny days. I wash my feather duvets every year and just wait until the weather is hot and hope for the best.
  • Question
    How do I clean the feathers out of the top load washing machine if the pillow comes apart during the wash cycle?
    Community Answer
    Scoop out what you can and then use a wet vacuum cleaner. Rewash the feathers in a large plastic tub.
  • Question
    Can I wash a plastic pillow protector?
    Community Answer
    You can wash a plastic pillow protector on a gentle cycle. Just make sure you don't put it in the dryer. It will melt.
  • Question
    What kind of pillows are shown in the "How to wash a feather pillow" section?
    Community Answer
    Duck down or goose feather, most likely. Both can be washed the same way.
  • Question
    How do I clean a feather pillow that is fragile and can't go into a washer or dryer?
    Community Answer
    Wash it with the pillow protector on. This essentially will become the new cover for the pillow. Alternatively you can have the cover replaced.
  • Question
    How do I wash feather pillows if they just fill with air and float to the top?
    Community Answer
    This is a common problem with top loading washing machines. Wash all pillows at a laundromat or friend's home where there's a front loading machine.
  • Question
    Should I use the new pod detergent with softener additive?
    Community Answer
    Fabric softeners can coat the feathers and possibly ruin their ‘loft’. Your best bet is a mild liquid softener that will clean without leaving any kind of residue.
Show more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left


    • If your pillows still smell musty after you have washed them, lay them in outside in the sun for at least two hours. This will help get rid of any bad smells.
    • Always use a delicate or gentle washing cycle. Other cycles can cause the feathers to clump.
    • Wash your pillows at least twice a year.[21] It would be better to wash them three to four times a year, however.
    • If you don't have a front-loading washer, try taking your pillows to a Laundromat instead.


    • 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.
    • 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).
    • Do not use bleach or fabric softeners on feather pillows. They can damage the feathers.
    • Never wash feather pillows in their pillowcases. They will not get washed all the way.

    Things You'll Need

    • Feather pillows
    • Washing machine
    • Laundry detergent
    • Tennis balls or tennis shoes (optional)

    Article SummaryX

    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!

    Did this summary help you?

    Made Recently

    Did you try these steps?
    Upload a picture for other readers to see.
    Upload error

    Article Info


    Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 506,387 times.
    Did this article help you?