A machine washable pillow is one you can clean in an ordinary home washer and dryer without it coming out lumpy or misshapen. Microfiber and other down alternative pillows are usually the easiest to wash, and the trick is a cold, gentle cycle followed by a patient, low heat dry.
Pillowcases get washed every week. The pillow inside them? In a lot of homes, almost never.
That's not laziness. Plenty of pillows simply can't handle a washing machine. They come out lumpy, they take two days to dry, or the label says spot clean only and that's the end of it. A machine washable pillow fixes that, as long as you wash it the right way.
Here's what to look for when you buy one, and the exact routine we use to wash ours.
Why washing the pillow itself matters
Every night, a pillow takes in a little sweat, skin oil, hair product and face cream. A pillowcase and protector catch most of it, but not all. Over months, that buildup is what turns a white pillow yellow and gives it that slightly stale smell.
Washing the whole pillow every few months gets rid of what has soaked into the fill. It also fluffs the fibers back up, so the pillow often feels fuller afterward than it did before.
And it saves money. A machine washable pillow is one you don't have to throw out just because it looks tired.
Which pillows can actually go in the washer?
It depends almost entirely on the fill. Always check the care label first, but this is the general picture:
| Fill type | Machine washable? | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Microfiber / down alternative | Usually yes | Cheap polyfill can clump. Fine, siliconized fiber recovers much better. |
| Down and feather | Often yes, with care | Very slow to dry fully. Damp feathers can smell and clump. |
| Solid memory foam | No | Water can break the foam down. Usually only the cover is washable. |
| Shredded foam | Sometimes | Many brands say cover only. Check the label. |
| Latex | No | Spot clean. Washing and heat can damage it. |
If you want a machine washable pillow with the least fuss, microfiber is the most forgiving fill to own. You put it in the washer and dry it the same day, with no special tricks needed.
What makes a pillow truly easy to wash
"Machine washable" on a label just means the pillow will survive the washer. A good machine washable pillow also comes out looking and feeling like itself. Whether it comes out looking good is a different question. Two things decide that.
The fiber. Basic polyester stuffing tends to tangle in the wash, and then it dries in clumps. Siliconized microfiber has a thin silicone glaze on each strand, so the fibers separate again in the dryer instead of matting.
The shell. A cotton shell dries evenly and breathes. Some cheaper pillows use a slick synthetic cover that traps moisture inside, which slows drying and can leave the middle damp.
Our Siliconized Microfiber Pillow has both: siliconized micro-denier fill inside a 233 thread-count cotton percale shell. We designed it as a machine washable pillow from the start, because we think a pillow should last longer than a season.
Wash day, step by step
This is the routine for our microfiber pillow, and it works for most machine washable pillows with synthetic fill. If you're washing a different pillow, its own label wins. The Sleep Foundation also has a useful guide to washing different pillow types.
- Strip it down. Take off the pillowcase and any protector. Wash those separately or in the same load if there's room.
- Check the seams. If there's a small opening, stitch it up first. Washing makes small tears bigger.
- Load two pillows if you can. One pillow on its own makes the drum lopsided, especially in a top loader. Two balance each other out.
- Go cold and gentle. Use cold water on a delicate cycle with a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Powder can leave residue in the fill.
- Add an extra rinse. It's optional, but it helps clear out leftover soap, which can make fibers stiff.
- Tumble dry low. Dry thoroughly on low heat. Throw in two or three wool dryer balls (clean tennis balls work too) to keep the fill moving.
- Check the middle. When you think it's done, squeeze the center of the pillow. If it feels even slightly cool or damp, run it again. This is the step people skip, and it's the one that matters most.
- Shake and reshape. Once it's fully dry, give it a good shake and fluff it by hand so the fibers spread evenly.
That's it. Most of the time it's just a wash cycle and a couple of dryer runs. Really.
What detergent should you use on a pillow?
A mild liquid detergent, and less of it than you'd think. Pillow fill holds on to soap, so a full dose meant for a load of jeans will leave residue that makes the fibers feel tacky and stiff. For two pillows, roughly half your normal amount is plenty.
Skip fabric softener. It coats each fiber in a thin film, and over time that film flattens the loft and makes the pillow less absorbent. Skip chlorine bleach too unless the label specifically allows it, since it can weaken both the fill and a cotton shell. If an older pillow has gone yellow, an oxygen based laundry booster is the gentler choice, again only if the care label is fine with it.
Can you wash a pillow without a dryer?
Yes, but plan for it. A synthetic pillow will air dry, it just takes a lot longer than the dryer, often a full day or more depending on the weather and how thick it is.
- Run an extra spin cycle at the end of the wash to pull out as much water as possible.
- Press the pillow between two dry towels to soak up more.
- Lay it flat on a drying rack in a warm, breezy spot, and turn it over every few hours.
- Squeeze and pull the fill apart each time you flip it, so it doesn't dry in clumps.
Don't sleep on it until the very middle is dry. If you're short on time, a laundromat dryer for one or two low heat cycles is a good compromise.
How do you wash a pillow by hand?
If your machine is small or you'd rather not risk it, the bathtub works. Fill it with a few inches of cold water and a small squeeze of mild detergent. Push the pillow under, then press and release it with flat hands for a few minutes so the water moves through the fill. Drain, refill with clean water and repeat until no suds come out when you press. Roll it in a towel to remove water, never wring it, then dry it as above.
If something goes wrong
It came out lumpy. Usually that means the fill isn't fully dry or it wasn't moving enough in the dryer. Run another low-heat cycle with dryer balls, then work the lumps apart with your hands.
It smells musty. Moisture is still trapped inside. Dry it again, and on a dry, sunny day let it air out by an open window for an hour.
It feels stiff. Too much detergent, most likely. Run a rinse-only cycle with plain cold water, then dry it again.
The washer stopped mid-cycle. The load was unbalanced. Add a second pillow or a couple of towels and restart.
How often should you wash it?
For most people, washing a machine washable pillow every three to six months works well. Wash it more often if you sweat a lot at night, sleep with pets, or have just been sick.
Your pillowcase is a different story. That should go in the wash every week. A zippered protector between the pillow and the case cuts down how often the pillow itself needs washing. Our long-staple cotton pillow cover and protector zips fully closed and goes in the regular wash. It is part of our wider range of easy-care, hotel-quality bedding.
Also worth knowing: even the best machine washable pillow can't be washed back to life once it has lost its support. If it stays flat after fluffing, or you're folding it in half to get any height, it's time for a new one.
Machine washable pillow FAQ
Can you put a machine washable pillow in a front-loading washer?
Yes. Front loaders are actually gentler on pillows because there's no central agitator. Top loaders with an agitator can be rough, so use the gentlest cycle and wash two pillows together.
Can I wash a pillow in hot water?
Only if the care label allows it. Our microfiber pillow should be washed cold. Hot water isn't needed to get it clean, and the cold, gentle cycle keeps the fibers in better shape.
Why is my pillow still damp after the dryer?
The center is the last part to dry. Low heat takes longer, but it's kinder to the fill. Keep running short cycles until the middle feels completely dry.
How long does a pillow take to dry?
In a dryer on low heat, a synthetic pillow usually needs two or three cycles before the center is fully dry. Air drying takes much longer, often a day or more. Either way, the squeeze test on the middle is the only reliable sign it's done.
Can I use fabric softener on my pillow?
It's best not to. Softener leaves a film on the fibers that slowly flattens the loft. Wool dryer balls do a better job of keeping the fill soft and separated.
Is a machine washable pillow better for allergies?
Being able to wash it regularly is helpful, but it isn't a complete solution. We go into that in our post on choosing a hypoallergenic pillow.
Is a microfiber pillow the same as a down alternative pillow?
Microfiber is one type of down alternative, and usually the softest. Our down alternative pillow guide explains how the different fills compare.
A pillow you can keep fresh
If your current pillow can't go near a washing machine, you're probably either living with it or replacing it more often than you need to. Our machine washable pillow, the Samrest Siliconized Microfiber Pillow, washes and dries at home, comes in Standard, Queen and King, and comes with 30-day returns. Want to see the other fills? Have a look at our full pillow collection.
