How to Wash, Dry, and Care for Polyester Pillows

How to Wash Polyester-Filled Pillows
Detergent	High-efficiency, low-suds
Water Temperature	Cold to warm
Cycle Type	Gentle
Drying Cycle Type	Medium heat
Special Treatments	Use dryer balls
Iron Settings	Do not iron
How Often to Wash	Once or twice a year

How to Wash Polyester Pillows

1. Treat Stains

   Check for any stains that need extra attention. Treat with a stain remover, or pretreat using high-efficiency (HE), low-sudsing detergents like Tide or Persil. Both have enough enzymes to remove almost all stains. Work in the stain remover with a soft brush, and allow it to set for at least 15 minutes before washing the entire pillow.

2. Set the Washer Temperature and Cycle

   Use cold or warm water, add only a tiny amount of detergent (a couple of teaspoons), and select the gentle cycle.

3. Load the Washer

   If you have a standard top-load washer with a center agitator, it's essential to load at least two pillows into your washer to balance the machine. When the cycle is complete, run the pillows through an extra rinse cycle to ensure all the detergent is rinsed away.
   

   Tip

   Add some towels to keep the washer operating smoothly and prevent the machine from becoming off-balance. Add a few towels for front-load washers and high-efficiency top-load washers to help balance the load, but you can wash one pillow alone successfully.

4. Dry the Pillows

   Fluff the filling before you put the pillows in the dryer. Add wool dryer balls, clean tennis balls, or clean canvas shoes to help break any clumps in the filling. Set on low or medium heat. Stop the dryer every 15 minutes, and re-fluff the pillows by hand. It'll take longer than a normal load to dry the pillows.

Treating Stains on Polyester-Filled Pillows

Between washings, check for any specific stains that need a quick spot-cleaning. To treat small stains, mix 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap in 2 cups of lukewarm water. Dip a clean white cloth into the solution and gently blot from outside the stain toward the center. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the stain is transferred. Once the stain is gone, dip a clean white cloth in water, and blot to remove the remaining soap. Allow the pillow to air-dry completely. If you must speed the drying process, use a blow-dryer set on cool to dry the cleaned area or place it in a dryer on low heat.

Polyester Pillows Care and Repairs

Pillows can rip along the seams. Make repairs by hand- or machine-sewing, using a matching color thread. If your pillow is torn and you don't want to replace it, try a liquid fabric adhesive, which should hold the pillow's rip closed, so the filling stays inside.

Another trick for refreshing your pillow is to create a small, hand-sized opening to pull out all the old fill from the hole and refill it with new, fluffy polyester filling. Stitch up the hole, making the pillow like new.

Storing Polyester-Filled Bed Pillows

When not in use, store polyester-filled bed pillows in a plastic storage tub, cotton bag, or cedar chest. While polyester is resistant to mildew and insect activity, you should wash the pillows to remove body soil from the outer fabric (which can attract insects) and completely dry them before storing them. Cedar is a natural insect repellant.

You can also consider using vacuum bags as a long-term storage option. Compressing the bags will make more space to store other things. Once you reintroduce air to the pillows, they will come back to life when you're ready to use them again. 

How Often to Wash Polyester-Filled Bed Pillows

If you use a pillow cover and pillowcase and wash them regularly, a polyester-filled bed pillow should only need to be washed once or twice a year unless there's a spill or accident.

Before you begin the washing process, check the pillow carefully for rips and tears, and mend them—or you'll have a washer tub full of fluff.

Help maintain a clean pillow by using a removable pillow cover made from a washable, breathable fiber. The protective pillow cover is the last layer of defense from bodily oils, odors, sweat, and dust mites from reaching the pillow. Wash it at least once a month.

Wash the pillowcase more frequently—every time you change your bed sheets—which should be at least once a week.

Additional Tips for Washing Polyester-Filled Bed Pillows

• Pick a sunny, breezy day to wash polyester-filled pillows so you can put them outside for a final air drying.
  
• If your pillow gets wet and sweaty during the hot summer, air it out to dry. Wash the pillow cover at least once a month using hot water and more often during hot weather or if someone is ill.
• Remove and wash the pillowcase and protective cover to freshen up the pillow. Spritz the pillow with a fabric refresher, or sprinkle the entire pillow generously with baking soda. Allow the baking soda to sit for an hour, then vacuum it away using the upholstery brush attachment. Baking soda absorbs odors, and vacuuming removes dust mites and pet hair. Flip the pillow over, and repeat.
• When storing a pillow for an extended period, include a fragrant dryer sheet in the storage bag to help the pillow maintain a fresh scent.