If your pillow is synthetic and old, check to ensure it won’t fall apart in the machine. Fold the pillow in half. If it doesn’t unfold right away, discard the pillow.
You should also avoid machine washing pillows filled with buckwheat. To wash these, you’ll have to empty the buckwheat filling and set the buckwheat in the sun for a few hours while you wash the pillow casing.
Avoid overfilling the machine or water and soap won’t be able to circulate as effectively.
A balanced machine will also make the water and laundry detergent move through the drum better.
It’s important to balance the load in the top-loading machine so it spins effectively. If you put a pillow around one half of the drum, put another pillow on the opposite side or fill that side with the same amount of laundry.
Some care labels may use symbols instead of words. If the label shows one dot, it recommends cold water. Two dots means warm water and three dots means hot.
The fastest spin cycle will remove the most water from the pillow which will help it dry faster.
Remember to clean your mattress at least twice a year as well.
If you’re concerned that the pillow filling will clump together as the pillow dries, put one or two clean tennis balls in the dryer too. They’ll bounce and break up the filling.
Avoid setting the machine to auto-dry because it will only sense the moisture on the outside of the pillow.
Remove the pillowcase and wash it about once a week.
