How to Wash Down Pillows the Right Way for Best Results

Bedding is essential because it enhances sleep quality by providing comfort, helping regulate body temperature, and maintaining hygiene. High-quality bedding offers a soft surface and protects your mattress and pillows from dirt and allergens.

However, this helps you stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. All of this contributes to deeper, more restful sleep, making bedding an essential part of your nightly routine.

Even though pillows help ensure restful sleep by supporting proper spinal alignment, which prevents neck and back pain, many people overlook the importance of cleaning pillows, thinking it's a hassle.

The daily buildup of bacteria, dust, grime, allergens, and other invisible impurities in the pillow can lead to similar accumulation in your bedding, potentially impacting hygiene and overall health.

Lysol^® Canada guides you through the best steps for how to wash down pillows at home safely. With the right steps, you can keep your pillows soft, fluffy, and hygienic without worry, as keeping them clean has never been easier or more effective.

How to Wash a Feather Pillow

Here's how to clean and sanitize your pillows and bedding for a hygienic sleep.

Step 1: Read the care label

Before washing, always check the care label on your pillow for specific instructions. This helps ensure you use the right water temperature and washing cycle for down, feather, or fiberfill pillows, to keep your pillows soft, supportive, and long-lasting.

Step 2: Add detergent + Lysol^® Laundry Disinfectant

When you begin washing, place your pillows in the machine with a gentle, natural detergent made for delicate fillings. This removes surface dirt, oils, and everyday grime while protecting the pillow’s softness and fluffiness.

Using the right detergent is the first step to keeping pillows fresh and comfortable. However, microscopic bacteria, viruses, germs, and unseen grime can still remain even after using detergent.

That’s where adding Lysol^® Laundry Disinfectant - Crisp Linen can help make a big difference in your laundry routine. Its formula kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria that detergents may leave behind^*, keeping your pillows hygienically safe. It also doesn’t contain bleach, is gentle on fabrics, and leaves a light, fresh linen scent.

^*vs detergent alone; Always read and follow the label.

Step 3: Air dry naturally

After washing, air drying is the safest way to maintain your pillow’s shape and loft. Hanging or laying them flat allows water to evaporate slowly, preventing clumping, shrinking, or heat damage. This natural drying method keeps your pillows fluffy, supportive, and ready for a clean, restful sleep.

FAQs

Should down pillows be washed in warm, cold, or hot water?

Down pillows should be washed in warm or cold water, never hot, to prevent damage to delicate feathers. Use a gentle cycle to protect the filling and structure.

How long does it typically take for down pillows to dry completely?

It can take several hours for a down pillow to dry completely, especially if air-drying. In more humid conditions, it can take up to a whole day.

Can I wash two down pillows together, or should I wash them separately?

Yes, you can wash two down pillows at the same time to balance the load in your washing machine, but always check the care label first. Washing them separately can cause the load to be unbalanced and may reduce cleaning effectiveness.

Can down pillows be safely washed at home, or do they require professional cleaning?

Most down pillows can be washed at home with a washing machine and dryer, but remember to read and follow the care label. Professional cleaning isn't typically required unless the care label says otherwise.