How to Wash Feather Pillows – What Steps You Need to Follow?

Feather Pillows Are Here to Stay

In modern society, feather and down pillows continue to be highly sought after for their soft feel and high-end look. They can easily spruce up a bedroom and improve your quality of sleep at the same time.

Purchasing a luxury bedding item, though, means you’ll be spending more money, so you want to be sure the product will last for a long time. This is why washing your expensive bed materials is worth it. Soft pillows, however, require a particular cleaning method to make sure they stay looking and feeling nice for years to come.

Want to see more? Check out our full review for best down pillows.

What’s the Difference?

The down material in this bedding product consists of a plush grouping of fibers made from a bird’s undercoating, while a feather pillow is constructed using feathers from a bird’s wings and back. The two main birds used to make these products are ducks and geese, and goose-feather bedding tends to be more expensive than duck products.

Find Out More: Down vs. Feather Pillows

How to Wash Down and Feather Pillows

Protectors can only do so much and eventually you need to wash the pillow itself. While you should clean your pillows at least once a year, the recommended amount of washes is once every six months. However, if life gets extra messy, you can opt to clean them once every three months instead.

• Remove the Covers – The first step is to take off any cases or protectors covering them.
  

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• Examine for Tears – Next, check to make sure the items don’t have any rips or tears that could cause the filling to get out, and if there are any, repair them before washing.
  

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• Maintain Balance – It’s important to wash both pillows together since this will balance out your washer and improve performance. Load your pillows vertically if your machine has an agitator in the middle. A machine with a front-load and no agitator works best, but as long as the items fit properly, any machine will work.
  

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• Keep It Gentle – Use a low-sudsing laundry detergent to prevent residue and feathers clumping together. You should also put in less soap than you normally would and select the delicate cleaning cycle.
  

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• Warm or Cool Water Temperature – Hot water might seem like a smart idea for getting rid of germs, but you run the risk of damaging the feathers. Rather, choose warm or cold water to avoid this issue.
  

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• Rinse and Repeat – When you wash these bedding items, it’s a good idea to take the time to do an extra rinse and spin cycle to remove any excess soap residue and moisture.

How to Dry Down and Feather Pillows

Protectors can only do so much and eventually you need to wash the pillow itself. While you should clean your pillows at least once a year, the recommended amount of washes is once every six months. However, if life gets extra messy, you can opt to clean them once every three months instead.

• Remove Excess Water – Once you take out the bedding from the washer machine, remove as much excess water as possible. You can do this by placing each pillow between two towels and pressing down. Do not twist or wring out water from the pillows, though, as this could cause damage to the filling.
  

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• Low or No Heat – When you put each pillow in the dryer, you’ll either choose the low heat setting or no heat. While no heat may take longer, it’s the best option to keep your bedding in good condition and prevent damage. For those who choose to use low heat, continually check on your items while they dry.
  

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• Fluff Between Cycles – To prevent clumping, you should regularly fluff your bedding between drying cycles.
  

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• Dryer Balls – Consider placing dryer balls in the machine too, as these are considered a great way to maintain fluffiness.
  

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• Fluff, Massage, and Shake – Once fully dry, you’ll fluff the bedding and massage out any clumps. Holding the pillow by the corners and shaking it out is also a good way to remove any clumping. Once complete, double-check to be sure your pillow is completely dry so that you avoid any mold or mildew growth from excess moisture.

Freshen Your Pillows Between Washing

Freshening your bedding materials between washes is also an excellent method of keeping them in mint condition. There are several easy steps you can take to maintain the quality of your bedding, which can be done as regularly as needed.

Air Out

While some odor from a new pillow or one made with down and feathers is normal, it can still be a nuisance. A tip for minimizing odor is to sprinkle some baking soda on your pillows and air them outside now and then.

Sunbathing

For those who live in sunnier locales, you can put that sunshine to good use for your sleep space as well. An easy home remedy for freshening up your pillows is to lay them in the sun. You’ll lay each side in direct sunlight for about 30 minutes before bringing them back inside.

Fluffing

Keeping your pillow fluffy is good for overall softness. A quick method to fluff up your pillow is to take a damp washcloth, three dryer balls, and a fabric softener sheet and put them in with your pillow in the dryer machine. Then, select tumble dry on low heat and let it run for 15-20 minutes.