To wash pillows, I'd read the care label sewn into the seam first, because the fill decides the method. Polyester and down pillows usually go in the washer, two or three at a time, on a gentle cycle with very little detergent. Memory foam and latex cores stay out of the water, and only their covers get washed. Sleep Foundation suggests a wash at least every six months.
A washable pillow is one whose fill can be soaked, spun and dried without clumping or breaking down. That covers most fibre and feather pillows, plus the zip-off shells on most foam ones. Drying matters as much as washing, because a pillow that goes back on the bed with a damp middle can grow mildew.
At Merit Home Furniture in Duncan, on Vancouver Island, our bedding lines are Health Guard and Natura, sold alongside the mattresses on the Duncan floor. Their makers' care lines sit next to the general rule for each fill, further down.
How to wash pillows by fill type
Washing a pillow comes down to its fill, and the table gives the general rule for each one. Tempur, a foam pillow maker, says plainly that memory foam and latex pillows "can't be washed in a machine". The Sleep Foundation's down guide warns that hot water can damage down. The rest of the table comes from those two guides and from Health Guard's own care pages.
| Fill | In the washer? | Drying |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester or down alternative | Usually, if the label allows: warm water, gentle cycle, three or more pillows per load | Dryer on low to medium heat, with dryer balls |
| Down and feather | Usually: cool or warm water, delicate cycle, a little mild detergent, two per load | Low heat or no heat, several cycles, fluffed in between |
| Shredded memory foam | Outer shell only. Health Guard's shells take a hot wash; the inner shell and fill stay dry | Shell on medium heat |
| Solid memory foam | No. Wash the cover and spot clean the core | Air the core; a no-heat tumble lifts dust |
| Latex, solid or granulated | No. Wash the cover only | Air the core, no heat |
The label beats the table. Health Guard's Hotel Comfort pillow has down alternative fill, the kind of pillow that usually washes. Its care line from Health Guard reads "cannot be washed" and "cannot be dried". Health Guard's own pillow FAQ says care varies by pillow and asks owners to follow the care label.
The symbols on a care label are worth a minute. The federal Guide to Apparel and Textile Care Symbols lists five basic symbols, for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. On the washtub, a series of dots shows the water temperature, with more dots meaning hotter water. A hand in the tub means wash gently by hand, and a crossed-out tub means do not wash. A square with a circle inside is the tumble dryer, and a triangle is bleach. Shoes carry care lines too, and which shoes the washer can take varies by maker.
How to wash pillows in a washer, step by step
Washing pillows in a washer works for fibre and feather fills, and for the removable shells on foam pillows. These steps follow the Sleep Foundation and Tempur guides, so check each one against your own label.
- Strip it. Take off the pillowcase and any protector, and wash those separately. Look over the seams, since a small split can empty fill into the drum.
- Load two or three. Tempur suggests two down or feather pillows per load to keep the drum balanced. Fibre pillows squash smaller, so it suggests three or more.
- Use very little detergent. Both guides ask for a small amount of mild detergent. The Sleep Foundation says too much leaves soap residue and clumping in the fill.
- Match the water to the fill. Warm water and a gentle cycle suit polyester, per Tempur. Cool or warm water on the delicate setting suits down and feather, per the Sleep Foundation.
- Add a rinse and a spin. The Sleep Foundation adds an extra rinse and spin cycle to clear soap residue and excess water.
- Squeeze a corner. If it still foams after the cycle, run another rinse before it goes near the dryer.
Front-load or top-load washer with an agitator
I'd expect pillows to get less twisting in a front-load washer or a top-loader without a centre post. In a washer with an agitator, the Sleep Foundation suggests loading pillows vertically, standing on end around the post. A king pillow needs room to move, and a small drum may manage only one. In that case I'd add a couple of towels to balance the load.
Merit lists washers, priced online, in our washer collection. They're carried at our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores or come by special order, not through Duncan. For bedding, I'd look at drum capacity first.
How to wash feather pillows and goose down pillows
Feather pillows and goose down pillows wash the same way, and duck down follows the same rules. Down is the soft cluster from under the bird's outer feathers. Feathers have quills, and the Sleep Foundation describes feather pillows as firmer and heavier than down. Many pillows are a blend of the two.
The Sleep Foundation's method for a down or feather pillow in the washer is gentle all the way through:
- a mild detergent, or a low-sudsing one made for down, in a small amount
- the cool or warm setting, never hot
- the delicate cycle
- an extra rinse and spin
Hand washing works when there's no washing machine, or when a pillow feels too fragile for one. Fill a tub with cool or warm water and stir in a little mild detergent. Push the pillow under until it's soaked, then squeeze it gently, moving it back and forth. Rinse it in clean water until the water runs clear. Press out the water between two towels, and don't wring it, because twisting can damage the down.
None of the pillows Merit lists is down or feather. The nearest in feel is the Natura Dream Mate, which our listing says Natura calls its feather replacement. It's filled with granulated latex, at $119.00 for a queen before applicable taxes. Being latex, its fill follows the foam and latex rules further down.
Can you wash feather pillows?
Yes, in most cases. Tempur says most down and feather pillows can be safely cleaned in a washing machine, provided the care instructions agree. If the label says dry clean only or professional cleaning, that label wins over any guide, this one included. The slow part is drying, covered below.
Memory foam, latex and bamboo pillows: wash the cover, keep the core dry
Memory foam and latex pillows are cleaned through their covers. Tempur says soaking its foam with water or cleaning fluid is likely to damage the structure that gives it support. It puts memory foam and latex pillows in the same no-washer group. For dust, it suggests gentle vacuuming or a tumble in the dryer with no heat. Small marks can be spot cleaned with soap and water, carefully.
Shredded memory foam pillows usually have two layers: an outer shell, and an inner shell holding the fill. Health Guard's care line for its Cool Ice and Active Charcoal pillows is specific. Remove the outer shell, machine wash hot, do not bleach, and tumble dry on medium heat. Health Guard adds in capitals that the inner shell and fill are NOT washed.
Here is what goes in the wash for the pillows Merit lists through Duncan, with prices before applicable taxes as read November 1, 2026. The care words come from the maker's page or, where marked, from our listing.
| Pillow and price | Fill | What gets washed |
|---|---|---|
| Health Guard Cool Ice, $109.00 | Cool gel chip memory foam | Outer shell: machine wash hot, tumble dry medium heat |
| Health Guard Active Charcoal, $109.00 | Cool gel chip memory foam | Outer shell, same care as the Cool Ice |
| Health Guard NuGlow with Copper, $199.00 | High-density memory foam | Outer shell: machine wash hot, no bleach |
| Health Guard Hotel Comfort, $49.00 | Down alternative | Nothing: Health Guard says it cannot be washed |
| Natura Organic Latex, $199.00 queen | Solid latex core under a wool layer | The zippered cotton shell comes off for cleaning (our listing) |
| Natura Dream, $89.00 queen | Granulated Talalay latex, removable | Zippered bamboo blend shell; read its label first (our listing) |
Natura's Talalay core pillow, $169.00 for a queen, has a cotton terry shell quilted with what our listing calls 100% Natura washable wool. The latex inside still stays out of the washer. Its full listing is in Natura's sleep products.
How to wash bamboo pillows
A bamboo pillow usually means a bamboo fabric shell over some other fill, so the fill decides the wash. Shredded memory foam under bamboo follows the foam rule above. Health Guard's Organic Bamboo Premium Pillow, $109.00 at Merit, has an organic bamboo shell over raw bamboo fibre blended with polyfill, per our listing. Health Guard's care line for that pillow isn't on our page, so read its label or call us before it goes in the washer.
How to wash couch pillows, throw pillows and body pillows
Couch pillows and decorative throw pillows get washed through their covers first. If the cover zips off, the tag inside usually gives the care. Some decorative covers are dry clean only, and some are sewn shut. A sewn-shut throw pillow follows the rule for whatever is inside it.
Sofa toss pillows are usually fibre inside. The Ashley Wixon sofa, on display at our Duncan store at $1,040.00 before applicable taxes, comes with two toss pillows. Its spec list describes them as soft polyfill, which sits under the fibre rule if the label allows washing. For the sofa fabric itself, Merit lists Master Cabinetmaker's Fabric Protector at Duncan, a 16 oz. spray can for cloth upholstery, at $49.00.
Body pillows wash by their fill, the same as bed pillows. Their length is the problem. Folded tight into a small drum, a body pillow won't rinse properly, so a large front-loader or a laundromat machine suits it better. Drying takes longer too, because there's more fill to get dry in the middle.
Can pillows go in the dryer?
Most washable pillows can go in the dryer on low to medium heat. Tempur suggests adding dryer balls, which break up clumps as the fill dries. Down and feather do better on low heat or no heat over several cycles, fluffed between them, per the Sleep Foundation. Foam and latex cores don't go in a heated dryer at all.
Drying is the step to take slowly. Tempur warns that a pillow not dried thoroughly can grow mildew. The Sleep Foundation suggests checking for any smell or clumps that hint at moisture left inside. Squeeze the middle hard. A core that feels cool or smells musty needs another cycle.
Without a dryer, a pillow can air dry on a rack in a room with good airflow, near a fan or an open window. The Sleep Foundation says air drying a down pillow can take 24 to 48 hours, turned and fluffed every few hours. In a damp Island winter a clothesline won't finish the job, and a dehumidifier helps indoors.
Several dryer cycles add up on the power bill. BC Hydro's dryer page puts a clothes dryer at about 12% or more of a typical home's electricity costs. Its tips suit pillows well: clean the lint trap after every load, use reusable dryer balls, and use the moisture sensor setting where the dryer has one.
How often should you wash your pillows?
Pillows need a wash at least every six months, according to the Sleep Foundation. It suggests more often for anyone who sweats at night, has regular allergy symptoms or uses heavy face and hair products. Pillowcases and protectors go much more often than the pillow does.
| What | How often | Whose advice |
|---|---|---|
| Washable pillow | At least every six months | Sleep Foundation |
| Pillowcase | Every two weeks | Sleep Foundation |
| Pillowcases and mattress covers, with a dust mite allergy | In hot water every week | HealthLink BC |
| Pillow protector | Along with the pillowcase | Sleep Foundation |
| Foam or latex core | Never in water; vacuum or air it | Tempur |
The pillowcase schedule does most of the work. A clean pillowcase doesn't make a clean pillow, as the Sleep Foundation points out, but it keeps what reaches the pillow to a minimum. Hot water only goes on fabrics whose labels allow it, and Health Guard's Tencel Dream pillow protector is one that does.
Can a dirty pillow make you sick? Dust mites, damp and allergies
Where dust mites are concerned, a dirty pillow is an allergy question more than an illness one. HealthLink BC's page on dust mites says they may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in some people. The trigger is material in their droppings, not the mites themselves. They don't bite and don't spread disease. HealthLink BC lists pillows among the places mites are mostly found, along with bedding, mattresses and stuffed animals.
Damp matters here. HealthLink BC says dust mites do well where humidity is greater than 50% and don't do well in dry conditions. It also says having mites in the home isn't caused by poor house cleaning. For a home where someone has a mite allergy, its suggestions include these:
- dust-proof pillow and mattress covers made from a tight-weave fabric
- washing bedding, pillowcases and mattress covers in hot water every week
- avoiding wool blankets and down quilts
- keeping plants and fish tanks out of the bedroom, since both add humidity
Do dust mites live in feather pillows? HealthLink BC doesn't single out feather fill. It does suggest avoiding down quilts where there's a mite allergy, and a tight-weave cover over any pillow is its answer either way.
If sneezing, a stuffy nose or wheezing get worse at night, that's a question for a doctor before it's a question for a pillow shop. In BC, calling 8-1-1 (7-1-1 for the deaf and hard of hearing) reaches HealthLink BC, which can connect you with a health professional.
Pillow protectors and keeping a pillow fresh between washes
A pillow protector is a zippered cover that goes on under the pillowcase, and it's the easiest way to wash a pillow less often. The Sleep Foundation calls a zippered protector a barrier against sweat, body oils, dust mites and spills. Health Guard says its protectors help prevent stains and allergens and extend the life of the pillow.
Health Guard's pillow protectors each carry their own care. The Cotton Terry protector has a waterproof lining and says machine wash cool, then tumble dry low heat. The Tencel Dream protector says machine wash hot and tumble dry medium heat. Merit doesn't list a pillow protector on the site right now, so call the Duncan store to ask about one.
Mattress protectors are listed. Health Guard's Premium Terry Mattress Protector runs from $49.00 for a twin to $79.00 for a California king, before applicable taxes. The others, and what each type of mattress protector is for, have a guide of their own.
Between washes, a few small habits help. The Sleep Foundation suggests fluffing pillows every morning and spot cleaning spills right away with a mild detergent and a clean cloth. On a dry day, an hour of fresh air does a pillow no harm. A hot sleeper also sweats more into a pillow, and beds built for people who sleep warm cover the mattress side of that.
How to get yellow stains out of pillows?
Yellow patches are mostly sweat. The Sleep Foundation says sweat leaves a telltale yellow spot, and skin and hair products can stain a pillow too. A normal wash for the fill may lighten a fresh stain, but old yellowing set into the fabric often stays. The washable Health Guard shells in the table above all say do not bleach, so on those, a faded mark is better left alone. A protector stops the next one.
Pillow washing mistakes, and when a pillow is past saving
Pillow washing mistakes mostly come from treating every pillow the same. These are the ones the makers' care lines and the guides above warn against:
- hot water on down or feather
- a heavy hand with detergent, which leaves soap in the fill
- a foam or latex core in the washer, or an inner shell that should have stayed dry
- bleach on a shell marked do not bleach
- a pillow back on the bed while the middle is still damp
- washing a pillow whose label says it cannot be washed
Washing also has limits. Health Guard's pillow FAQ says most pillows should be replaced every 1 to 2 years, though it adds that its premium pillows can last longer with proper care. Tempur's signs of a worn pillow are a change of shape that makes it less supportive, and odours that linger even after washing. Lumps that won't break up after a full dry belong on the same list.
When should you throw out feather pillows?
A feather pillow is done when it stays flat or lumpy after a good shake, or still smells after a full wash and dry. The Sleep Foundation puts the usual life of a feather or down pillow at one to three years. Its quick check for a down pillow is to fold it in half and let go, and one that doesn't spring back is likely ready to replace. Choosing the next one by sleep position is covered in our guide to pillow height and fill.
If I had one piece of pillow advice, it would be to put a protector on a new pillow the day it comes home. Washing a pillow properly takes most of a day once drying is counted. Washing a protector is just another load.
Where the pillow care figures come from
- Tempur UK, How to Wash Pillows Properly, checked November 2026.
- Sleep Foundation, How to Wash Down and Feather Pillows (Jenna Tidd, updated June 16, 2025), checked November 2026.
- Health Guard, Cool Ice Premium Pillow, care and pillow FAQ, checked November 2026.
- Health Guard, Active Charcoal Premium Pillow, checked November 2026.
- Health Guard, NuGlow Collagen Pillow with Copper, checked November 2026.
- Health Guard, Hotel Comfort Pillow, checked November 2026.
- Health Guard, Cotton Terry Pillow Protector, checked November 2026.
- Health Guard, Tencel Dream Pillow Protector, checked November 2026.
- HealthLink BC, Dust mites, checked November 2026.
- HealthLink BC, Controlling Dust, Dust Mites, and Other Allergens in Your Home, checked November 2026.
- BC Hydro, Energy efficiency and your clothes dryer, checked November 2026.
- Office of Consumer Affairs (Government of Canada), Guide to Apparel and Textile Care Symbols, checked November 2026.
- Merit Home Furniture pillow, protector and sofa listings, prices read November 1, 2026, and Merit Home Furniture, Delivery and Setup, read November 1, 2026.
Picking up a pillow or protector at our Duncan store
Pillows, protectors and other small items from Merit aren't mailed. They're picked up free at our Duncan store, 107 Ingram St, or added to a furniture or mattress delivery. An item is usually ready about 2 business days after it arrives in Duncan, and we call when it's in. Hours at Duncan run 9 to 5, Monday through Saturday.
Call ahead to ask which pillows are set up to try, and to have someone read you the care label on the one you're looking at. There's no rush on our end.
Call the Duncan store, (250) 746-5527
Every pillow we list is in our pillows and bedding collection. For the bed under the pillow, guides to choosing a mattress and sleeping well are gathered in one place.