Check the care label first
Most synthetic (polyester hollowfibre or microfibre) pillows and duvets are machine washable. Feather and down are usually washable too, but need more care when drying. Memory foam and latex pillows generally can't go in a washing machine at all. The label will also tell you the maximum temperature.
Size matters just as much as filling. A single duvet fits in most standard 7–9kg washing machines, but double, king-size and heavy winter-tog duvets often don't fit with enough room to move. Cramming a duvet into a machine that's too small means it doesn't get clean and can strain the drum bearings. Launderettes with large-capacity machines, or a laundry service, are the alternative.
Washing synthetic pillows and duvets
Wash pillows in pairs to balance the drum. Use a small amount of non-biological or mild detergent – too much leaves residue that's hard to rinse out of thick fillings. Choose a gentle or bulky cycle at 40°C (or 60°C if the label allows and you want to kill dust mites), and add an extra rinse.
Tumble dry on a low to medium heat with two or three clean tennis balls or dryer balls, which break up clumps of filling. Take items out every 20–30 minutes and shake them out. They must be completely dry right through before you use them – damp filling quickly develops mildew smells.
Washing feather and down
Use a detergent designed for down, or a small amount of mild liquid detergent, on a gentle cycle at 30–40°C. Feathers clump badly when wet, so drying is where the real work is. Tumble dry on low with dryer balls for several hours, taking it out to shake and break up clumps every half an hour. A double down duvet can take three to four hours or more.
Air drying alone isn't usually enough for down, because the centre stays damp. If you don't have a large dryer, a launderette or professional laundry is the safer option.
Memory foam and latex pillows
Most memory foam pillows have a removable cover that can be machine washed. The foam itself should be vacuumed, spot cleaned with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, and left to air dry completely away from direct heat. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the foam, leave it for a few hours and vacuum it off to freshen it.
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How often to wash them
A sensible guide for most households:
- Pillowcases and duvet covers: weekly
- Pillow protectors and mattress protectors: every month or two
- Synthetic pillows: every three to six months
- Feather and down pillows: once or twice a year
- Duvets: once or twice a year, or more often with allergies
- Replace pillows every one to three years, or when they no longer spring back after folding
Allergies, smells and yellow stains
Pillows go yellow from sweat, skin oils and saliva soaking through the case. Washing helps, but it won't always remove old yellowing completely. Using a zipped pillow protector under the pillowcase slows it down considerably.
For dust mite allergies, washing at 60°C kills mites, and anti-allergy covers on pillows and duvets help. Our guide to cleaning for allergies and asthma covers bedding and the rest of the bedroom, and our mattress cleaning guide covers what's underneath.
Professional options
Laundry and ironing services collect and wash bulky bedding, which is often easier than finding space to dry a king-size duvet. Some domestic cleaners will strip and change beds and put a wash on, but washing and drying duvets is generally outside a regular clean. Holiday let hosts usually use a linen hire or commercial laundry service – see our guide to Airbnb and holiday let cleaning. Our ironing services guide explains how laundry services work.
