How you clean pillows depends on what’s inside. Most polyester and down-alternative pillows can be washed on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, as long as you dry them completely. Solid memory foam should never go in the washer: unzip and wash the cover, then spot clean the foam. Wash pillows at least twice a year and pillowcases weekly.Own an Endy® pillow? Jump to the care instructions for each model below.
How Should You Clean Each Type of Pillow?
Start with the care label. It tells you what’s inside and what the fill can handle. If the label and a general guide disagree, the label wins.
Solid memory foam
Washer agitation can break up a pillow’s slab-style foam, so Consumer Reports® recommends skipping the machine. Instead:
Unzip the cover and wash it per its label.
Vacuum the surface of the foam.
Spot clean stains with a damp cloth and a drop of mild detergent.
Pillow care varies by brand, so follow your manufacturer’s label. If the core can’t be washed, clean it like solid foam. Endy’s foam cores are never washed.
Polyester and down alternative
These synthetic fills are usually machine-washable. Here’s how:
Remove the pillowcase and protector; pre-treat stains.
Wash two pillows at a time to balance the load.
Choose the gentle or delicate cycle and the water temperature on the label.
Use only about 15 ml (1 tbsp.) of liquid detergent.
Dry completely (see below).
Top-loader agitators are rough on pillows, so keep agitation short or use a front-loading washer, Consumer Reports advises.
Down and feather
Endy pillows are feather-free, but many down and feather pillows are dry clean only. If yours is washable, use mild detergent, cool water and a delicate cycle, plus an extra rinse and spin cycle. Dry on the lowest heat or no heat with dryer balls.
Latex and buckwheat
Skip the washer for latex: vacuum and spot clean it. For buckwheat, sun the hulls and wash the empty shell in cold water, per Consumer Reports.
How Should You Wash Your Endy Pillow?
Endy pillows use memory foam or hypoallergenic down-alternative fill, but each model has its own care rules. Here’s the quick version (always follow your care label):
PillowWhat you can washWashDryNeverMemory Foam PillowOuter cover only (remove the foam core first)Cold water, gentle cycle, alone or with like coloursAir dry onlyWash the foam core, iron, dry clean or bleachCustomizable PillowOuter cover only (remove the shredded memory foam filling first)Cold water, alone or in a small load; front-loader preferredFluff the wall fill by hand, then low heat with dryer ballsWash the foam filling (voids the three-year limited warranty)Everyday PillowWhole pillow (the cover doesn’t come off)Cold water, gentle cycle, launder separatelyTumble dry, no heatIron, dry clean or bleach
All three pillows last longer with a pillowcase and a pillow protector to block dust and soiling. (Endy’s protector washes cold on a gentle cycle.)Customizable Pillow tip: the cover’s inner walls hold fill that stays put when you remove the core. That’s what you fluff by hand after washing.
Can Pillows Go in the Dryer?
Many can, but it’s where pillows can get ruined. Moisture left inside leads to mildew, so dry your pillow completely.Skip the “Auto-Dry” setting: the sensors only read surfacemoisture. Consumer Reports says many machine-washable pillows dry in about an hour on low to moderate heat with dryer balls or tennis balls. Not every Endy pillow, though: the Memory Foam Pillow cover is air dry only, and the Everyday Pillow tumbles with no heat. Squeeze the centre to check. Still damp? Keep drying.
How Often Should You Wash Pillows?
Consumer Reports recommends washing pillows at least twice a year and ideally four times, especially if you sweat a lot, eat in bed or share it with pets. Launder pillowcases and protectors weekly with your sheets.Why? Dead skin cells, sweat and drool collect and feed dust mites, an allergist told Consumer Reports. In a study of fungal contamination in used pillows, researchers found four to 16 fungal species in each of 10 pillows.Between washes, CR suggests fluffing pillows daily and airing them out monthly to keep them clean and fresh.The Sleep Foundation suggests replacing your pillows every one to two years, though the best last up to five with proper care.
What Else Should You Know About Pillow Care? FAQ
Can you put a memory foam pillow in the washing machine?No. Wash the removable cover; vacuum, spot clean and air out the foam. Water damage to the Endy Customizable Pillow core voids its three-year limited warranty.How do you get yellow stains out of a pillow?Yellow stains usually come from sweat, hair oils and drool. Pre-treat machine-washable pillows with a stain remover before washing. On foam, spot clean only.How often should you replace a pillow?Every one to two years. Replace it sooner if it’s lumpy, won’t snap back when folded or is unsupportive.Should you use a pillow protector?Yes. It keeps sweat, body oils and face cream out, so your pillow stays clean longer. Endy recommends one for all its pillows.
Ready for Cleaner Sleep?
Proper pillow care comes from doing this: read the label, wash on schedule and dry completely. Clean pillows feel fresher and last longer. Ready for a new start? Browse Endy pillows. And check out the Endy Pillow Warranty to ensure full comfort in your purchase choice.Care instructions reflect Endy Help Centre guidance at the time of publication; always follow the care label on your pillow. Warranty coverage is subject to the full terms of the applicable Endy limited warranty.
