How to wash your pillows without them going lumpy

The question of how often pillows should be washed came up in the Starts at 60 office today, and it left many of us wondering (perhaps worryingly in terms of our pillow hygiene!) how pillows can be washed without them going lumpy and clumpy. 

We figured it’s probably a question everyone who has ever washed a pillow only for their favourite, most comfortable sleep partner to come out of the machine mostly flat, but for a few clumped-up balls of hard filling. 

It can take a long time to find the perfect pillow, and once you’ve found it, it’s understandable that you’d be loathe to risk losing it in the wash. 

However, given some of the nasties that can build up and live (yes, live) inside your pillow after some time sleeping on it, it’s essential for your health that it gets washed reasonably regularly (along with that other pain-to-wash bedding item, your doona).

The best way to wash your pillow is to keep the machine evenly balanced by washing it with other things, like another pillow.

If you have a top loading machine, it’s best to let it fill with water and agitate a little before so the detergent can mix before you add the pillow. 

It’s also important to thoroughly dry them with in a dryer on the lowest heat setting. 

Open the dryer every 30 minutes of drying to fluff it up with your hands, especially if it’s a down pillow.

Do you have any other great cleaning tricks?