2 Easy Ways to Wash Yellowed Pillow Inserts and Make Them White Again

Even if you have pillowcases, after a period of use you should also clean the pillow inserts to remove bacteria and dust. Pillow inserts easily turn yellow if you keep using them day after day without cleaning. They can even grow mold, accumulate dust, and develop unpleasant odors.

Many families think simply airing pillow inserts under the sun is enough to kill bacteria. But no, you really need to wash and dry them properly! The site Phunutoday has shared a quick and simple method that you can try.

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Washing Pillow Inserts with a Washing Machine

To whiten pillow inserts, you can’t just use laundry detergent like with regular clothes. You’ll need extra whitening ingredients: baking soda, dishwashing liquid, detergent (or liquid detergent), and bleach.
Mix a cleaning solution in the ratio: 1 part baking soda : 1 part bleach : 1 part dishwashing liquid : 2 parts detergent.

Place the pillow inserts into the washing machine. Don’t overload the drum—2 to 3 pillows per wash is best depending on your machine’s capacity. Arrange the pillows along the axis of the drum, leaving some space in between so they can move freely.

Select the warm water setting for best results since warm water helps dissolve stains. After the drum fills with water and detergent, pause the cycle to soak the pillows for 15–20 minutes. If your machine has a soak function, use it.

Avoid using a strong spin cycle, as this can twist and damage the filling inside. For top-load machines, you can toss in a tennis ball to prevent the pillows from clumping.

Finally, dry the pillows in direct sunlight until completely dry to prevent mold.

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Washing Pillow Inserts by Hand

If you can’t use a machine, you can wash by hand. Prepare a cleaning mixture with: baking soda, white vinegar, and detergent. (Avoid bleach when hand-washing since it may leave a strong smell and irritate the skin. Be sure to wear gloves.)

Mix: 1 tablespoon detergent + ½ cup white vinegar + ½ cup baking soda, then dissolve in warm water. Soak the pillows for 20–30 minutes.

Scrub and squeeze the pillow inserts repeatedly to remove dirt. For stubborn stains, use a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly several times until all the soap is gone. Finally, dry them under the sun until completely dry.

Tip: while drying, turn the pillows over occasionally and pat them gently so the filling fluffs up and dries faster.