Even though you may already have pillowcases, it's still important to clean the pillow fillings after a period of use to eliminate bacteria and dirt. The reason is that pillow fillings can easily become yellowed if left unattended for months or years. Additionally, they can become moldy, accumulate dust, and develop unpleasant odors.

Many families choose to clean their pillow fillings by airing them out in the sun, thinking that this is enough to kill bacteria. However, that's not the case. We need to wash and dry them properly! I found a guide on Phunutoday on how to clean pillow fillings quickly, which you can refer to.

Washing Pillow Fillings with a Washing Machine

To get your pillow fillings clean, we can't just use regular laundry detergent like we do with clothes. You'll need some additional ingredients for whitening: baking soda, dish soap, laundry detergent (or liquid detergent), and bleach. Mix them in the following ratio: 1:1:1:2. Then, place the pillow fillings in the washing drum, making sure not to overcrowd them so they can move around freely. Depending on your washing machine's capacity, 2-3 pillow fillings per load should be enough. It's also important to place them in alignment with the rotation axis, leaving space between each pillow to ensure effective washing.

To enhance the cleaning effect, choose the warm water wash setting and use the regular wash cycle like you would for clothes. Warm water helps to remove stains better. After filling the drum with water and detergent, pause the cycle for 15-20 minutes to let the pillows soak. If your machine has a soak mode, use it for better cleaning results. A quick tip: don’t worry about the drying time. Choose a strong spin cycle, as this will help prevent the cotton inside the pillow from clumping together.

For top-loading machines, you can also throw in a tennis ball during the wash to prevent the pillow fillings from tangling.

Once washed, simply hang the pillow fillings in direct sunlight to dry completely. Ensure they're fully dry to avoid mold growth!

Washing Pillow Fillings by Hand

If you can't use a washing machine, you can wash the pillow fillings by hand. Similar to the machine wash method, you’ll need to prepare a cleaning solution with: baking soda, white vinegar, and laundry detergent (or liquid detergent). You should avoid bleach when washing by hand as it can leave an unpleasant smell and irritate your skin. However, you should still wear gloves during the cleaning process. Mix the detergent, vinegar, and baking soda in the following ratio: 1 tablespoon of detergent + ½ cup of white vinegar + ½ cup of baking soda. Mix this with warm water and soak the pillow fillings for 20-30 minutes.

After soaking, scrub and squeeze the pillow fillings to remove dirt. For stubborn stains, you can use a brush to scrub them off. Rinse the pillow fillings with water until the suds are gone. Finally, hang them out in the sun to dry.

Extra Tip

While drying, occasionally flip the pillow fillings and gently pat them to help the cotton fluff up and dry faster, ensuring that they remain soft and plush.

With just a little effort, you can restore your pillow fillings to their bright, fresh condition without the need to buy new ones!