Washing pillows correctly - 5 practical tips

Washing pillows correctly - 5 practical tips

Phew, the pillow no longer smells good!

But only a fresh, clean pillow is the key to a good night's sleep...

Here's your ultimate guide on how to wash your pillow without losing any of its quality.

We'll also tell you the best way to clean our Lilia products.

So let's go!

Washing your pillow - 5 practical tips 

  1. Most cotton, synthetic or feather pillowcases are removable and machine washable
  2. Before you start washing your pillow, read the care instructions
  3. Pay attention to the detergent and the maximum temperature for delicate materials (silk)
  4. Close the zipper before the washing program
  5. Be sure to let your pillow dry sufficiently

Did you know? There are cushions that you can put in the washing machine without removing the cover.



This is practical, but unfortunately not possible with every material.
With our Forever Pillow, however, it's just as easy:

Open the cover, remove it and machine wash at 40 degrees.

But please note: remove the high-quality foam layers in the cover beforehand; you should not wash them.

Shop Forever Pillow

It all depends on the material

We will now explain more about the following materials:

  • Cotton & synthetics
  • Feathers & down
  • Silk
  • Foam
  • Latex
  • Water
  • Natural hair
  • Grains
In the following table you can find out what you should look out for in the materials.

 

Kind of pillow

temperature

Detergent

Drying-Tip

cotton & 

synthetic

max. 60°C

mild

Dry on low temperature

feather & 

downs

max. 40°C

Special detergent for downs

Gentle cycle! Tip: Use dryer balls (cushion will be aerated)

silk

max. 30°C (wash by hand)

Special detergent for silk material

Air dry, do not expose to direct sunlight

foam

max. 40°C

Sensitive

Be patient and allow to air dry thoroughly

latex

max. 30°C

Ecological detergent

Depending on the material, put the cover in the dryer

water

max. 30°C

No detergent

Depending on the material, tumble dry or air dry the covers

natural hair

max. 40°C

Sensitive

Allow to dry in the machine and loosen the inside

grains

max. 30°C

No detergent

Allow to air dry

 

Now you can look at everything in detail:

Washing cotton & synthetic pillows: Uncomplicated

You can usually remove the pillowcases from cotton and synthetic pillows.
Then, you can wash them at up to 60°C to kill dust mites and bacteria.

This is great for people who have allergies!

Wash as mildly as possible

Use a mild detergent for these materials and select a gentle program with a high spin speed.

Otherwise the fibers can be destroyed.

And if the pillow itself is washable:

Make sure there is no water left inside. Otherwise the pillow can quickly become moldy...

Washing the Lilia cotton cover

Our Lilia cotton cover made of 100% Egyptian cotton is machine washable at 30 degrees.

Our cotton cover can then be tumble dried and ironed.

Shop Lilia cotton case

Washing feather and down pillows: Gentle care

Pillows with feathers or down require special treatment: use a special program for delicates at a maximum of 40°C.

Use a special down detergent and make sure that the pillow is completely dry afterwards.

Otherwise the pillow will start to smell unpleasant.

 Washing silk pillows - the supreme discipline

Attention! Silk material is somewhat more sensitive.

You should either wash it by hand or on a gentle cycle (maximum 30°C).

Use a silk detergent and avoid spinning to protect the fibers.

Cleaning the Lilia silk cushion cover

You can clean our Lilia silk cover made of 100% mulberry silk by hand washing.
Be sure to use a delicate program and a laundry net in the washing machine.

Tip: Add a spoonful of wine vinegar. This will keep the silk pleasantly soft and shiny.

And as for the detergent: use a pH-neutral one so as not to damage the fine silk.
Last but not least: Do not tumble dry the Lilia silk cover after washing!

Shop Lilia silk case

Washing foam pillows - gentle cycle only

Foam pillows are best cleaned on a gentle wash cycle at 30-40°C.
Visco foam pillows are best washed by hand.

You can do this by filling a bucket with lukewarm water and detergent.

Immerse the pillow in the water and knead it.

Finally, rinse the detergent off thoroughly and leave the cushion to air dry.

Washing latex pillows - don't get the core wet!

Latex can quickly become brittle and lose its support.
You should therefore not wash the latex core in a pillow.

Stains on a latex pillow can be removed with a damp cloth and a little ecological detergent if necessary.

Washing water pillows - empty them completely first

Water pillows usually have a cover that you can clean depending on the material.

The water pillow itself can be cleaned by hand washing. You should only empty it completely beforehand and can refill it after cleaning.

Tip: It is best to use distilled water, which does not calcify easily.

Washing natural hair pillows - loosen up a little after washing

High-quality natural hair pillows can be machine washed at 30 or 40°C.

After the washing program, it is important to dry the pillow in the dryer and loosen the fibres a little.

Otherwise the inside may clump together.

Washing grain pillows: Only possible with a cover

Basically, grain pillows are not washable. However, they usually have a protective cover that you can remove.

To remove stains directly from the grain pillow, use a damp cloth.

Conclusion: washing your pillow

Washing pillows is not complicated if you follow the material instructions and proceed with caution.

The most important thing when drying is to be patient and allow the material to dry completely.

And the drying process is just as important as the washing itself.
You should also be aware that some materials, such as silk, should not be put in the dryer.

At the end of the day, one thing is certain: you can sleep wonderfully on a freshly washed pillow and get the best possible rest.

So, give your pillow the care it needs and look forward to a restful night.

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