Washing, protecting and replacing pillows
Most pillows are replaced later than they should be, and protected less than they could be.
What this covers
- The protector is the cheapest upgrade
- How often to wash
- Washing fibre and down safely
- Why drying matters more than washing
- Airing without washing
- When a pillow is finished
- Typical lifespans
- Storing spares
- Why we cannot take opened pillows back
The protector is the cheapest upgrade
A zipped pillow protector under the pillowcase keeps moisture, skin cells and dust out of the fill. It costs a fraction of the pillow and extends its life substantially. It is the single highest-return purchase in this category and the one most often skipped.
How often to wash
Pillowcases weekly with the sheets. Protectors monthly. The pillow itself two or three times a year if it is washable. Foam pillows are not washed at all beyond spot cleaning the surface and airing.
Washing fibre and down safely
Wash two at a time to balance the drum, use a small amount of mild detergent, and run an extra rinse. Detergent residue is what makes fill stiff. Dry completely, using dryer balls to break up clumps, and give it longer than seems necessary.
Why drying matters more than washing
A pillow that is dry on the outside can be damp in the core, and damp fill develops odour and can support mould. This is the main risk in washing pillows at home, and it is entirely a matter of drying time and patience.
Airing without washing
Regular airing in a dry, ventilated place removes moisture and refreshes fill without the risks of washing. For memory foam, which cannot be washed, this is the main maintenance available.
When a pillow is finished
If it stays folded when you bend it in half rather than springing back, if it has permanent lumps, or if you wake with neck discomfort that improves away from home, it has reached the end. Yellowing is cosmetic; loss of loft is not.
Typical lifespans
Fibre fill and down alternative generally need replacing within a couple of years. Memory foam and latex last longer. Down lasts longest with maintenance. These are ranges rather than rules, and how you sleep and whether you use a protector both change them.
Storing spares
Store spare pillows in a breathable bag rather than sealed plastic, somewhere dry. Compressed in plastic for long periods, fill takes a set and may not fully recover. This is particularly true of down.
Why we cannot take opened pillows back
Once a pillow has been slept on it cannot be resold, which is why returns here are limited to unopened items in sealed packaging. Anything faulty or wrongly supplied is a separate matter and is covered regardless of packaging.
How this applies when you are buying
Solid foam holds one fixed shape and gives consistent support, which is ideal if that shape suits you and unhelpful if it does not. Shredded foam can be redistributed, and on adjustable pillows removed, so you can tune the height. Shredded also breathes better, which matters if you sleep warm.
Solid contour and shredded memory foam pillows, including adjustable-fill options, with loft and firmness stated per listing.
On the shelf at the moment
These come straight from the Craig's Beds Mattress Store NYC shelf as you read this, not from a list typed when the article was written, so the prices and the availability are current.
- DOWNSTORIA Shredded Memory Foam Pillows King Size Set of 2 – $29.99
- Contour Memory Foam Pillow, Low Profile Medium Firm Neck Support Pillow – $27.98
- Firm Latex Pillow, Slim Design, Instant Cooling Ice Silk Pillowcase – $46.59
Where to go from here
All of the above is the reasoning we use behind the counter at Craig's Beds Mattress Store NYC when someone asks. If you are weighing up two options and the listing does not settle it, ask: +1 212-840-1717 during opening hours, or customerservice@pbedhaven.shop, answered within one business day.
If you order from us
Standard shipping is a flat $8.95 anywhere in the United States, and it is free once the order passes $50. Weekday orders normally leave Craig's Beds Mattress Store NYC the next working day, with three to seven business days in transit after that. Unopened items can go back within 30 days of delivery. Shipping Policy · Refund and Returns
Related sections of the shop
Related reading
- Loft and firmness: matching a pillow to how you sleep – Two specifications decide whether a pillow works for you, and neither is the brand.
- Memory foam: solid, shredded and adjustable – The same material in three formats, with genuinely different behaviour.
- Down, feather and down alternative compared – Three fills with different costs, different lifespans and different maintenance.
Who wrote this
Written by the team at Craig's Beds Mattress Store NYC, a bed pillows shop at 246 W 38th St Ste 205, New York, NY 10018. The guidance here is what we tell customers across the counter, and it is based on the products we actually stock and the questions we are actually asked. Where we are not certain of something, we say so rather than fill the gap. More about the shop · Contact us