How to Wash Your Pillows

1. Signs Your Pillow Needs Washing

You don't need to wait for a set schedule to know it's time — your pillow usually tells you. Look out for:

• Colour — the pillow or pillowcase is starting to look yellow or discoloured
• Smell — a slightly sour or musty odour, even if faint
• Feel — the pillow doesn't feel as fluffy or supportive as it used to

If any of these sound familiar, it's time for a wash.

2. How to Wash Pure Virgin Hollow Fiber Pillows

Our Standard, Hotel, Box, Stripe, and Quilted pillows are all filled with 100% Pure Virgin Hollow Fiber, which is fully machine washable.

1. Remove the pillowcase and any pillow protector, and wash these separately.
2. Check the pillow for any tears or loose seams before washing — repair these first so filling doesn't escape.
3. Wash two pillows together if your machine allows it, to help balance the drum.
4. Use a gentle cycle, cold or warm water (never hot), with a small amount of mild liquid detergent.
5. Add an extra rinse cycle to make sure all the detergent is fully washed out — trapped detergent is one of the most common causes of a pillow that feels stiff or clumped afterwards.

3. How to Wash Duck Feather Pillows

Our Duck Feather pillows need a slightly gentler approach than our Hollow Fiber range.

1. Remove the pillowcase and check for any tears before washing.
2. Use your machine's gentle or delicate cycle, with cold or warm water.
3. Use a small amount of mild detergent — avoid fabric softener, as it can coat the feathers and weigh them down.
4. Add an extra rinse cycle to fully clear the detergent from the feather filling.
5. Never wring or twist the pillow to remove water — press gently instead.

4. Drying Properly

Getting the drying right matters as much as the wash itself — a pillow that's put away still damp can develop mould or a musty smell.

• If your pillow is suitable for tumble drying, use a low-heat setting.
• Add two or three tennis balls, wrapped in clean socks, to the dryer with the pillow. They help beat out clumps and restore the pillow's loft as it dries.
• If air drying, lay the pillow flat in a well-ventilated space and turn it regularly so it dries evenly.
• Don't put the pillow back on your bed, or into storage, until it's completely dry all the way through — check the centre of the pillow, not just the outside.

5. Removing Yellow Stains

Yellow staining is usually caused by a build-up of sweat and natural body oils over time — it's extremely common and doesn't mean your pillow is unclean, just that it's due a wash. Following the washing steps above, with a full extra rinse cycle, will lift most yellowing. For more stubborn staining, a longer soak with your regular detergent before washing can help lift it further.

6. How Often Should You Wash Your Pillows?

We recommend washing your pillows every 4 to 6 months. Using a pillow protector between your pillow and pillowcase will help keep it cleaner for longer, reducing how often a full wash is needed.

7. When to Replace vs. When to Wash

Not every tired-looking pillow needs replacing — most just need a proper wash. But if you've washed and dried your pillow correctly and it's still flat, lumpy, or has lost its shape, it's likely reached the end of its life. Our full Pillow Buying Guide can help you choose the right replacement.

8. Manufacturing Expertise

Posh Tag isn't a reseller. We're manufacturers — one of the biggest pillow and cushion manufacturers in Greater Manchester, operating out of our own Base in Rochdale. Every pillow that leaves our Base has gone through a process we control from start to finish, from raw fibre to finished product.

9. FAQs

10. Shop the Range

Ready for a fresh one? Explore our full Pillow range, all filled with Pure Virgin Hollow Fiber and manufactured at our own Base in Rochdale.

Shop the Range