How to Wash Throw Pillows the Right Way?

Have you been throwing your throw pillows away once they get dirty? Please stop!! Not only is it environmentally unfriendly but expensive too. In this article, you can learn how to wash your throw pillows easily and the right way.

Throw pillows are not only aesthetic but functional too. They serve an important function of supporting our head and neck. This trusted snuggly bedding gets dirty with often use and needs cleaning. But how do you do it without ruining it? We explain below…

How do you wash a throw pillow without ruining it?

The method used to clean your throw pillow largely depends on the type of pillow you have. While some can be tossed in a washing machine, others require hand or spot cleaning.

To determine how yours should be cleaned, check the manufacturer’s label and follow its instructions. If the label is missing, check the fabric type. Some like velvets and silk require to be dry-cleaned with dry cleaning fluid. Others like polyester or cotton can be washed with water.

Steps for cleaning a throw pillow

From there you can follow these steps in cleaning the throw pillow the right way.

Step 1: Remove the cover of the throw pillow

Step 2: Pretreat the pillow with a prewash spray and rub it in gently with a damp sponge or cloth.

Step 3: Throw the pillow into a front-loading washing machine. Set it to a warm or hot water delicate cycle. Then add a mild detergent. To prevent damage to your pillow, ensure you place two pillows in the washing machine to balance it out.

Step 4: Take the pillow out of the washer at the end of the cycle. Use a towel to absorb excess water in the pillow. Then air-dry it or hang it out in the sun to dry. If it can be placed in the dryer, then tumble dry on low heat.

Step 5: Check, by pressing the pillow to ensure it’s completely dry. Residual water can cause molding. If the pillow is still wet, repeat the process in step 4 above.

If it’s completely dry. Fluff it, to reshape it.

Tips for washing throw pillows

Check your pillow’s seams for any weak stitching. Mend this before you throw the pillow into the washer. Failure to do this may lead your pillow bursting.
Don’t wash a memory foam pillow in the washer.
Put two clean tennis balls or dryer balls in the dryer with your pillows to help fluff them and reduce the drying time.
You can add a little bit of bleach while cleaning your pillow to really ensure it’s completely disinfected.
For dry-clean, only pillows, use a sponge or damp cloth with a cleaning solution to gently scrub them and use a towel to remove excess liquid.
If you are using a top loader, add some heavy towels on top of the pillow to keep it from floating in the washing machine. This leads to dry, unwashed patches.

How to clean a memory foam throw pillow?

If your pillow filler is made of solid memory or latex foam, don’t clean it in the washer. It will break apart. Instead, remove the foam. Soak it in a tub filled with luke-warm water mixed with a gentle detergent.

Ensure you submerge the foam severally and massage it through to ensure the soapy solution sips through. Don’t twist or wring this type of pillow, to avoid tearing it.

Once done, remove excess water by pressing the pillow in a terrain-towel. Fill the tab with clean warm water then submerge the pillow and rinse out the soap. Be thorough and ensure you rinse out as much detergent as possible. You can also rinse it directly under a running tap until the water that comes out of it is clear.

Afterward, wrap the pillow in a clean towel and gently squeeze out as much water as possible. Use a second towel if need be. Then air-dry it in a well-ventilated room or out in the sun.

How often to wash throw pillows?

How often you wash your throw pillows, depends on whether they have a removable cover or not. If your pillow has a removable cover, it doesn’t require as much cleaning as one without. Simply clean the covers every two weeks or so.

As for the throw pillow, clean it regularly at least every three to six months.

Also, consider other factors that might cause you to clean your pillows more regularly. If you have placed your throw pillows in highly trafficked areas, have small kids and pets who love to play on them. Then you need to clean your pillows as often as possible, to keep germs, bacteria, and dander off them.

How to keep one’s throw pillows cleaner longer?

You can also keep your throw pillows cleaner for longer. Place your throw pillows far from the reach of pets and kids. Don’t let them lie on the ground.

When getting into bed at night, place them in a clean basket, don’t throw them on the floor. Finally, a little vacuuming and airing of the pillows goes a long way in keeping them clean and fresh

Conclusion

There you have it, a step by step tutorial on how to wash throw pillows. Please note, not all pillows can be washed. An example of such a pillow is buckwheat (Sobakawa). Washing this pillow would cause it to get soggy and lose its sleep benefits.

If you must clean it, take out its contents and store in a container then clean the cover and add back the contents once the cover is dry.

Another important consideration is heavily decorated throw pillows. For this type, avoid machine washing and hand clean using a scrubbing brush to get all the dirt out. Then air or sun dry them.

As you can see, cleaning your throw pillows is easy, especially when done right. Go on and get them cleaned.