How to Properly Wash Down Pillow Inserts

The feather pillow inserts from your favourite throw pillows might seem like they would need special care, but the cleaning process is actually surprisingly simple! Here’s how to wash down pillow inserts.

Like many home decor enthusiasts, I love a good pillow chop, which comes to my sofa courtesy of my collection of beautiful down and feather pillow inserts. There’s really nothing quite like a feather pillow, and they’re such a great, affordable luxury. Unfortunately, simple cleaning processes and luxury items don’t often go hand in hand. Before you pack all your pillows up in the back seat of your car and drive them over to the dry cleaners, though, check out this simple step-by-step for how to clean them at home. It’s ridiculously -and surprisingly- easy. Here’s how to wash down pillow inserts.

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Washing Feather and Down Pillow Inserts for Throw Pillows

I was so happy to find out that my affinity for choosing the “fancier” feather pillows whenever I had the chance was actually the more practical choice. Good-quality feather pillow inserts are easier to keep clean and maintain their shape and usefulness for much longer than most pillows filled with other synthetic fillers.

If you happen to find a down or feather pillow insert at the thrift store, don’t hesitate to take it home, give it a wash, and add it to your collection!

When it comes to the actual washing process, there isn’t too much you need to know, other than the fact that you absolutely can wash them just like you would wash almost anything else!

Isn’t that great news?

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How to Wash Feather Pillow Inserts: Step by Step

Start out by removing the covers from your feather pillow inserts. You can wash those separately if needed, or just spot clean them and run the iron over them to freshen them up.

Please enjoy the photo below of my pillow inserts, removed from their covers and ready for cleaning. They really do look like they’re in pretty rough shape, don’t they? How does the cat fur manage to make its way inside the pillow covers? You can’t win.

Once your down pillow inserts are out of their covers, toss them into your washing machine. If you’re using a top-load machine, make sure your load is balanced by washing two larger or four smaller pillows together at one time.

You can choose a cycle with either cold or hot water. Keep in mind that some shrinking of the outer fabric may take place if you use hot water, but if you’re washing a second-hand insert, it’s worth the risk for the extra cleaning capabilities of the hot water. A good amount of chopping and fluffing after your wash cycle will stretch the fabric back out and allow the pillow to regain its shape most of the time anyway.

Use a gentle, low-sudsing laundry soap, like an HE detergent, and avoid any other additives in the wash. Definitely stay away from any fabric softeners, as they may decrease the fluffiness of the feathers afterwards.

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How to Dry Your Feather Pillow Inserts

The drying process for your feather pillow inserts is a very important step, but luckily, it’s an easy one.

Just toss your feather pillows into the dryer on whichever cycle you normally like to use and turn it on!

It’s important that your feather pillow inserts are completely dry before you replace their covers, and it may take more than one dryer cycle to make that happen.

When in doubt, definitely err on the side of drying your pillow inserts more rather than less.

If you find your pillows are clumpy and not as fluffy as you would like them, they probably need more time in the dryer. If they have any odor to them at all, they probably need more time in the dryer.

Wool dryer balls can be really helpful because they’ll fluff the pillows up as they dry and will possibly cut down on your drying time a little bit.

When you’re satisfied with the dryness of your pillow inserts, replace their covers (or make new ones with this ten-minute pillow cover tutorial) and fluff them up again.

It’s a good idea to wash feather pillow inserts every 6 months to a year, depending on how much use they get, to remove dust and allergens and to keep them nice and fluffy.

If you use your pillows a lot for propping yourself up on the couch or if your kids sit on them on the floor, wash them more often. If they don’t see much human contact and they’re mostly just for show, then you don’t need to wash them quite as much, just like anything else.

Do you love to use feather pillow inserts in your pillows as much as I do? I truly think they make such a difference in a home as far as beauty and comfort go. If you’re looking for good-quality down pillows, I have a few sets of these and love them.

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