I washed my pillows for the first time after my sister stayed over and asked, completely earnestly, “Is that a yellow pillowcase or a white one that got yellow?” It was white. It had been white.

I threw them in the washer with regular detergent, dried them on high heat, and pulled out two lumpy sacks that looked like they had been in a fight. They never recovered. I had to buy new pillows. Do not be me.

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Check the Label First

Most pillows — down, down alternative, polyester — are machine washable. Memory foam pillows are not. Water breaks down the foam structure. Spot clean those with a damp cloth and mild soap. For everything else, read the tag. I ignored the tag once and it cost me forty dollars in replacement pillows.

Two at a Time

Wash two pillows together to balance the washer drum. A single pillow on the spin cycle bangs around and can damage the machine or tear the pillow. Add a small amount of mild detergent — half what you would use for a regular load. Too much soap leaves residue that makes pillows feel stiff.

Set the machine to warm water on a gentle cycle with an extra rinse. Extra rinse is not optional. Leftover detergent in the filling makes pillows crunchy when they dry.

The Tennis Ball Trick

When drying, throw two clean tennis balls in with the pillows. They bounce around and break up clumps of wet filling. This is the difference between fluffy pillows and lumpy disappointment. Dry on low heat and check every twenty minutes. It takes a long time — sometimes two full cycles — but high heat melts polyester filling.

I did not own tennis balls the first time. I tried clean sneakers. Do not try clean sneakers. It sounds like a dryer full of rocks and does not work anyway.

How Often

Wash pillows every three to six months depending on whether you use pillow protectors. If you drool, have pets that sleep on the bed, or eat in bed — wash them more often. Your pillow doubles in weight from dead skin and dust mites over a few years. I learned this fact and immediately washed every pillow in my house.