Can You Put Pillows in the Dryer? A Guide by Fill Type

Why Fill Type Is the Key Question

Pillows look similar from the outside, but what's inside determines everything about how they should be dried. The question "can I put this pillow in the dryer?" has very different answers depending on whether you're dealing with hollow polyester fibres, three-dimensional down clusters, viscoelastic foam cells, or latex rubber.

Heat from a dryer does different things to different materials. For fibrous fills (synthetic and down), heat with mechanical tumbling helps fluff and restore loft. For foam materials, heat breaks down the cellular polymer structure that gives the foam its elasticity and support properties. Getting this wrong can permanently damage the pillow in a single drying cycle -- or worse, create a damp pillow that develops mould because it didn't dry properly inside.

If you're not sure what's inside your pillow, check the label sewn to the seam. Most pillows sold in Canada are required to disclose fill type on the label. If there's no label, the tests below can help you identify the fill type.

Synthetic Polyester: Yes (Low Heat)

Synthetic polyester fill pillows are dryer-safe. The hollow polyester fibres that make up the fill can withstand dryer heat at a low setting without damage. In fact, drying synthetic pillows in the dryer is preferable to air drying -- the mechanical tumbling helps separate the fibres and restore some loft, particularly if the pillow has been washed and the fill has compressed during the wash cycle.

Key points for drying synthetic fill pillows:

• Heat setting: Low heat only. High heat can melt or fuse the hollow polyester fibres, permanently damaging the fill.
• Cycle time: Synthetic pillows usually dry in one standard dryer cycle (approximately 60 minutes on low). Remove and check that the centre is dry before using.
• Dryer balls: Optional but helpful. Wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls tumbling against the pillow help separate the fibres and prevent clumping.
• Check for dryness: Squeeze the centre firmly. If it feels cool or damp, run another partial cycle.

Down and Feather: Yes (Low Heat + Tennis Balls)

Down and feather pillows are dryer-safe but require more care than synthetic fill. The down clusters that make up the fill are three-dimensional structures -- they can withstand the heat of a low dryer cycle, but they tend to clump together as they dry, forming dense, flat masses if not mechanically disrupted during the drying process.

This is why the tennis ball (or wool dryer ball) method is specifically recommended for down pillows:

• Add 2-3 clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls to the dryer with the pillow. These tumble against the pillow, physically breaking up the damp down clusters as they dry and preventing them from compacting into flat clumps.
• Low heat setting. Down is a natural material that can tolerate low heat, but high heat can damage the structure of the clusters and burn feather quills.
• Multiple cycles. Down pillows typically need 2 to 3 full dryer cycles to dry completely. After each cycle, remove the pillow and manually fluff it -- squeeze, pull apart, and shake to redistribute the fill -- before running the next cycle.
• The most important check: Squeeze the centre of the pillow firmly. Down pillow centres retain moisture longer than the outer layers. If the centre feels even slightly cool or damp, it needs more drying time.

8 min read

Memory Foam: Never

Solid memory foam pillows must not go in the dryer under any circumstances. This is not a caution -- it's a definitive no.

Memory foam is a polyurethane foam with a viscoelastic structure -- an open-cell polymer network that gives it its characteristic slow-response, contouring properties. Dryer heat breaks down this polymer structure. The foam can shrink, become brittle, develop cracks, or lose its viscoelastic properties in a single drying cycle. It may also release chemical byproducts as the foam degrades under heat.

How to dry a memory foam pillow:

• Spot clean with a barely damp cloth and mild soap.
• Allow to air dry completely -- laid flat, in a well-ventilated area.
• A fan directed at the pillow speeds the surface drying process.
• Do not use the pillow until it is completely dry. Memory foam retains moisture internally, and damp foam is prone to mould development.
• Full air-drying can take 24 to 48 hours depending on how much moisture was introduced.

Shredded Memory Foam: Never

Shredded memory foam pillows have the same dryer restriction as solid foam. The fill consists of small pieces of the same viscoelastic foam material, and heat damages it in the same way. The additional concern with shredded foam is that small pieces may escape through seams or be damaged unevenly, creating an inconsistent fill quality.

Shredded foam can be hand-washed gently in cool water (never submerged completely), then laid flat to air dry. The smaller piece size does dry faster than a solid foam block, but it still requires 24 hours of air drying before use.

Latex: Usually No (Air-Only Setting Only)

Natural and synthetic latex pillows should not be put in a conventional dryer. Latex is rubber, and heat degrades the rubber's elasticity over time -- exposing it to dryer heat accelerates this degradation and can cause the latex to become brittle, crumbly, or to shrink.

Some latex pillows are labelled as tolerating an air-only dryer setting (no heat). If your latex pillow specifies this on its label, brief air-only tumbling can be used to remove surface moisture, but the pillow should then air dry fully before use.

For most latex pillows, the best approach is:

• Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Do not submerge latex in water.
• Allow to air dry completely, laid flat. Latex dries more slowly than foam because of its density.
• Never leave in direct sunlight to dry -- UV exposure degrades latex.

Buckwheat Hull: Never

Buckwheat hull pillows must not go in the dryer. The hulls would absorb heat unevenly and the combination of residual moisture in the hulls plus heat creates conditions for mould or cracking of the hulls. The hulls themselves are not machine-washable.

For buckwheat hull pillows:

• Remove the hulls from the pillow cover before washing.
• Wash only the cover (follow its care label).
• Spread the hulls out in a thin layer on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area to air out. Direct sunlight is acceptable for buckwheat hulls, unlike latex.
• Ensure both the cover and the hulls are completely dry before reassembling.

Pillow Dryer Safety Reference Table

When the Label Is Unclear

If you can't find a care label or the label has worn off, use these fill identification approaches before deciding on drying:

• Press into the pillow and release: Slow recovery = memory foam. Fast elastic spring-back = latex. Soft, fibrous feel with no single material = down or synthetic.
• Check the weight: Foam and latex pillows are significantly heavier than synthetic or down pillows of the same size. A very heavy pillow is almost certainly foam or latex.
• Look at the cover seams: Memory foam pillows often have vented covers with small holes or mesh panels to allow air circulation. Down and synthetic pillows usually have fully closed fabric covers.

When in doubt, air dry. Air drying is safe for all pillow types. The worst outcome is slower drying. For foam pillows, air drying is always the right approach.

Practical Drying Tips That Apply to All Pillows

Visit Our Brantford Showroom

We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.

Mattress Miracle -- 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON -- (519) 770-0001

Hours: Monday--Wednesday 10am--6pm, Thursday--Friday 10am--7pm, Saturday 10am--5pm, Sunday 12pm--4pm.

If you're looking for pillows with fill types that fit your care preferences -- or if you're ready to replace pillows that haven't been holding up -- come in and try some options with our team.

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