Quick Answer: To wash body pillows, use a front-loading machine on a gentle cycle with warm water and a small amount of mild detergent. Most body pillows fit in a front-loader but are too long for a top-loader's agitator. Tumble dry on low with two dryer balls, stopping every 20 minutes to fluff, until completely dry. Memory foam body pillows cannot be machine washed.
In This Guide
Reading Time: 10 minutes
Body pillows are awkward to deal with. They are long, thick, and do not behave like a standard pillow in any meaningful way. The main challenge is not the washing itself but the size: a typical body pillow is 50 cm by 150 cm or larger, which creates real problems with most residential washing machines. If you get the wash and dry wrong, you end up with a lumpy, permanently misshapen pillow that smells slightly damp for a week.
This guide covers how to wash body pillows properly, including what to do if you have a memory foam body pillow, and how to dry a long pillow without the fill clumping into uneven masses.
Will Your Body Pillow Fit in the Washer?
This is the first question to answer before you even think about detergent. Body pillows are typically 50 cm by 150 cm (20 by 60 inches) for standard sizes, and some are 50 cm by 170 cm or longer. These are genuinely large items.
For context, a king-size pillow is about 50 cm by 90 cm. A body pillow is nearly twice as long. Standard residential front-loaders with 4.5 cubic foot drums can handle a body pillow reasonably well, though the pillow will be tightly packed. A 5.0 cubic foot or larger drum handles them with more room, which improves washing quality.
Machine Capacity: A Practical Check
Washing machines need space to circulate water and agitate effectively. An overstuffed machine does not clean well and does not rinse thoroughly, leaving detergent residue in the fill that irritates skin and attracts dust mites. If your body pillow can barely close the door, use a laundromat with commercial-sized front-loaders instead. A 20-minute commercial wash is better than a poor wash at home.
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Front-Loader vs. Top-Loader
This matters more for body pillows than for regular bedding. The difference comes down to how each machine handles large, bulky items.
Front-Loading Machines
Front-loaders tumble laundry through water using gravity, which is gentler on fill materials and does not require an agitator post in the centre of the drum. This is what makes them suitable for large, loft-dependent items like body pillows and down pillows.
Without an agitator, a body pillow can move freely, getting even water and detergent contact throughout the fill. Front-loaders also spin at higher RPMs, which extracts more water before the drying phase, reducing drying time significantly.
Top-Loading Machines with Agitators
Standard top-loaders have an agitator, the post in the centre of the drum. A body pillow in a top-loader will fold around the agitator awkwardly, with one half getting washed repeatedly while the other sits relatively dry. The agitator can also put mechanical stress on the pillow seams during the wash cycle.
If your top-loader has an agitator, a body pillow is genuinely too long for it. Use a laundromat with front-loaders, or hand wash in a large bathtub.
Top-Loading Machines without Agitators (High-Efficiency)
High-efficiency top-loaders without an agitator post are a middle ground. They use less water and use a different wash motion. Body pillows can work in these, though the drum is typically smaller than a comparable front-loader. Check the capacity before trying.
Quick Reference: Machine Type and Body Pillows
- Front-loader (4.5+ cubic feet): Best option. Gentle, effective, thorough rinse
- HE top-loader (no agitator): Acceptable if drum is large enough
- Top-loader with agitator: Not recommended. Use a laundromat instead
- Commercial laundromat machines: Excellent option for oversized pillows
Washing by Fill Type
Body pillows are filled with different materials, and each one has slightly different wash requirements.
Polyester Fibrefill Body Pillows
Polyester fill is the most forgiving. These pillows tolerate machine washing well and dry relatively quickly. Use a gentle or delicate cycle with warm water (not hot), a small amount of mild liquid detergent, and an extra rinse cycle to remove all soap residue.
Hot water can cause polyester fibres to mat and clump, reducing the pillow's loft and making it less comfortable. Warm water is safer and equally effective at cleaning.
Down and Feather Body Pillows
Down and feather body pillows require more care. Use a gentle cycle, warm water, and a down-specific detergent or a small amount of mild baby shampoo. Avoid regular detergents with enzymes or brightening agents, as these strip the natural oils from down clusters and reduce loft over time.
Run two rinse cycles. Down and feather fill is dense and tends to trap soapy water, which creates a musty smell if not fully rinsed. For a detailed guide on washing down fills specifically, see our article on how to wash down pillows.
Bamboo and Cotton Fill Body Pillows
Bamboo and cotton fill body pillows are usually machine washable on a gentle cycle with cold or warm water. Check the care label, as some bamboo pillow covers are not meant for hot water. These fills are less prone to clumping than down but can compress over time if not dried fully and refluffed.
Shredded Memory Foam Body Pillows
Shredded memory foam body pillows sit in a grey area. Some manufacturers allow gentle machine washing of the inner foam fill, but many do not. If the care label permits it, use a front-loader on a very gentle cycle with cold water and minimal detergent. Never put shredded foam fill in the dryer on heat, lay it flat to air dry completely.
Drying Without Clumping
This is where most people make mistakes. A body pillow that comes out of the dryer with the fill clumped into one end is nearly impossible to fix properly. The key is patience and the dryer ball technique.
How to Dry a Body Pillow Without Clumping
Step 1: Spin It Twice
Before putting the pillow in the dryer, run an extra spin cycle in the washing machine. This removes as much water as possible from the fill, which shortens total drying time and reduces the window during which fill can clump together.
Step 2: Add Two or Three Dryer Balls
Wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls keep the fill separated during the drying cycle. They bounce against the pillow as it tumbles, breaking up any clumping before it sets. Without dryer balls, the fill mats into dense lumps that survive the rest of the drying cycle.
Step 3: Set Low Heat
Use a low heat setting. High heat compresses polyester fill and damages down clusters. Low heat takes longer but preserves the pillow's loft and structure.
Step 4: Stop Every 20 Minutes and Fluff
Every 20 minutes, take the pillow out of the dryer and manually squeeze and redistribute the fill. Break up any clumps with your hands. This step is not optional for body pillows, their size means the fill shifts considerably during tumbling and needs manual help to stay even.
Step 5: Dry Until Completely Dry
A body pillow takes longer to dry than a standard pillow, often two to three hours in a residential dryer. The fill must be fully dry, squeeze the pillow in several places and check for any cool or damp spots. A pillow that goes back on the bed even slightly damp will develop mildew and a musty smell that is difficult to remove.
The Damp Spot Test
Before deciding a body pillow is fully dry, squeeze it firmly in the thickest centre area and hold it there for five seconds. If the fabric feels even slightly cool or you can feel any residual give that feels wet rather than springy, keep drying. The centre of a body pillow is the last part to dry and the first place mildew develops.
Memory Foam Body Pillows: What to Do Instead
Solid memory foam body pillows cannot be machine washed. The agitation and water saturation will break down the foam cell structure, leaving you with a deformed, crumbling pillow. The same applies to latex body pillows.
For these types, your care options are spot cleaning and cover maintenance:
- Use a removable cover always. A zippered body pillow cover protects the foam from sweat, oils, and dust mites. Wash the cover in the machine on a gentle cycle according to its care label.
- Spot clean the foam. Mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water. Dampen a clean cloth and blot the affected area, do not saturate the foam. Allow it to air dry completely before replacing the cover.
- Deodorise with baking soda. Sprinkle dry baking soda over the foam surface and let it sit for an hour, then vacuum off. This removes odours without introducing moisture.
- Air it out regularly. Every few months, stand the memory foam body pillow upright in a well-ventilated room for several hours. This allows any accumulated moisture to evaporate.
Choosing a Body Pillow That's Easy to Maintain
In our Brantford showroom, we see customers struggle most with body pillows that have no removable covers and solid foam fills. Dorothy, our sleep specialist, often recommends choosing a body pillow with a zippered outer cover as a non-negotiable feature. Without it, you cannot wash the part of the pillow that actually contacts your skin. Covers run through the machine once a week; the foam itself gets spot-cleaned as needed.
How Often Should You Wash a Body Pillow?
The general recommendation from sleep hygiene experts is to wash body pillows every three to four months, or more frequently if you sweat heavily during sleep or use the pillow without a cover. The cover itself should be washed weekly alongside your other bedding.
Between washes, keeping the pillow in a clean cover and airing it out occasionally is enough to maintain freshness. If you notice any odour coming through the cover, that is a sign the pillow itself needs washing.
If you are washing other large bedding items at the same time, review our guide on how to wash pillows in a washing machine for general washing machine settings across all pillow types.
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash a body pillow in a regular washing machine?
Yes, if the machine is a front-loader or a high-efficiency top-loader without an agitator, and the drum is large enough. Standard top-loaders with agitator posts are not suitable because the pillow folds around the agitator unevenly. If you are unsure about your machine's capacity, use a commercial laundromat with large front-loading machines.
How do I keep a body pillow from getting lumpy in the dryer?
Use two or three wool dryer balls and set the heat to low. Stop the dryer every 20 minutes and manually squeeze and redistribute the fill by hand. A body pillow needs two to three hours to dry completely in a residential dryer. Skipping the manual fluffing steps leads to fill that clumps permanently in one area.
Can memory foam body pillows be washed?
Solid memory foam body pillows cannot be machine washed. Water and agitation destroy the foam cell structure. Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent, deodorise with dry baking soda, and always keep the foam in a removable, washable cover. Shredded foam body pillows follow the manufacturer's guidance, some allow gentle machine washing, many do not.
What detergent should I use to wash a body pillow?
Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent, less than you would use for a regular load. For down or feather body pillows, use a down-specific wash or a gentle, enzyme-free detergent. Avoid detergents with optical brighteners, as these can damage natural fill materials. An extra rinse cycle removes any residue the fill traps.
Do you carry body pillows at Mattress Miracle?
We carry a range of pillows and bedding accessories at our Brantford showroom at 441½ West Street. If you are looking for a specific fill type or size, give us a call at (519) 770-0001 and we can let you know what is in stock.
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 are looking for a body pillow that holds up well to regular washing, or a cover that makes maintenance easier, stop by and our team will help you find the right option.
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