Cleaning your down and down/feather mix bed pillows: 6 reasons not to wash them
99% of the "advise" on the internet about washing your substantially down and down/feather mix bed pillows is technically flawed
The internet is awash with well-meaning but technically inaccurate “advise” about machine washing your down and down/feather mix bed pillows, either at home or at a dry cleaning facility.
Here's an example courtesy of Good Housekeeping (July 27, 2023):
“Most down and fiberfill pillows are machine-friendly, which means you can just toss them in the washing machine for a refresh. Be sure to wash two pillows at a time to keep the washer balanced, ensuring an all-around clean. While any washing machine will do, front- or top-loading machines without an agitator (a.k.a. the large spindle in the middle of some machines) are your best bet. If an agitator-style top loader is your only option, place the pillows in the tub vertically to lessen the chance of them getting damaged by the agitator. It goes without saying that you should always read your pillow's care label and follow the directions accordingly. If you clipped off the tag or can't find the instructions, use this step-by-step as your guide:
1. Select the gentle cycle and use warm water. Then, add an extra cold water rinse.
2. Add a small amount of detergent.
3. Tumble the pillows dry on low heat, fluffing and turning them often.
4. Stop the dryer a few times throughout the cycle to fluff them and break up lumps by hand.”
Note the generalizations in all this “advise”...
- Follow the directions on the care label -- but, notwithstanding any instructions to the contrary, go ahead, ignore the instructions and wash them anyway.
- Any home washing machine — front- or top-loading — will do.
- Any natural fill pillow (down or down/feather mix) and any synthetic pillow (fiber fill or foam) can be washed using the exact same procedure and it makes no difference whether it's a $250 down bed pillow from Duxiana or a $10 ground-up foam bed pillow from My Pillow.
- Load your pillows in a washer. Wash. Remove.
- Tumble dry. Stop. Fluff. Break lumps.
- Repeat step 5 multiple times until you think that your pillow is dry.
This flawed “advise” is often reinforced by many manufacturers and retailers of down and down/feather mix bed pillows who include words such as “machine wash” on their websites and/or on the care labels attached to their pillows.
It's possible, that these manufacturers and retailers realize that the words "machine wash" -- even if not appropriate -- is more likely to appeal to buyers than "Professionally Clean By A Down Pillow Specialist."
Of course, there will always be those who'll claim that they've always washed their down and down/feather mix bed pillows and they come out "just fine”.
For those who believe that washing their pillows is “just fine”, we say: if that works for you, jump right in.
On the other hand, for those who might be interested in results that far exceed “just fine”, our aim is to provide you with the information necessary to make your own informed decision.
Let's start here...
Let's start with the reasons why you should not wash or wet clean your down and down/feather mix bed pillows in water – either at home or at a dry cleaning facility.
And it makes no difference whether you or your dry cleaner uses a front load home washer, a top load home washer or a large industrial/commercial washer.
And it makes no difference whether you add one or more of the following to your washing routine: baking soda, bleach, dishwashing liquid, hydrogen peroxide, laundry detergent, lavender oil, non-chlorine bleach, regular vinegar, sodium bicarbonate, stain removing liquids and/or white vinegar.
One large manufacturer of down pillows includes this comment in their "care" instructions:
"Laundering the product should adequately clean it and bring back its fluffiness; however, this is not a guarantee."
Note the words "adequately clean" and "not a guarantee."
In our opinion, you should not wash or wet clean your down or down/feather mix bed pillows if you're looking to accomplish one or all of these 4 objectives:
- you want to refurbish your favorite down or down/feather mix bed pillow (i.e., the pillow that you believe is integral to your sleep) to like-new condition,
- you want to restore the exterior pillow shell of your down and down/feather mix bed pillows to pristine whiteness or brightness
- you want to deep clean the interior fill of your down and down/feather mix bed pillows, and/or
- you want to protect your investment in your high quality/relatively expensive down and down/feather mix bed pillows..
In our opinion, there are 6 reasons not to wash or wet clean your down and down/feather mix pillows.
1. It's highly unlikely that washing will return the exterior/outer pillow shells (aka tickings or casings) of your down and down/feather mix bed pillows to pristine whiteness or brightness
The exterior shells (aka tickings or casings) of your down and down/feather mix pillows might be yellow, dingy and stained because of the accumulation of perspiration, saliva, blood, hair oil, creams and lotions.
And both the exterior shells and the interior fill might have developed an odor due to perspiration, saliva, blood, hair oil, creams, lotions, and an army of bacterial and viral pathogens (bacteria and viruses that can cause disease).
You might believe that you can restore the exterior pillow shells of your bed pillows to their original, pristine whiteness or brightness and remove all their odors by merely washing the entire pillow.
The problem is that the likelihood that you can restore your yellow, dingy, stained and odorous exterior pillow shells to their original pristine whiteness or brightness by washing the entire pillow is close to zero.
Why do we say that?
Because WHITE KNIGHT pillowCARE is the bed pillow cleaning and refurbishment division of RAVE FabriCARE, nationally recognized as one of the nation’s premier dry cleaners by non-compensated, independent, authoritative third parties.
One of RAVE FabriCARE’s specialities is restoring yellowed/dingy/stained garments that were originally white to as close to their original condition and brightness as possible. Using a wide array of water-based and solvent-based processes that we’ve refined over a 35+ year period.
If RAVE FabriCARE cannot safely, consistently and completely restore the “average” yellowed, dingy and stained pillow shell to it’s original, pristine whiteness or brightness – after the fill has been removed – how can you do so at home – with the fill still inside the pillow?
Bt the way, if you ultimately decide to wash your down and down/feather mix bed pillows at home, we'd recommend that you never use sodium hypochlorite (aka bleach) or sodium percarbonate (a key ingredient in products such as Oxyclean) to "whiten" the exterior shells.
Why do we say that?
Because there’s no surer way to destroy the long term resiliency of the down inside your down or down/feather bed pillows – the most valuable part of any down and down/feather mix bed pillow.
2. It's highly unlikely that washing can deep clean the interior down or down/feather mix fill in your down and down/feather mix bed pillows
Whenever a columnist, blogger or internet Helpful Heloise recommends that you should wash your down and down/feather mix bed pillows, they often include comments such as:
- “washing your down or feather pillows in hot water will kill the dust mites in the fill of your pillows”
- “washing your down and feather pillows in hot water will remove the dirt and dead skin cells in the fill and kill the bacteria in the fill.”
Come on! Really?
It’s one thing to consider washing your down and down/feather mix bed pillows if your objective is to “clean” the exterior pillow shell.
But it’s quite another thing to believe that washing the entire pillow will:
- kill the live bed bugs and dust mites embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- significantly denature (or deactivate) the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the dust mite feces – the primary triggers of asthma and allergies - embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- kill the bacterial and viral pathogens (bacteria and viruses that can cause disease) embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- remove any of the down dust (minute filaments that have broken off from the goose and duck down clusters and feathers), dead skin cells (commonly called dander), dead bed bugs, dead dust mites and dust mite feces embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- remove any other contaminants embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell.
Before you conclude that washing the entire pillow will accomplish any of your objectives, you might want to consider this:
2 (a) Home or commercial washers don’t reach USDA-specified temperatures
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations require that down and/or feathers imported into the USA by pillow manufacturers must be either partially washed or fully washed outside the USA.
And if the down and/or feather is only partially washed, the down and/or feathers must be fully washed in the USA before use.
Now here's the rub...
In order to qualify as fully washed, the down and/or feather must be washed at a minimum of 120 degrees Celsius (248 degrees Fahrenheit) for a minimum of 30 minutes.
That USDA requirement is worth repeating...
According to the USDA, clean down and/or feathers means that the down and/or feather must be washed at 248 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes – OUTSIDE OF THE PILLOW SHELL.
Here's another important point...
If you’re lucky, the hot water in your home or dry cleaning facility washer might reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let that sink in....
If you’re lucky, the hot water in your home or laundromat washer might reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
THAT’S LESS THAN HALF THE REQUIRED TEMPERATURE!
So much for all that internet-based “advise” that you can “completely clean” your down and down/feather mix bed pillows by washing them in a home washer or at a dry cleaning facility.
2 (b) Home or commercial washers don’t reach research-specified temperatures
Numerous scientific studies have concluded that a constant temperature 140 degrees Fahrenheit (or more) for a minimum of 20 minutes (or more) is required to kill dust mites by hot water.
But hot water heater manufacturers typically set the temperature on your hot water heater at a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
THAT'S 20 DEGREES LESS !
Why?
Because temperatures over 120 degrees can cause scalding and/or severe burns in a matter of seconds. For example, water that reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit can cause third degree burns in 5 seconds.
Furthermore:
- the hot water in the pipes feeding your washer may be far less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit -- even if you reset your hot water heater to 140 degrees (which you probably won't)
and
- it’s highly unlikely that your washer can maintain a constant temperature of 140 degrees for a minimum of 20 minutes or more inside your washer.
2 (c) Washing won’t denature (or deactivate) the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the dust mite
feces inside your down or down/feather mix fill
Washing will do little to denature (or deactivate) the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the dust mite feces – the primary triggers of asthma and allergies – left behind by the dust mites you just tried but couldn't kill by washing in “hot water”.
And that’s even if your water temperature reached 140 degrees Fahrenheit in the first place and you were able to hold that temperature constant for a full 20 minutes or more inside your pillow.
2 (d) Water may not adequately penetrate the exterior pillow shells
It’s difficult to keep a down or down/feather mix bed pillow submerged in water.
Down and down/feather mix bed pillows tend to “float” on the surface of water even when you try to hold them submerged in water.
Why “float?
Because the exterior pillow shells of most quality down and down/feather mix bed pillows are (or should be) relatively tightly woven (compared to pillows shells used for synthetic pillows), making it difficult for water to penetrate the exterior pillow shell in the first place.
2(e) Down clusters and feathers are designed by nature to repel water
Even if water fully penetrated the outer pillow shell, goose and duck down clusters and feathers are designed by nature to repel water.
The ability of down and feathers to repel water is how nature protects geese and ducks from water and cold.
Point 2 Summary
While washing might marginally improve the cleanliness of the exterior pillow shell, washing will do little, if anything, to:
- kill the live bed bugs and dust mites embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- significantly denature (or deactivate) the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the dust mite feces – the primary triggers of asthma and allergies - embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- kill the bacterial and viral pathogens (bacteria and viruses that can cause disease) embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- remove any of the down dust (minute filaments that have broken off from the goose and duck down clusters and feathers), dead skin cells (commonly called dander), dead bed bugs, dead dust mites and dust mite feces embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell
- remove any other contaminants embedded in the fill contained within that pillow shell.
These are the facts.
And those facts are based on science. Not on the advise from some internet Helpful Heloise.
3. Washing requires a large commercial washer
If you ever decide to wash your down and down/feather mix bed pillows, you should be using a large commercial washer.
But you probably don’t have one at home.
Washing your pillows in a front load washer or a top load washer at home is always a risky proposition because the fabric of the exterior pillow shells of your pillows – already weak from the acids and salts present in the perspiration that's accumulated on your pillow shell – might tear open during the wash and you’ll end up with nasty mess on your hands.
To illustrate this point, think of the weight of a soaking wet bath towel versus an absolutely dry bath towel.
When the bath towel is soaking wet, it's exponentially heavier than an absolutely dry bath towel.
Now think of your bed pillow -- soaked in water -- and already weak from the acids and salts present in perspiration -- tumbling in a washer.
That's like tumbling a sack of wood blocks in your washer.
What's the likelihood of that pillow surviving the washing process in tact?
Probably not very high.
And even if you dropped off your down or down/feather mix bed pillows at your local dry cleaner for washing in a large commercial washer, your dry cleaner may reject the work for two reasons:
- Your cleaner might recognize that the risk and time involved in washing and drying a down and down/feather mix pillow far outweighs the likely reward.
- Your cleaner might recognize that they might have a nasty mess on their hands and a consequent replacement liability should the pillow shell tear apart during the wash process.
But, then again, you might be in luck...
You might be able to find a dry cleaner so ill-informed that they might not recognize the possible pitfalls and time investment associated with washing and drying your down and down/feather mix bed pillows.
4. It's highly likely that surfactants in your laundry or dishwashing detergents will ruin the down in your down or down/feather mix bed pillows
The quality of the down in your down in your down bed pillows and the quality of the down in a down/feather mix bed pillow is largely determined by the fill power or loft" of the down -- the ability of the down in a down bed pillow or the down in a down/feather mix bed pillow to rise after it's been compressed and then released.
Fill power is, in turn, largely determined by the size of the down clusters in each pillow. There are tens of thousands of down clusters in a single, standard down pillow (Ironically, each single piece of down is called a "down cluster").
Each down cluster has thousands of filaments (think: long, thin fibers) radiating out in all directions from a center point (think: head of a pin).
Each of these filaments are coated with minute particles of oil.
The oil on the filaments gives the filaments their unique, interlocking structure or "body." And this "body" gives down, amongst other things, it’s wonderful ability to rise or "loft" after the bed pillow has been compressed and then released.
Now here’s the rub...
Most laundry or dish washing detergents contain surfactants. And one of the primary functions of surfactants is to dissolve or attempt to dissolve oils.
So let’s assume that you’ve decided to wash your down and down/feather mix bed pillows in an attempt to "restore brightness" to your exterior/outer pillow shells and "eliminate odors."
And, because you rightfully suspect that water alone won’t remove all the oil-based stains and/or odor from the pillow shell, let’s also assume that you decide to throw in some laundry or dish washing detergent in order to boost the stain and odor removal process.
What happens to the oil particles on the filaments of each down cluster?
The oil dissolves!
And what happens when the oil dissolves?
The down clusters loose their unique, interlocking structure or "body"– their ability to loft – and the down in your down or down/feather mix bed pillows looses it’s functional and monetary value.
Think “flat souffle”.
5. It's highly likely that washing will dissolve the "down and feather proofing" of your exterior/outer pillow shells
If you’ve ever had your pillow “cleaned and fluffed” by a dry cleaner, linen store or “pillow refurbishment” service, they probably used a cheap, striped/patterned/floral, white or colored, cardboard-like, 180 to 210 thread count exterior/outer pillow shell.
At WHITE KNIGHT pillowCARE, we call these pillow shells “granny pillow shells”.
The problem is that the fabric used to construct these granny pillow shells is NOT down proof and feather proof.
No, you’re wrong, you might say.
They’re definitely down and feather proof. Says so right on the label: “Down and Feather Proof” and “Finest In The World”!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the fabric is NOT down proof and feather proof.
Not at the time of manufacture. Not now.
We’ll explain...
The claim that these exterior/outer pillow shells are “down and feather proof” is based solely on the fact that these pillow shells have been heavily starched or sized to prevent any initial leakage of down and/or feathers.
This starching or sizing process results in a pillow shell that – WHEN NEW AND ONLY WHEN NEW – passes the International Down and Feather Laboratory's tests for down and feather proofness.
However, the pillow shells fail all IDFL tests for down and feather proofness AFTER THE PILLOW SHELL HAS BEEN WASHED.
Why?
Because the water-soluble starch or sizing dissolves as soon as the pillow is washed.
And what happens when the starch or sizing wholly or partially dissolves?
The down and/or feathers begin leaking through the exterior pillow shell.
The fact that these pillow shells fail the IDFL’s tests for down and feather proofness AFTER WASHING is proof positive that the fabric used to construct these exterior pillow shells was NOT down and feather proof BEFORE WASHING.
Truth is, you may not even have to wait for the exterior pillow shell to be washed in order to notice the leakage of down and/or feathers.
Within a few months after you start using your “newly-refurbished pillows”, the starch or sizing will begin to soften and “powder off”. And, as soon as that process begins, the down and/or feathers will begin to leak through the exterior pillow shell.
6. Drying requires a large commercial dryer
Once you’ve decided to risk washing your down and down/feather mix bed pillows, you’ll need to dry them in a large commercial dryer.
But you probably don’t have one at home.
If you use your home dyer, you’ll need to dry your down and down/feather mix bed pillows – one at a time – for 2 to 4 hours.
Not the typical 36 to 48 minutes you might regard as a “normal” cycle time.
This step is critical: if your down or down/feather fill is not 100% dry when you remove your pillow from the dryer, the down and down/feather fill may develop mold, mildew and/or musty odors.
The notion that you can “prevent the development of mold and mildew and musty odors” by squeezing the excess water out of your pillow before putting the pillow into your home dryer is another internet hack that's highly suspect.
It might help, but that will not cut down on the 2 to 4 hour required dry time.
Just to reinforce this point, one large manufacturer of down pillows includes this comment in their "care" instructions:
"Dry in a large capacity dryer at medium heat for a minimum of 6-8 hours, checking every 30 minutes to pull apart down clumps. When you think that the pillow is dry, put in back in the dryer one more cycle."
Summary
When it comes to washing your down pillow or down/feather mix pillow in water, the issue is not the water itself.
Getting down and feathers wet isn’t the issue. After all, geese and ducks have been romping in lakes, ponds and in the rain for ages.
The real issues are as follows:
- Will washing return the exterior pillow shells of your down and down/feather fill bed pillows to pristine whiteness or brightness?
- Will washing deep clean the interior down and down/feather mix fill of your down and down/feather mix bed pillows?
In other words, will washing (a) kill the live bed bugs, (b) kill the live dust mites, (c) significantly denature (or deactivate) the protein allergens in dust mite feces, (d) remove the small filaments that have broken off from the down clusters, (e) remove the dead skin cells, (f) remove the dead bed bugs, (g) remove the dead dust mites and dust mite feces, (h) kill the bacterial and viral pathogens, and (i) remove any other contaminants in the down or down/feather mix fill?
- Will your bed pillow break apart or tear in the wash?
- Will the surfactants in the laundry or dish washing detergent destroy the fill power or loft of the down in your down or down/feather mix bed pillows?
- Will washing dissolve the starch or sizing used to “down and feather proof” your granny pillow shells if those bed pillows have been “professionally cleaned” on a prior occasion?
- Will your bed pillows dry completely so as to prevent the development of mold, mildew and musty odors?
Again, there’ll always be those who say that they followed Good Housekeeping's advise, washed their down and down/feather mix bed pillows, and “they came out just fine”.
The only question is this:
What’s your definition of “just fine”?
“Fine” as in "like new"? Or “fine” as in "passable if you ignore the interior fill of your bed pillows"?
