How to Dry Down Pillows

Dry down pillows thoroughly to ensure they stay comfortable.

Because your down pillows are a significant investment in nighttime comfort, take care of them properly to ensure they last and stay lofty and comfortable. When it is time to wash down pillows, some people prefer to save money by washing and drying them at home in a standard washing machine and dryer. Because of the heaviness of down when it is wet, the drying process for down pillows is time consuming.

Things You'll Need

• Needle and thread (optional)
• Bath towels
• Clean tennis balls

Instructions

1. Remove the down pillows from the washing machine when the wash cycle ends. Inspect the pillows carefully along each seam to ensure there are no rips or holes that may have developed during the wash cycle. If you find rips or holes, you must mend them with a needle and thread before you dry the pillows in the dryer.

2. Shake the pillows vigorously to redistribute the down inside the pillows and then put them in the dryer.

3. Add one or two bath towels to the dryer and two clean tennis balls. The towels help absorb moisture and the tennis balls help keep the down distributed evenly in the pillows.

4. Set the dryer to medium heat and turn it on.

5. Stop the dryer after 30 to 45 minutes. Remove the pillows and shake them vigorously again to ensure the down stays distributed evenly throughout the pillows. Place the pillows back into the dryer and turn it on again.

6. Allow the dryer to run for another 30 to 45 minutes and then remove the pillows to shake them again. Repeat the drying and shaking process until the pillows are completely dry. The drying time may take more than two hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternatively, dry down pillows outside on a clothesline. Select a breezy and sunny day and hang them on the clothesline with clothespins. Remove the down pillows every two hours and shake them to redistribute the feathers. Drying down pillows on a clothesline may take an entire day.

• Always ensure down pillows dry completely and thoroughly before using them again. If down pillows do not dry completely, they may develop mold and mildew inside in the down fibers and this can create an exceedingly unhealthy pillow on which to sleep.

References

• Penn State: Care of Pillows