Detergent and a good hand-wash will keep your pillows fluffy and fresh.

But eventually, your foam pillows will collect skin and hair cells, dust mites, and possibly stains.

For solid foam pillows, you must use gentle detergents and hand-washing to clean them.

Latex and memory foam pillows and bedding folded and stacked together

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

Here’s a foolproof method for washing foam pillows effectively and safely by hand.

Mix a Washing Solution

To deep clean, a foam pillow should behand-washed.

Use about 1 teaspoon of detergent per gallon of water.

Materials and tools to clean latex and memory foam bed pillows

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

Do not use a clothes dryer because thehigh heatcan damage the pillow and cause the foam to crumble.

To speed drying, use a portable fan to circulate air.

Check the foam for any residual moisture before returning it to its protective cover.

White plastic bin filled with water and high-efficiency gentle detergent

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

But double-check to keep the pillow out of direct sunlight.

Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the stain is transferred.

Allow the pillow to air dry completely.

Memory foam pillow added to tub of water and gentle detergent solution for cleaning

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

This will help absorb odors and remove any dust mites or pet hair that might be on the pillow.

Flip the pillow over and repeat.

Warning

Never use bleach on a foam pillow.

Memory foam squeezed together to remove excess water after rinsing

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

There is no repair possible with foam pillows.

It’s generally best not to compress foam pillows for storage.

Additional Tips for Washing Foam Pillows

Maybeprovided the manufacturer does not warn against it.

Memory foam bed pillow placed flat on drying rack to air dry

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

The reason that solid foam pillows can’t be machine-washed is that the mechanical action can break the foam.

This is not an issue if the foam is already shredded.

A shredded foam pillow often can be machine washed on a gentle cycle using mild detergent.

Green dishwashing liquid mixed with water in small bowl to spot clean pillow

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

The tennis ball will fluff up the pillow as it dries.

It may take several drying cycles to get the foam filling fully dry.

Best Mattress for Allergies.

Memory foam pillow spot cleaned with white cloth blotting solution

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

Rostami-Tapeh-Esmaeil, Ehsan, et al.Chemistry, Processing, Properties, and Applications of Rubber Foams.Polymers, vol.

10, 2021, p. 1565. doi:10.3390/polym13101565

How to Clean Your Pillow: Washing & Spot-Cleaning Guide.Mattress Clarity.

Drying the foam pillow

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

Memory foam bed pillow covered in baking soda and vacuumed for freshness

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor