6 Do’s and Don’ts for Washing Throw Pillows Safely at Home

This is especially the case where the throw pillows are cheap and can be easily replaced to change the look of a home, they usually gather dust, dirt, and even allergens. Knowing how best to wash through pillows is important to ensure that the pillows are long-lasting and look as new as possible. This guide covers some important basics of washing that you need to follow while washing some throw pillows with particular characteristics such as removable covers, delicate material, or styles with no zipper. Further down, you will find six items of do’s and don’ts, and some ideas for different textiles and objects such as pillowcases, curtains, tablecloths, runners, and so on.

Do’s of Washing Throw Pillows at Home

1. Do Check the Care Label First

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• Why it Matters: Every pillow is a different one, and the washing instructions are as different as the pillows themselves. All the cushions and throw pillows are not the same, while some can be washed in a washing machine, others can only be washed by hand or cleaned using spot clean technology.
• What to Look For: Always read more about washing temperature, the kind of soap or detergent, and the instructions on drying the garment. It is important not to use water-based cleaning methods if the label says ‘dry clean only’.

2. Should I Wash Machine-Washable Pillows through a Gentle Cycle?

• How to Do It: Most of the throw pillows have long-lasting fabrics and filling either polyester or cotton materials that should be washed in a washing machine. Wash your clothing by washing it on a light cycle, and cold water, and use a regular laundry detergent.
• Machine Washing Polyester Fiber Pillows: Petroleum fiber stuffed pillows are typically okay to be washed using the machine. Wash them with similar clothes in the washer so that they do not cause the washer to be off balance.

3. Are Air-Dried Foods to Maintain Shape & Texture

• Drying Tips: So, most throw pillows should be air-dry because if they are dried using a dryer, they may lose their shape or shrink. Place the lay pillows flat on a towel and can always be fluffed to give them their shape.
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• Alternative Drying for Removable Covers: For pillows that require their covers to be washed but can’t be washed in the machine, the covers should be washed separately. If the fabric permits they can be hung to dry or tumbled on low heat so as not to shrink.

4. Can you spot clean delicate fabrics without covers?

• Why Spot Cleaning is Best: Zippers and loose covers are not typical for decorative pillows; in case it has silk, velvet, or linen fabric it is better to spot clean it. The problem with wetting the entire pillow is that damage can be made to these fabrics.
• Spot Cleaning Tips: Use a little amount of a light liquid soap or a cleaning agent for use on upholstery then wipe the stained region with a moist cloth. After this, wipe gently with another clean dry cloth to remove as many stains of the material as possible.
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5. Should I wash pillow covers separately curtains and other linens?

• Why it Matters: Other linens such as pillowcases, curtains, runners, and tea towels, might be thinner and sensitive to the settings of the washing machine. Machine wash these items separately to avoid snags or color transfer in the fabric of the items.
• Pro Tip: Pillows should be put in mesh laundry bags while napkins and placemats should also be protected in the same manner when washing them in the machine.

6. They didn’t seek to find out if Refresh Throw Pillows need to be refreshed between washes.

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• How to Do It: Spray with a fabric refresher spray or sprinkle baking soda on a throw pillow in between washes. Just pour baking soda, allow it to work for half an hour, and then you can now vacuum it to make your carpet look new again.
• Keep High-Traffic Pillows Cleaner: Again in the living room while arranging the throw pillows on more used couches and sofas, it is wise to put a clean and washable layer on top to foster easier cleaning.

Don’ts for Washing Throw Pillows at Home

1. Fragrance Using Hair Care Products That do not Have Harsh Chemicals and/or bleach

• Why to Avoid Them: Alkaline solutions, chlorine, and softeners will eventually degrade the fabric and reduce its color. Choose gentle soaps that are specially formulated for delicate or those fabrics that have natural fibers.
• For Stains: Even when you are handling a very bad stain, then using water and white vinegar to spot clean is recommended without hurting the pillow at all.

2. Lastly, avoid overloading the local online ads for throw pillows when cleaning.

• Avoiding Damage: Excessive moisture can reach deeper into the filling and is difficult to dry before mold starts to grow, and an unpleasant smell appears.
• Spot Cleaning Tip: For pillows that are not completely washable, when washing only specific spots, use only a little water. These will normally be enough to eradicate the majority of stains, with a helping hand from a damp and dry cloth respectively.

3. Be Cautious Regarding Those Light Housekeeping Washing Techniques – The Machine Washing of Foam or Memory Foam Pillows

• Why to Avoid Machine-Washing Foam: How to wash Memory foam and latex pillows: Memory foam and latex pillows are affected by water and misbehave in the machine. Instead, cleaning of vacuum foam pillows should be done by vacuum methods while any stains on pillows should be cleaned by a mild detergent on a cloth.
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• Air Out for Freshness: To freshen foam pillows outside, take them out and leave them in a shaded area for several hours.

4. Do not use hot water or high heat in the dryer.

• Drying Tip for Removable Covers: As much as this may not be completely true, the pillow cover if it is of a material that can be machine-dried should only be dried under low heat. As for the finer materials, avoid using any heating mechanism in drying by laying the clothes on the line instead.

• Why it Matters: When the temperatures are high, throw pillows are likely to shrink, warp, or dry out depending on their material such as cotton, linen, or a blend of the two or synthetic material.

5. What Not to Forget: Testing for Colorfastness

• Testing Tips: First, also use a wet cloth and rub some part of the fabric that is concealed to know if it tends to bleed. This is especially important when washing dark or deep-colored pillowcases, runner mats, or napkins.
• Avoiding Color Transfer: Wash each colored item separately the first time to find out whether it will retain color or not. Avoid using hot water or any hot appliance to prevent the color from fading.

6. Don’t Ignore the Drying Time

• Why It’s Important: Failure to dry the pillows properly means the interior is still wet and leads to mold and smell. Throw pillows must be dried to the optimum before they can be used or put away for a specific period.
• Drying Tip: For a softer pillow, there is a need to air dry for 12-48 hours or tumble dry with a couple of dryer balls. That helps to have equal and tender filling all around the layer.

Further Directions on How to Maintain Other Linens to be also Fresh and Clean

Cleaning the cover of throw pillows is usually done along with other products in the house. Items like curtains, table runners, placemats, and tea towels can be cleaned using similar methods:

• Curtains: Every garment must be washed according to its fabric type and it is preferable to air-dry to avoid shrinkages.
• Table Runners and Placemats: Cold water and a gentle cycle or hand-wash should be used for clothes that are made up of synthetic material. It is always advisable to check whether the clothes are colorfast, most of them being treated with organic colors.
• Napkins and Tea Towels: These are mostly created to be washed in the washing machine. In case of heavily soiled materials, use a hot cycle but prefer kitchen linens where sterilization is required.

Conclusion

As you will learn, there is no need to dread washing throw pillows and linens. By adhering strictly to the following Do’s and Do n’ts, you will be able to keep your pillows and other home textiles clean and ready to enhance your home interior for several years. With the right care, even the most fragile items and the things that are sustainably dyed will remain attractive and comfortable to wear.

FAQ’s

1. How to wash throw pillows?

Before washing throw pillows, always refer to the label on the pillows for more directions on how to do it. In pillows that are made to be safely washed in a washing machine, use a cycle that is probably cold water and a small amount of natural detergent. For pillows that do not have a cover, the best procedure is to wipe the surface with water and mild soap. Remove pillows from the washing machine and air-dry them so that they don’t shrink/You can also toss them in the dryer along with dryer balls on a low heat cycle. One should not use bleach or hot water to wash the fabrics and colors and the residues left on clothes could be a factor in the loss of color. When it comes to cleaning your foam or memory foam pillows, avoid the washing machine and use the vacuum cleaner that comes with the pillow instead to remove the bad odor that usually comes with them just air them out.

2. How to wash throw pillow covers?

When caring for specific throw pillow covers, one needs to read the label that is attached to the product. Hand wash in cold water and with mild soap and detergent if you do not want it to shrink. Lace worktops, linen, or other thin materials should be washed in a mesh laundry bag. These clothes should be air-dried, or dried inside a dryer at a low temperature to avoid shrinkage. Do not use bleach, as it can fade your cuffs; always pre-treat each garment for color discharge to ensure it doesn’t run on your cuffs.

3. How to wash throw pillows in the washing machine?

To wash throw pillows in a washing machine, set the water temperature to cold, and use mild soapy water to gently wash the pillows. If you have placed a few large items then you should balance them with other large items for placement of pillows. For this, more protection is recommended, place towels over the area. To avoid flattening the pillows, either hang them to dry or dry them using a tumble dryer and dryer balls. Don’t use hot water or a high heat setting since it will shrink the pillow or even cause discoloration.

4. How to wash throw pillows without removable covers?

If the case of the throw pillows cannot be removed, then the following procedure should be used effectively to wash the pillows: In case you need a total washing, just toss the pillow into the washing machine and use cold water, or if the sign permits, use a gentle cycle. A gentle soap should be used and bleach should not be used. Hand wash only, do not machine wash, wring out only 10% of moisture content, and air-dry or tumble dry with dryer balls on low heat to keep shape without molding.