Can You Wash Pillows at the Laundromat?

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Yes. A laundromat is a good place to wash pillows if the care tag says machine washable. Consumer Reports notes that agitators in conventional top-loaders can be tough on pillows and suggests a trip to the laundromat to use its front-loaders. Pick a front-loader, choose a gentle or delicate cycle in cool or warm water, use a small amount of mild detergent, and dry on the lowest heat until the center of each pillow is fully dry. Solid memory foam and latex pillows shouldn’t go in any washer.

Last updated: November 14, 2026.

Below: which pillows can go, choosing the machine, what to bring, wash settings, using the dryer, getting pillows home dry, and mistakes to avoid. Related guides: how to wash pillows, can you use Tide Pods in a laundromat and how hot does a laundromat dryer get.

Which pillows can go to the laundromat

Read the care tag before you pack the car. The Sleep Foundation groups pillow tags into dry clean only, spot clean only, hand wash and machine washable. Only the last group belongs in a laundromat washer.

Pillow fill	Laundromat washer?	Laundromat dryer?
Down or feather	Yes, if the tag allows	Lowest heat, several cycles
Polyester / down alternative	Yes, if the tag allows	Low heat
Shredded memory foam	Only if the maker allows it	As the tag says
Solid memory foam or latex	No	No
Buckwheat	Cover only, with the hulls removed	Cover only

The Sleep Foundation says virtually all memory foam and polyfoam pillows can’t be safely machine-washed or dried, and latex generally isn’t safe in either. Tempur-Pedic says never to wash its foam at all.

Choose a front-loader

You may have read that a top-loader with an agitator is gentler on pillows. Consumer Reports says the opposite: the agitator on a conventional top-loader can be tough on pillows, and the laundromat’s front-loaders are the better option.

Size: a large-capacity front-loader lets the pillows move freely so water and detergent reach the fill.
Number: wash two pillows together. The Sleep Foundation says washing in pairs balances the weight because pillows become heavy with water.
Not too many: don’t pack the drum so tightly that the pillows can’t tumble.

If the machine is marked HE (high-efficiency), use HE detergent. Maytag tells owners of its HE washers to use only HE detergent, because regular detergent or too much of it can cause excessive suds.

What to bring

Mild detergent, preferably HE. Bring a small measured amount rather than relying on vending-machine boxes. If you use pods, read our guide on using Tide Pods in a laundromat first.
Dryer balls or clean tennis balls. The Sleep Foundation says a clean, unused tennis ball works like a dryer ball to help fluff a pillow.
A clean bag to carry the pillows home, and enough time for several dryer cycles.

Wash settings

Strip the pillowcases and protectors. Wash them with your sheets.
Pretreat any visible stain. Consumer Reports suggests using a cleaner that targets that type of stain.
Select a gentle or delicate cycle if the machine offers one.
Choose cool or warm water. The Sleep Foundation says hot water can damage feathers and down. Consumer Reports suggests warm water for polyester.
Use a small amount of detergent. Consumer Reports suggests only about 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent for polyester pillows.
If the machine offers an extra rinse, use it to clear soap from the fill.

You don’t need fabric softener. Neither the Sleep Foundation nor Consumer Reports includes it in their pillow methods.

Using the laundromat dryer

Laundromat dryers vary, so choose the lowest heat setting the machine offers.

Down and feather: the Sleep Foundation says to use the lowest heat over multiple cycles and to fluff the pillows between cycles.
Polyester: low heat, per Consumer Reports.
Add dryer balls or clean tennis balls to keep the fill moving.

The Sleep Foundation warns that the inside can stay damp even when the cover feels dry. Squeeze the center of each pillow before you leave. If it feels cool or damp, buy another cycle.

Getting pillows home dry

A damp pillow sealed in a bag is how a musty smell starts. Down Etc says down products must be completely dry before storage, and that keeping down bedding dry prevents mold. Down Etc also suggests that if a down pillow develops an odor, placing it in the dryer on the lowest heat setting can absorb the moisture and remove the smell.

If the pillows aren’t quite dry when you have to leave, carry them home loosely in an open bag. Finish drying at home on low heat or in a dry, airy room.

Mistakes to avoid

Washing foam or latex pillows in a machine.
Using hot water on down or feather.
Washing a single pillow in a large drum, which can throw the load out of balance.
Overdosing detergent in an HE machine.
Stopping the dryer when the cover feels dry but the middle is still damp.

For cost comparisons with washing at home, see is it cheaper to go to a laundromat.

Frequently asked questions

How many pillows can I wash in one laundromat machine?

Wash them in pairs so the load stays balanced, and only as many as can tumble freely. Check the capacity shown on the machine.

Should I add fabric softener?

It isn’t needed. Leading pillow care guides use only a small amount of mild detergent.

Can I wash a memory foam pillow at the laundromat?

Not a solid foam one. Water and heat can damage the foam. Spot clean it and wash only its removable cover.

How do I know the pillows are dry?

Squeeze the thickest part. Any coolness or dampness means another low-heat cycle.