You wash your clothes after each wear and Derila Sleep Pillow even manage to wash your sheets every week. But your pillows? When’s the last time you gave those a thorough run through the wash cycle? Knowing how to wash pillows, and doing so regularly, is vital hygienically. Pillows regularly come into contact with sweat, skin, Derila Memory Foam Pillow oils, dust mites and other undesirables, and washing cuts down on potentially harmful bacteria and allergens that can build up and trigger allergies, asthma, breakouts and more. Plus, nothing beats putting your head down on a fresh, clean Derila Sleep Pillow. But even if you know how to do laundry, there are some special considerations when it comes to washing pillows, including the material, size, just how dirty they are and which drying method makes the most sense. Kim Romine, fabric-care scientist with Procter & Gamble. Here are their pillow-washing step-by-step instructions to simplify the process. Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more cleaning, Derila Sleep Pillow humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

Laundry Love and House Love. He gained national recognition for his sold-out "laundry camps" that teach his approach to cleaning and caring for garments. Kim Romine is a fabric-care scientist at Procter & Gamble with more than 20 years of experience developing fabric-care products, including Tide laundry detergent. Can you machine-wash pillows? Can you put pillows in the dryer? How often should you wash your pillows? How can you freshen and fluff pillows between washes? When should you replace pillows? Can you machine-wash pillows? In general, most types of pillows are machine-washable and can be washed on a cool, gentle setting with vinegar, laundry soap or a mild detergent. This goes for pillows filled with cotton, polyester and even down and feathers. The exception: foam-filled pillows. These cannot be machine-washed (see below for specific instructions). If your goal is to sanitize, you may choose to wash on the hottest temperature-studies have shown that water must be 140 degrees to kill dust mites.

That said, it’s always important to first check your pillow’s care label to see if there are any specific cleaning instructions recommended. Pay special attention to the laundry symbols on the label, including the suggested wash temperature. It’s best to use a front-loading washing machine, if you have access to one, says Romine. Some pillows can float in a top-loading washing machine, which can cause dry patches or areas that aren’t entirely clean. Her suggestion: If you have a top-loader, saturate your down pillows with water (which will weigh them down) before placing them inside the drum. You could also visit a laundromat to use a front-loading machine there. Can you put pillows in the dryer? Unless your pillow is made of foam, most pillows can be placed in the dryer on a low-heat setting. However, make sure to read the label on your pillow to check the specific instructions before adding pillows to your cleaning schedule.

Of all the varieties of pillows, down pillows should be washed most often, says Richardson. Because the filling is loose, a lot of dirt and pathogens can penetrate down comforters and pillows. He compares it to dropping your keys in a ball pit; like the keys, dirt can work its way all the way to the bottom of the pillow.