How to wash a body pillow and its cover

To wash a body pillow, start with the care label. Unzip the cover and machine wash it at the stated temperature, usually cold, then spot clean the insert. The Sleep Foundation says solid memory foam should not be machine washed, while shredded memory foam often can be, following the maker's instructions¹. Dry everything fully.

Read the label first

The care label tells you more than any guide. The Sleep Foundation describes four common instructions¹:

• Dry clean only: take it to a dry cleaner and do not submerge it.
• Spot clean only: clean marks on the surface, not the whole pillow.
• Hand wash: it can be submerged, but the spin cycle may damage it.
• Machine washable: follow the stated cycle and temperature, usually gentle with mild detergent.

Body pillows often have two labels, one on the cover and one on the insert. They can say different things.

Washing the cover

The cover is the part that touches your skin, so it needs washing most often. Treat it like a pillowcase.

1. Unzip it fully and take the insert out. 2. Close the zip so it does not snag other items. 3. Turn it inside out to protect the outer surface. 4. Wash at the stated temperature with a mild detergent. Cold is common. 5. Skip bleach and fabric softener unless the label allows them. 6. Air dry or tumble dry low, and put it back on only when fully dry.

A spare cover means you can swap it the same day rather than waiting for one to dry.

Washing a shredded memory foam insert

Shredded memory foam inserts can often be hand washed, but check the label. The Sleep Foundation describes this method¹:

1. Fill a bath or large sink with room temperature water and a little mild detergent. 2. Submerge the insert and squeeze water in and out of it. 3. Drain, refill with lukewarm water, and keep squeezing until the water runs clear. 4. Squeeze out as much water as you can without wringing. 5. Air dry it fully, ideally in sunlight or in front of a fan.

A full-length insert holds a lot of water and can take a day or more to dry right through. Plan it for a dry, warm day.

Washing a polyester fibre insert

Polyester inserts are often machine washable. The Sleep Foundation suggests most pillows can be washed in warm water on a gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent, and that washing pillows in pairs balances the load¹. A single long body pillow can unbalance a machine, so add a couple of towels.

Tumble dry on low, with dryer balls or clean towels to break up clumps. The Sleep Foundation notes extra drying time may be needed for the fill even when the outside feels dry¹.

Solid memory foam: spot clean only

Solid foam pillows should not be machine washed or submerged, as the foam can crack or degrade¹. Instead:

• Blot spills straight away with a clean, damp cloth.
• Use a little mild detergent on the cloth for marks, then blot with clean water.
• For smells, sprinkle baking soda, leave it for a few hours, then vacuum it off¹.
• Air the pillow in a ventilated room until it is completely dry.

Heated and cooled pillows

Pillows with electrical or water-filled parts need extra care. Always follow the maker's instructions, and never put electrical parts in water.

For Cove pillows, the catalog care notes are: on The Cove Classic and The Cove Mini, the cover is machine washable cold and the fill airs out on its own. On The Cove Warm, unclip the power module, then machine wash the covers cold. On The Cove Cool, unclip the connector line, then machine wash the covers cold.

How often to wash

If you sweat at night, wash covers more often. The Sleep Foundation explains that many things can make people hot at night, from bedding to room temperature².

Drying properly

Damp fill can smell and grow mildew. Before putting the pillow back on the bed, squeeze the thickest part. If it feels cool or damp inside, it needs longer. Turn it over every few hours while air drying so both sides dry evenly.

When to replace instead

Washing cannot fix fill that has gone flat or lumpy. The Sleep Foundation usually suggests replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years, while well-made pillows can last up to 5 years with proper care¹. Signs it is time: the knee end no longer holds your leg level, it smells after washing, or it has permanent lumps.

Make wash day easy

A clean bedroom is part of good sleep hygiene, which the Sleep Foundation describes as both your bedroom environment and your daily routines³. A spare cover makes weekly washing painless. Spare Cove covers are sold separately for each size.

When choosing a new pillow, check the care label before you buy. Our body pillow buying guide compares fills by how easy they are to clean, and memory foam vs polyester body pillows goes into more detail. See what size body pillow you need if you are replacing yours.