Washing a pillow: what can go in the washing machine?
Whether you can wash a pillow depends on its filling and cover. The manufacturer's instructions are what count. With the Pillowise pillow, the cover is machine washable at 40 °C.
Can I put any pillow in the washing machine?
No. Pillows differ in filling, construction and cover. What works for one model can damage another. So rely on your pillow's care label, not on a generic guide. We won't give you a one-size-fits-all guide here, because it wouldn't be honest.
What applies to the Pillowise pillow?
- Cover: moisture-regulating top layer made of Tencel, bottom layer made of polyester. Machine washable at 40 °C.
- Core: 100% memory foam, made in the Netherlands.
- Materials: certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX.
We have a clear answer for the cover, but not for the foam core. We give no information here on cleaning the core. Ask your retailer or email info@pillowise.com. You can find out more about the material on our memory foam pillow page.
Does washing also make a pillow fit better?
No. Clean is not the same as the right fit. The right height depends on your body measurements, your sleeping position and your mattress. Then your head and cervical spine are in line, and your shoulder has room. If your pillow feels wrong, it may be down to the height and not the cleanliness. You can read how to tell in our article Pillow too high or too low.
A pillow is not a cure. If you have ongoing neck or shoulder complaints, please have them checked by a doctor.
How does Pillowise find the right size?
From three measurements. Thijs van der Hilst developed the method in his physiotherapy practice because he couldn't recommend a suitable pillow to patients with neck complaints.
| Measurement | How to measure |
|---|---|
| Shoulder width | around the curve of your back, without pulling the tape measure tight |
| Neck circumference | all the way around your neck |
| Neck length | from the bottom of your ear to the tip of your shoulder |
Your sleeping position (back, side, stomach) and your mattress (soft, medium, firm) count too. An algorithm uses these to choose the best-fitting pillow. There are six sizes, each with its own colour: pink, orange, green, blue, red and purple. For a general guide to estimating the right height, see Calculating pillow height.
So: do you need to change anything?
If your pillow is clean and you wake up comfortably in the morning, no. Read the care label, and with the Pillowise pillow, wash the cover at 40 °C. If your pillow has felt wrong for a long time, though, it's worth taking a look at the size.
Get measured at a Pillowise retailer, or work out your size yourself with PillowScan.
Work out your size yourself or find a retailer
Thijs van der Hilst, physiotherapist (non-practising)
Inventor of Pillowise
