Washing pillows

Longwalker

Double bag pillows here as well

A thick zipped one because I have feather pillows, then a nice thin water resistant one - hubby sweats like a pig - then the pillow case - the pillow case and the water resistant protector get changed weekly

So sweat stains to worry about and I just peg them out on a hot sunny day to let the sun work its magic 

I also use a top sheet as well to help keep the duvet stain free. 

Rtripp

I use two pillow protectors then a pillow case. The pillowcase I wash weekly, top pillowcase protector monthly and the bottom pillowcase protector 2-3 times a year and air the pillow outside at the same time. Pillow remains clean and dust free!

Mona_Lisa_2

I soak them in the bath with a bit of detergent and a small amount of bleach or disinfectant.  Then after about an hour or so, I tread them (cleans the feet, exercises the legs and cleans the pillows!).  Then I do the same with a rinse in warm water (only because its more comfortable on the feet!).  Tread the water out, hang to drain and dry in the sun.  Prise the fibres apart to fluff up.  Good idea about double bagging in 2 pillowcases (especially if its quilted.)- I use a pillow protector.  Can;t do this with solid foam or feather pillows though.  

JIL

Sweat stains can be removed by using a dishwasher tablet. In the machine. I also suggest a tumble dry with a tennis ball. 

polymaff

I hand-wash them in the bath just agitating without creasing the pillow.

Works for me.

nobler

I use two (thin) pillow protectors, going in opposite directions, inside the pillowcase, which cuts down on how often pillows need washing. I have been known to cut open pillows that have gone lumpy on the wash, straighten the wadding out and re-sew them, but finding some zip-up pillow protectors I can use instead has been great. The old pillow outers get recycled into cleaning rags.

K1977

I've never had any success in washing pillows, it ruins them, all the filling just lumps together and they become unusable, I just use quilted pillow protectors under the pillow cases and wash everytime I change the bed which I find keeps the pillows clean for quite a while then eventually when needs be I just replace them

Brie

feather ones wash quite well but need a good spin to get out the water and then a very thorough fluffing.  I do them in the washing machine but leave them in the pillow case just in case of feather explosions!

Our local laundry will wash duvets and feather pillows but not ones that say don't wash.  For either they say it's a one week turn around which means they can wash, do a high speed spin, tumble dry a bit and then hang to fully dry in the back room where all the heat from the machines is.  

As for charity shops not taking stuff.....I work at a food bank and we get a lot of offers of old duvets and pillows.  Many of them haven't even been cleaned and so just get taken to the tip.  Even the ones that have been cleaned are often stained a bit and our line is if it's too stained for you to use why would you think someone else be happy to use it?  Yes, some people may be so down on their luck that they'd be willing to use it.  But we, as a charity, would have to clean it (unless you can prove it's come directly from a dry cleaner/laundry with tags and receipt) and that costs more than buying a (granted) cheap new one.  So like your old towels you could try an animal charity - cat's protection, dogs trust etc whose clients aren't quite so discerning about bedding.  

Suffolk_lass

Latex pillows wash OK (and no dust mites), and dries happily on the laundry maid rails in the boiler cupboard over several days. Like others, they are in two (for me) or three (for DH, who perspires more) covers. Just yesterday in the rain, I sewed a zip into the inner cover with a foam batting layer inside that I had removed and washed. I did not need to wash the latex on this one.

artyboy

Years ago I treated myself to a JL winter snow goose down pillow, absolutely lovely but ended up getting a bit lumpy even with protectors. So last year I decided to try it on a delicates cycle (on its own) - 30 degrees, 600 spin. 

Came out looking like a drowned rat that had been mostly run over by a tank. Into the drier (alone again) - 90 minutes on low heat and it was a big puffy monster again, good as new.

So yes, it can definitely work...