Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Blot the surface, keep water to a minimum, and let it dry fully. If the spill soaked deep, was milk or anything from a body, or still smells once dry, stop using the insert and ask the maker. Do not soak it, machine wash it or reach for strong cleaners.
- Surface spill: blot, dry, check.
- Deep or messy spill: pause and ask.
- Send: spill type, depth, label photo.
2:20 a.m., a full glass on its side
Spot clean only means the maker has not approved soaking or machine washing the insert. It does not promise that surface cleaning can fix every spill.
2:20 a.m.
I was 33 weeks and reached for water in the dark. The glass went over, straight onto the pillow. By the time I found the light, the cover was soaked and there was a cold, dark patch on the insert underneath, the size of my hand.
The tag said spot clean only. I remember thinking, so what do I do with a pillow that is wet inside? I did not want to ruin it, and I did not want to sleep on something damp for weeks either.
The first ten minutes decide most of what happens next. Blot, do not scrub, and do not flood it with more water.
What should you do in the first ten minutes?
Get the cover off, lift away anything solid, and blot from the outside in. Use a barely damp, soapy cloth only on the surface, then blot again with plain water.
- Take the cover off and wash it separately, as its own label says.
- Lift off anything solid with a spoon, working toward the centre so it does not spread.
- Blot with dry towels, pressing down. Do not rub; rubbing pushes liquid deeper.
- Clean only the surface with a cloth that is damp, not wet, with a little mild soap. One maker's spot-clean-only insert says exactly this: a soapy cloth, and no machine washing.
- Blot with a cloth damp with plain water to lift the soap, then with dry towels.
- Stand it on its edge to air in a ventilated room, away from direct heat.
Skip bleach, solvents and stain sprays unless the maker says they are fine for that insert. Strong cleaners can damage filling and fabric, and they make the maker's job harder if you need to ask later.
How do you tell how deep the spill went?
Press a dry paper towel firmly into the middle of the patch. If it comes up wet after the surface feels dry, the liquid is inside the filling, and spot cleaning cannot reach it.
- Surface: only the fabric is damp, the towel comes up dry after a few hours.
- Into the top layer: the patch feels cool and heavy when pressed.
- Through the filling: wet on the underside too, or the towel is still damp the next day.
Spot cleaning works on the surface. A spill that went through the filling is a question for the maker, not a stronger scrub.
When is spot cleaning not enough?
Stop using the insert and contact the maker if any of these is true. These are the cases where surface cleaning may leave a problem inside.
- The spill went through the filling, by the towel test above.
- It was milk, juice, food or anything from a body, which can sour or stain deep down.
- It is still damp inside after a couple of days of airing.
- It smells sour or musty once dry. Damp left inside a cushion is what leads to mould and musty smells.
- A stain spreads or changes colour as it dries.
Use regular pillows while you wait. It is a few nights of inconvenience, not a reason to sleep on a damp insert.
What should you send the maker?
Tell them what spilled, how much, how deep it went, what you have done, and what the label says. With those five facts, they can give you a real answer.
A message you can copy: "Order [number]. On [date] about [amount] of [water / milk / juice / other] spilled on the insert, which is labelled spot clean only (photo attached). It soaked [only the surface / into the filling / through to the underside]. I blotted it and cleaned the surface with a damp, soapy cloth, no other products. After [x] days it is [dry / still damp] and [has no smell / smells sour]. Photos attached. Can it be cleaned further, and if not, what are my options?"
Freya's was plain water, and only the top layer, by the towel test. She blotted it, aired it on its edge by the window for two days, and pressed a paper towel into it each morning until it came up dry. She sent the maker a note anyway, with the label photo, and kept the answer in her email for next time.
Frequently asked questions
What does spot clean only mean on a pillow?
The maker has approved cleaning the surface by hand, not soaking or machine washing the insert. It does not mean every spill can be fixed that way.
Can I put a spot clean only pillow in the washing machine?
Not if you want to stay within the maker's instructions. Ask them first. Washing against the label can damage the filling and affect any return or warranty.
How do I dry a wet pillow insert?
Blot out as much as you can, then stand it on its edge in a ventilated room away from direct heat. Press a dry paper towel into the middle each day until it comes up dry.
What if the spill was milk or something from a body?
Clean the surface, let it air, and contact the maker before using it again. These spills can sour or stain deep inside, where surface cleaning does not reach.
Can I use a stain remover on the insert?
Only if the maker says it suits that insert. Otherwise stick to a damp cloth with a little mild soap.
If you are replacing a pillow after a spill
Relvay sells the 3-Piece, a set of two wedges and a strap. Its cover is listed as removable and washable, so the layer that catches most spills can go in the wash. It will not make the wedges spill-proof, so check the care label on your set for the inserts and keep this guide for the next 2 a.m. glass.
Two wedges for bump and back, joined by a flat strap, about as wide as your torso. Keep a regular pillow between your knees. $79.99, 90-day returns.
Freya's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
