Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Only if the pillow's own label allows machine washing and it goes in loosely, with room to tumble. Drum size is the last check, never the first.
- Label first: a spot-clean-only core stays out of any machine.
- Room to move: if you have to force it in, it will not wash evenly.
- Drying: you need a way to dry the whole core, not just the outside.
How do you check if a pregnancy pillow fits your washing machine?
Read the pillow's care label, then your washer's manual, then measure. Only after all three say yes does the pillow go in. Do it in this order, because a yes on size means nothing if the label says no.
- Read the pillow label, cover and core separately. Many covers are machine washable while the core inside is spot clean only. Write down what each part allows: machine, hand wash, spot clean, temperature, dryer or no dryer.
- Read your washer's manual for big items. Look for a bulky, bedding or comforter program and any note on how full the drum may be for that program. That limit is about the program, not the drum.
- Measure the pillow and the door. Length, width and thickness of the pillow, plus the opening of your washer door. A long U or C pillow often has to fold to get through.
- Do a dry fit test. Put the pillow in dry. If it slides in and you can still see space above it, good. If you have to push, fold it hard or lean on the door, stop there.
- Plan the drying before the washing. Know where the whole pillow will dry and how long it may take. A big wet core that cannot dry through is a bigger problem than a dirty one.
What happens if you force a pillow into the washer?
It washes unevenly, can throw the drum off balance, and the middle may stay wet long after the outside feels dry. A tight fit is a no, even when the door closes.
Sunday, 4:10 p.m.
I was 30 weeks and I had spilled a whole mug of tea across my U pillow. The cover came off fine. Then I looked at the stain that had gone through to the pillow itself and thought, it's a washing machine, how hard can it be.
Our washer is an old top loader with the post in the middle. I folded the U in half, then in thirds, and pushed. It went in. During the spin the machine banged so hard my husband came running. When it stopped, the pillow was wrapped around the post, heavy as a wet dog, lumpy at one end and flat at the other.
It hung over two chairs for two days. On the third night I could still feel the damp deep inside it, and I slept with a towel over it. I had not read the label once. When I finally did, it said spot clean only for the inside.
The machine was never the question. The label was.
Your pillow and machine matching sheet: four results
Fill in what you found in the five checks. Each pillow lands on one of four results, and each result has one next step.
| Result | What you found | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wash at home | Label allows machine washing for the core. It goes in loosely. Your washer has a bulky or bedding program. You can dry it all the way through. | Wash on the program and temperature the label gives. Add a couple of towels if your manual suggests balancing a bulky load. |
| 2. Bigger machine | Label allows machine washing, but your drum is too tight or the door too small. | Use a large-capacity washer, for example at a laundromat, on the label's settings. Same label, bigger drum. |
| 3. Cover only | Cover is machine washable, core is spot clean or hand wash only. | Wash the cover. Clean the core by hand the way its label says. See our guide to a spill on a spot-clean-only insert. |
| 4. Stop | No label, a label you cannot read, or no way to dry the core. | Do not machine wash. Contact the maker with the model name and ask what the core can take. |
Most pillows land on result 3. That is normal, and it is why a removable cover matters so much in the first place.
Does a bigger washer mean you can wash any pregnancy pillow?
No. A bigger drum only solves the space problem. If the label says the core is spot clean only, a commercial washer does not change that.
Labels also differ inside one brand. Boppy, for example, says its pregnancy wedge has a spot-clean-only foam core, while its full-body pillow care points to commercial-size washer and dryer equipment. Same brand, two very different answers. Read the label on the pillow in front of you, not the one you remember from another model.
Bedding makers say the same thing about size. Downlite suggests taking large pillows that do not fit standard machines to a cleaner with bigger equipment, and Puffy's guide says to make sure your machine can hold the pillow before washing it whole.
Top loader or front loader: does it matter?
It can. Check your manual. A top loader with a center post can catch and twist a long pillow, while a front loader or a top loader without a post usually gives a bulky load more room to roll.
Whichever you have, the dry fit test is the same: in loosely, space to spare, door closing without pressure. If the manual has a program for comforters or bedding, that is the one written for loads like this.
How do you make sure the inside dries?
Use the drying method on the label, and give it more time than you think. Puffy's guide suggests air drying or a low dryer setting with dryer balls. Downlite stresses drying pillows thoroughly so mold and mildew do not get a start.
- Squeeze the thickest part. If it feels cool or heavy, it is still wet inside.
- Turn and fluff it every few hours if you air dry.
- Do not put a cover back on a damp core.
- Have a backup for the night: a regular pillow under the bump and one between the knees.
For the full cleaning routine, cover and core, see how to wash a pregnancy pillow.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a whole pregnancy pillow in the washing machine?
Only if the care label says the core is machine washable and the pillow fits loosely with room to move. Many pregnancy pillows have a washable cover and a spot-clean-only core.
What size washer do I need for a pregnancy pillow?
There is no single size. Measure the pillow, do a dry fit test and check your manual for a bulky or bedding program. If the label allows washing but it does not fit loosely, use a large-capacity washer.
Is it OK to fold a U pillow to fit the drum?
A gentle fold so it sits loosely is one thing. Folding hard and pushing it in means it is too big for that machine and will not wash or rinse evenly.
How long does a washed pregnancy pillow take to dry?
It depends on the filling, the size and the method on the label. Plan for longer than a normal pillow, and check the thickest part for cool or heavy spots before you put the cover back on.
Where the Relvay 3-Piece pillow fits in
If washing day keeps turning into a fight with one huge pillow, smaller pieces are simply easier to handle. Relvay makes a 3-Piece set. Its cover is removable and washable. For the wedges inside, follow the care label that comes with your set, the same rule as any pillow on this page.
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.
Gina's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
