How to Clean a Buckwheat Pillow (Without Ruining It)

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t think twice about our pillows until something smells a little… off. And if you’ve ever owned a buckwheat pillow, you know it’s not like dealing with your usual fluffy polyester kind. Cleaning one feels a bit like handling a bag of tiny pebbles that are secretly alive. One wrong move, and suddenly your supportive dream pillow turns into a musty, lumpy mess.

I’ve been there. The first time I cleaned mine, I was so sure I could just toss the whole thing in the washer. I nearly dumped the hulls straight into the sink.

I was lucky to be able to avoid that calamity via a simple Google search. And now, I have mastered the process. It happens that cleaning a buckwheat pillow is not that difficult; there is only the need to show a bit of dexterity and considerable dry air to do the job.

Why Cleaning Your Buckwheat Pillow Matters

Your pillow is not only the pillow where your head sleeps—it lives your life with you. Every evening, it soaks up sweat, body oils, dead skin cells, and (and this is just to mention a case such as my own) maybe even a spot of chocolate left in the dark hours of a midnight snack. 

It is not pretty, but it is true. Over time, it all builds up—and buckwheat pillows, with their natural hulls, are especially prone to soaking up that lived-in feel. 

And while they’re champs at staying cool and providing firm neck support, those same breathable hulls don’t play well with moisture. Thus, in case you have been scratching your head in an attempt to figure out how to clean a buckwheat pillow so that you're implementing minimum hygiene, it would be necessary to retain it in a state of anything but a wet, pus-filled horror.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean Buckwheat Pillow Safely

First rule of buckwheat pillows: never, ever get the hulls wet. I mean it. If water gets involved, you're basically inviting mildew to move in rent-free.

Instead, think of this process as a two-part ritual—one for the hulls and one for the pillow cover.

• Empty the Pillow: Unzip the pillow cover and slowly pour the hulls into a large bowl or baking dish. It’s weirdly meditative. The hulls make this whispery crunch as they pour out, like a thousand tiny paper wings landing all at once.

• Air Out the Hulls: Pour them out on a dry towel or big tray in a single layer. Put them somewhere to dry out on an airy surface but in a warm, dry place out of the full sun. It may be a cozy corner in some sunroom or before an open window. You will be surprised that even some doses of air can make them fresher.

• Check for Duds: Take a moment to sift through. If any hulls are broken down, smell musty, or feel damp to the touch, toss them. No need to be precious. If you're low, you can always top things off later with a refill. No pillow deserves to live in squalor.

How to Wash a Buckwheat Pillow Cover (Machine or Hand Wash?)

Once the hulls are out, you’ve got the green light to properly wash the pillow cover. The majority of them are cotton or linen based, which are unadorned simple materials that could take it easy in a laundry cycle. However, as they say, nothing in life is free, so read the label first.

In case it is machine-washable, use low-temperature, cold-water washing and the least safe mode. Use a low detergent, maybe not too strong. Warm water could contract the cover, and intensive detergents can fray the cloth. You do not want to take it out to realize it is to be snugly fitted into your cat and not your bed.

Would you rather wash your hands? Totally fair. Put some cool water in a basin together with a little detergent. Leave the cover damp, soaking in water, and leave it for about 10-15 minutes, use a soft rubbing motion, rinse, and allow the cover to drip dry.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Clean, Keep It Comfy

I’ll be the first to admit—I'm not great at keeping cleaning schedules. I meant to clean my buckwheat pillow last month… and here we are. Even though I have the tendency to procrastinate a lot, a bit of attention once in a few months is really worth it.

Better sleep comes when your pillow has a fresh smell and is light. Not in a gimmicky manner, but in that non-annoying reclining kind of manner whereby your neck does not ache in the morning, and you are not tossing in the night not knowing what that damp smell is.

Now that you know how to clean a buckwheat pillow (without destroying it), you can actually treat it like the little wellness tool it is. Keep the hulls bone dry, the cover clean, and the air flowing.