The short answer: hold the pillow by its ends and squeeze it in and out like an accordion for about 30 seconds on each side, then knead out any lumps. For a deeper fluff, tumble it in the dryer on low heat (only if the label allows) with a couple of tennis balls in socks or dryer balls. Down, fiber and shredded foam pillows need regular fluffing; solid memory foam and latex don't. If a pillow stays flat after all of that, add fill (if it is adjustable) or replace it.
This guide covers why pillows go flat, which ones need fluffing, four methods with exact steps, how to fix a flat or lumpy shredded memory foam pillow, how often to do it, and the mistakes that make things worse.
Why pillows go flat
Every night your head presses the fill down in the same spot. Pillows also absorb moisture, which flattens the fill, and, as Sleep Foundation puts it, they "tend to collect skin cells, natural oils, and dust, weighing down the fill." Fibers clump, feathers lose their spring, and shredded foam packs together and drifts to the edges. Fluffing breaks the fill apart and puts air back into it. It can't fix fill that has broken down for good, which is when a pillow needs replacing.
A pillow that has gone flat lets your head drop toward the mattress.
Which pillows need fluffing?
| Pillow | Needs fluffing? | Best method |
|---|---|---|
| Down | Yes, often daily | By hand; dryer on the lowest heat or a no-heat air cycle if the label allows |
| Feather | Yes, often | By hand; shake to separate quills |
| Down alternative / polyester | Yes, often daily | By hand; dryer on low with dryer balls |
| Shredded memory foam | Yes, regularly | By hand daily; dryer on low every couple of weeks; separate the fill by hand |
| Shredded latex | Yes, regularly | By hand; follow the label for drying |
| Buckwheat hulls | No conventional fluffing | Shake and push the hulls back into shape |
| Solid memory foam | No | Can't be fluffed; air it out instead |
| Solid latex | No | Can't be fluffed; air it out instead |
Method 1: Fluff it by hand
This works for down, down alternative, feather and shredded fills, and takes a minute or two.
- Squeeze it like an accordion. Hold the pillow by the two short ends and push them in and out repeatedly for about 30 seconds.
- Turn and repeat. Rotate the pillow, hold the long sides and do the same for another 30 seconds.
- Knead out lumps. Press into any lumps with your fingers and work them apart, like kneading dough, until the fill feels even.
- Punch or shake. A few light punches or a good shake spreads the fill back through the pillow. For shredded fill, pulling opposite corners apart also helps loosen it.
Method 2: Fluff it in the dryer
The dryer gives the most thorough fluff, but check the care label first: some pillows can't take heat, and some can't go in the dryer at all.
- Remove the pillowcase.
- Add something to knock the fill around: two clean tennis balls, each in a sock, wool dryer balls, or a clean knotted towel.
- Use low heat. For down, use the lowest heat or a no-heat air cycle, as the label directs.
- Do one or two pillows at a time so they have room to tumble.
- How long: it depends on the pillow. Puffy suggests 10 to 15 minutes on low or no heat for its shredded foam pillow. Our care card says about 30 minutes on low for ours (20 to 30 minutes for a brand-new pillow).
- Take it out and shake it while it is still warm.
For our shredded memory foam pillows: about 30 minutes on low, every couple of weeks.
Only put a pillow in the dryer to fluff it when it is dry. Drying a washed pillow is a different job, covered in our guide to washing a shredded memory foam pillow.
Method 3: Air it out
Fresh air lets trapped moisture escape, which helps fill spring back and freshens it.
- Take the pillowcase off.
- Put the pillow somewhere with moving air: a drying rack by an open window, a patio or a clothesline.
- Pick a dry, low-humidity day. Humid air puts moisture back in.
- Leave it for a few hours.
Sun or shade? Guides disagree. Sleep Foundation's fluffing guide suggests several hours in warm, dry sunshine. For memory foam, our care card says to air the inner liner away from direct sunlight, and Sleep Foundation's memory foam cleaning guide also says to keep it away from direct heat and sunlight. If your pillow contains foam, choose a breezy, shaded spot.
Method 4: Separate the fill by hand (shredded pillows)
For a shredded memory foam pillow without access to a dryer, this is the deepest fluff. Our care card gives this method:
- Take off the outer cover and open the zipper on the inner liner.
- Empty the fill into a clean box or large bucket. Don't wet the foam.
- Pull apart any clumps with your hands until the pieces are loose.
- Put the fill back in the liner and zip it closed.
The care card that comes with every Sidney Sleep pillow, including the no-dryer method.
How to fix a flat or lumpy shredded memory foam pillow
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Flat in the middle by morning | The fill has pushed out to the sides. Push it back toward the center and fluff it. If it keeps happening, add a little fill. That is the answer in our FAQ, too. |
| Lumps you can feel | Tumble it on low for about 30 minutes, or empty it and separate the pieces by hand. |
| Lower than it used to be | The fill has settled over time. Top it up with fresh fill. |
| Fill bunched at one end | Shake it toward the other end and knead it level. Fluffing daily stops it happening again. |
| Still flat after all of this | Add more fill. If the liner or fill is worn out, see how often to replace a pillow. |
For more on how shredded fill behaves, see our shredded memory foam pillow guide.
How often to fluff a pillow
- Daily: a quick hand fluff when you make the bed, for down, down alternative, feather and shredded fills. Our care card recommends daily fluffing for shredded memory foam.
- Every couple of weeks: a dryer cycle on low, for pillows whose label allows it. That is what we recommend for the Bamboo Curve.
- After washing: once a washable pillow is completely dry, give it a full fluff.
- Whenever it feels flat: any time the fill has shifted.
Mistakes that make pillows worse
- High heat in the dryer. Sleep Foundation notes that some fills need a low heat setting to avoid damage. Stick to low or no heat, as the label directs.
- Overloading the dryer. Pillows need room to tumble; packed in with other laundry they barely move.
- Putting a pillow away damp. Moisture flattens fill and can lead to smells and mildew. Make sure it is completely dry.
- Putting memory foam in the washer to "refresh" it. Wet foam is very hard to dry. Air it out instead. A shredded foam pillow can also go in the dryer on low, if its label allows.
- Trying to fluff solid foam or latex. It won't change anything. If a solid pillow has a permanent dent, it is worn out.
Keeping a pillow fluffy for longer
- Use a pillowcase and a protector so less sweat and oil reach the fill.
- Keep it dry, and air it out now and then.
- Keep shredded fill loose. Regular fluffing keeps the gaps between the pieces open, which is also what helps shredded foam sleep cooler than solid foam. See do memory foam pillows sleep hot?
- Rotate it so you don't always press the same spot.
- Get the fill amount right. On an adjustable pillow, a little more fill holds its shape better overnight. Our guide to setting an adjustable pillow explains how much.
Caring for the Sidney Sleep Bamboo Curve
Our Bamboo Curve adjustable pillow is a shredded memory foam pillow, so it does best with a little regular attention:
- Fluff it daily when you make your bed.
- Tumble it in the dryer on low for about 30 minutes every couple of weeks, with the inner liner zipped closed.
- No dryer? Empty the fill into a clean box, separate it by hand and refill.
- Top it up with a bag of shredded memory foam pillow filling when it starts to feel lower. Every Curve comes with an extra bag of foam and a drawstring bag for spare fill.
FAQ
How do I make my pillow fluffy again?
Squeeze it in and out from both ends for about 30 seconds a side, then knead out lumps. If that isn't enough, tumble it in the dryer on low with tennis balls in socks or dryer balls, if the label allows.
Can you fluff a pillow in the dryer?
Yes, if the care label allows it. Use low heat (or no heat for down), add tennis balls in socks or dryer balls, and dry one or two pillows at a time.
How long should I put my pillow in the dryer to fluff it?
It depends on the pillow. Guidance for shredded foam ranges from 10 to 15 minutes (Puffy) to about 30 minutes on low (our care card). Check your own pillow's label.
Can you fluff a memory foam pillow?
A shredded memory foam pillow, yes: by hand, in the dryer on low, or by separating the fill. A solid memory foam pillow can't be fluffed.
Why is my pillow flat in the middle?
Your head pushes the fill out to the sides overnight. Push it back to the center and fluff it daily. On an adjustable pillow, adding a little fill usually stops it.
Do I need a new pillow if fluffing doesn't work?
Usually, unless it is adjustable and simply needs more fill. A pillow that stays flat, lumpy or dented after fluffing has worn out.
Is it OK to fluff a pillow in the sun?
Some guides suggest a few hours of warm, dry sunshine. For memory foam, air it in a breezy, shaded spot instead.
Sources
- Sleep Foundation. How to Fluff a Pillow. Updated February 3, 2023.
- Sleep Foundation. How to Clean a Memory Foam Pillow. Updated July 2024.
- Fluffing methods also drawn from the guides published by Zoma, Saatva, Amerisleep and Puffy.
- Sidney Sleep care card and FAQ.
