Often, when pillows are washed and dried, they come out like lumpy mashed potatoes. Mis-shapen and unusable. When you buy a pillow for $3-$5, it is sometimes just as inexpensive to replace it rather than try to wash, dry, fluff, shape it, dry it, shape it…etc. However, the down pillows and the more expensive pillows lend themselves to be washed much better. Some have covers, just slip them off ( or unzip them ) and wash the covers that you lay on for a fresher pillow. When washing a down pillow be sure to leave yourself plenty of drying time so you don’t have a damp place to put your head.