How do you wash pillows?

[slalomsuki]

Just that really. Whenever I do it in the machine they go all lumpy and are never the same again.

Any top tips or should I just buy new.

Lurking.

I am assuming it's very dependent on what the pillows are filled with. Can feather pillows actually be washed?

I don't anymore it just knackers them everytime. I have zipped on padded pillow protectors on our pillows and wash them instead. The kids just get new ones every few years, or if they get thrown up on.

Ours are synthetic filled due to asthma and allergy issues. The label says they can be washed but it's never really worked out for me.