How to Store a Body Pillow: Step-by-Step Instructions, Tips, and Tricks

Body pillows are long pillows that are used to support different body parts. They are usually displayed on a bed, a sofa, or a chair to be used while sleeping, watching TV, or reading. If you are pregnant, you will most likely benefit from using a body pillow during the pregnancy and a few weeks after delivery. After that time, you may want the body pillow out of sight until needed again. 

To store a body pillow, follow these steps:

• Find an ideal storage space
• Use storage containers or bags to store your body pillow
• Maintain the body pillow regularly

Body pillows, just like any other type of pillows, require proper care to remain in good shape so that they last longer. They typically take up a lot of space because of their size; so packing them for storage may appear annoyingly difficult. However, there are ways that store body pillows safely to ensure they come out as fresh as can be with no rumples or tears. 

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Step 1: Find an Ideal Storage Space

Whether you pick a closet, the attic, the basement, underneath the bed, or a rented storage unit, make sure that the environment you choose is away from walls and off the ground. The walls and the floors are cold surfaces that increase the odds of condensation when in contact with an item. The difference in temperature between these surfaces and the item will result in moisture accumulation, which favors the growth of molds. 

The ideal storage space should be dry and with no temperature fluctuation away from the wall or floor so as to minimize condensation. Also make sure that the surface where you want to place the pillow is not rough and does not have any unfinished woodwork. Otherwise, it will damage the pillow and will cause tears. In that case, get shelf papers to cover the surface and hence protect your cushion. 

You might find this guide on body pillow sizes useful for finding a storage option.

Storage box for I-shaped pillows. Adapted from Hotchi.me.

Step 2: Use Storage Containers or Bags to Store Your Body Pillow 

It is smart to keep your body pillow contained inside storage containers like boxes or bags to minimize its exposure to dust and dirt. If you have space, large plastic containers are ideal for storage. However, make sure not to crush the pillow too much inside a small container. Otherwise, this will alter the shape of the pillow, which in turn will come out looking crumpled. 

You can also find zippered storage organizers or extra large cardboard boxes that fit foldable body pillows inside. You may also want to use the manufacturer’s bag, or simply purchase fabric bags such as cotton or canvas as another storage alternative. However, they are not watertight, which will put the pillow at risk of mold or spills. 

Place the bags or the storage containers on racks or plastic sheeting to allow air circulation, prevent dampness, and protect the pillow from any mildew damage. 

Another solution would be to hang the bag on a rigid rod just like a garment bag to store it off the floor and a few inches away from the walls. If you find your pillow slightly wet, put it in a dryer at low heat to keep it safe. The pillow will hence expand as it dries. 

Vacuum bags are in fact the best way to store a body pillow. They are great space savers and they protect their content from dust and moisture. Get extra large and double sealed vacuum bags like this. Insert the pillow inside the bag and zip it properly. Make sure not to overfill the bag, so keep a gap between the pillow and the sealing. 

If the pillow is full of air and fluff, attach the vacuum hose into the valve of the bag and start sucking out the air. The pillow should become smaller and easier to store when space is limited. 

Body pillow volume (top image) gets reduced after extracting the air out with a vacuum cleaner (bottom image). Adapted from Zip.vacuum-bags.org.

Step 3: Maintain the Body Pillow Regularly

It is essential to keep an eye on your body pillow every now and then while in storage to ensure it stays suitable for future use. 

Periodically, pull your pillow out of its container/bag and shake it to eliminate any built-up dust that may have made its way inside the pillow. 

If the pillow feels lumpy, toss and fluff the pillow to even the distribution of the lumps. Send the body pillow to a laundromat every six months to wash it and keep it clean. Make sure you frequently wash the pillowcase as well. 

Related Article:

• Read our guide about how to clean a body pillow
• If you’re buying a new body pillow, here are our favorite body pillows.

How to Store a Body Pillow in a Closet

Body pillows differ in terms of shape and size. The most common or requested body pillow is the I-shaped body pillow, which is straight and long and with dimensions of 20 (width) x 54 (length) inches. 

The best way to store the pillow is to keep it flat or to hang it, and to put it inside a storage bag such as a vacuum bag. Storage bags are meant to reduce the size of the pillow and therefore provide additional room for other items to put inside your closet. 

If the size of the pillow corresponds to the width of your closet, then it is smart to lay it flat on the bottom surface of the closet. However, the surface is close to the floor which is more prone to dust, dirt, and dampness. So, in order not to take up a lot of space and to protect the pillows from mildew damage, it will be better to hang the bag on a rigid rod just like a garment bag.  

Do Vacuum Storage Bags Ruin Body Pillows?

As mentioned earlier, vacuum storage bags are beneficial to store away unnecessary items when you are short of space. They are good for body pillows only if well vacuumed, not overly filled, and stored at stable temperatures.

However, they can damage their content depending on other factors such as the material, the storage duration, and the care directives.

Body pillows come in different fabrics. Polyester and cotton filled pillows are safely compressed in vacuum storage bags. But other materials such as foam, latex, feather, and down need air to retain their shape. So pulling the air out from these pillows will alter their natural contour; and once removed from the bag, it will be difficult to fluff them up again. In fact, feather and down pillows should not be compressed more than half of their initial volume. Otherwise, they will not only lose their fluffiness but also lose their insulating ability.

Long-term storage (about 6 months to a year) will cause your packed pillow to crease and wrinkle. So if you want to store your item for long, pull it out of the bag every once in a while and expose it to the air to preserve its shape and quality. Plump it or put it in a cool dryer to restore its volume. The longer you leave your item compressed inside the bag without regular care, the longer it will take to get back to normal.