I just change my feather pillow covers periodically. I have never washed mine. But when I do put the feathers into a new cover, I put the pillow in my dryer and fluff it thoroughly. I have noticed no bad smell, even though the pillow was really funky before I put the new cover on. I don't care for the pillow ticking that can be found nowadays at different fabric stores--I just use a good grade of whatever I can find in my stash--the closer woven it is the better. No foam or heavy sticky feather pillows for me. The older and softer, the better.