Learning how to disinfect a pillow you can't wash is actually a lot simpler than you think. All you need is a bottle of disinfectant spray or a little borax. If you choose to go down the borax route, we recommend sprinkling a couple of tablespoons over the surface of your pillow and leaving it in place for 1 hour. Once the borax has done its job and sanitized your pillow, all you need to do is vacuum up the residue.