Absorbent Pillows

Drop-in absorbency for sumps, drips, and the low points a flat pad can't hold

A pillow goes where a pad gives up. When liquid collects in a sump, a machine-base recess, or under a steady drip, a flat absorbent pad saturates and overflows in minutes — a pillow sits down in the low point and keeps drinking, holding the liquid in a thick, contained form you can lift out and replace. This collection covers our 18" x 18" pillows in both chemistries, built to absorb from the bottom of a pooling problem.

Two chemistries, sized the same:

  • Universal absorbent pillows — gray, 18" x 18", absorbing up to about 2 gallons of mixed liquid each. For coolant troughs, maintenance sumps, and unknown non-aggressive fluids.
  • Oil-only absorbent pillows — white and hydrophobic, lifting oil and fuel while leaving water behind. For bilges, outdoor low points, and oil-on-water pooling.

Where a pillow beats a pad

Reach for a pillow at sumps, secondary-containment basins, drip trays, parts-washer tanks, and under leaking valves and fittings — anywhere liquid collects in a confined low point. Pillows ship in 12-packs; pair them with pads for the surrounding floor and with socks and booms for the perimeter.

Order the free absorbent sample box to confirm the right chemistry for your fluids, or call 888-774-5528 for 12-pack and case pricing.

2 Products

Filter products
The highest price is $54.99
$
$
Clear all

Specifying absorbent pillows for your facility

Match the chemistry to the fluid

Universal pillows absorb almost anything and hold the most mixed liquid, which is why they carry the higher 2-gallon rating. Oil-only pillows are selective — they bind hydrocarbons and reject water, so their oil capacity is lower by design but they keep working on water. Choose universal indoors for mixed fluids, oil-only wherever water contact is part of the job.

Capacity and pack sizing

The 18" x 18" footprint is the workhorse size, sold 12 to a pack. Size your stock by counting the drip points and sumps a pillow will sit in, then add spares — a saturated pillow does nothing until it's swapped, so changeover supply matters as much as initial capacity.

Use inside secondary containment

Drop a pillow into a spill pallet sump or a drip tray and it absorbs captured liquid in place, turning a pooled release into a liftable solid. This pairing — passive containment plus an in-sump pillow — is one of the cleanest ways to keep a storage point inspection-ready.

When to choose pads or socks instead

Use pads for flat wipe-downs and surface spills, and booms or socks to ring a spreading edge. Pillows are specifically for depth — the pooled, confined low point — not broad coverage.

Disposal

A saturated pillow inherits the hazard classification of the liquid it holds. Oil-soaked pillows often go to standard or recycling streams; chemical-laden pillows are handled as hazardous waste. The Spill Control Resource Center covers waste documentation in detail.

Bulk pricing

Multi-pack and combined absorbent orders qualify for volume pricing. Call 888-774-5528 or send your list through the contact page.

Absorbent Pillows — Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use an absorbent pillow instead of a pad?

Use a pillow where liquid pools in a confined low point — a sump, a containment basin, a machine recess, or under a steady drip. A flat pad saturates and overflows there, while a pillow sits in the depth and keeps absorbing.

What's the difference between universal and oil-only pillows?

Universal (gray) pillows absorb almost any liquid and hold the most mixed volume, around 2 gallons each. Oil-only (white) pillows are hydrophobic — they bind oil and fuel while rejecting water, so they work on water and in bilges.

How much liquid does an absorbent pillow hold?

An 18"x18" universal pillow absorbs up to roughly 2 gallons of mixed liquid. Oil-only pillows are selective and fill with oil rather than water, so their working capacity is measured in oil absorbed, not total liquid.

What size are the pillows and how are they packed?

The standard size is 18" long by 18" wide, sold in 12-packs. Size your stock by counting the sumps and drip points a pillow will sit in, and keep spares for changeover.

Can I put a pillow inside a spill pallet sump?

Yes — dropping a pillow into a spill pallet sump or drip tray absorbs captured liquid in place and keeps the storage point inspection-ready.

Are absorbent pillows reusable?

Most are single-use. Some oil-only pillows can be wrung and reused a limited number of times for the same oil, but reuse is rarely worth the contamination risk once chemicals or mixed fluids are involved.

Do oil-only pillows float?

Yes. They repel water and trap oil, so they float on a sheen and keep lifting hydrocarbons — which is exactly what's needed in bilges and on outdoor water.

How are used absorbent pillows disposed of?

A saturated pillow inherits the hazard classification of the liquid it holds. Oil-soaked pillows often go to oily-waste streams; chemical-laden pillows are managed as hazardous waste. Confirm with local rules and your hauler.

Do you offer bulk pricing on absorbent pillows?

Yes. Volume pricing applies on multi-pack orders and improves when combined with pads, rolls, or booms. Submit your list through the contact page or call 888-774-5528.

How fast do orders ship?

Stocked sizes ship same-day from our Solon, Ohio warehouse on orders placed before the daily cutoff. Larger orders may ship LTL freight; transit estimates are confirmed on quote.

Need help choosing the right product?

Get expert guidance • Bulk pricing • Fast, friendly support

+1-888-774-5528

Mon–Fri, 8AM–5PM EST

Get Expert Help