My son has a bad cold and was snuggling with the pillow on the couch how long before the pillow is germ free?

as soon as you spary it wth lysol!

If you can put the pillow in the dryer for 30 minutes. The high heat in the dryer will kill the germs. When my children have a cold I change the pillow case everyday and put the pillow in the dryer everyday. A mother of 6 grown children gave me this advise years ago. I believe it has shortened the duration of the cold for my children.

spray the pillow with Lysol. 99 percent germ free on contact.

steam it, put it in the oven (watch to make sure it dont burn,) iron it. dry clean it (questionable but last resort if none of other ideas suits you) spray with lysol or other strong disinfectant and put in a plastic bag to permeat to interior. and never by non washable pillows or other items with children in house.

About 60 seconds if you buy a spray that kills germs

Spray it with a disinfectant, and then don't rub it on your face for a few days.