How to clean a dog bed (cover, insert and drying)
To clean a dog bed, take off everything that comes off, vacuum the hair, treat stains before washing, then wash each layer the way its care label allows and dry it completely before your dog sleeps on it again. PetMD says to follow the directions on the bed's label, because washing instructions can differ with the type of fill and with whether the bed has a removable cover.
How often to wash a dog bed
PetMD suggests washing your dog's bed once a week, or once every two weeks at minimum. The AKC recommends washing bedding weekly to reduce the risk of spreading germs, and a deeper clean every two to three weeks to help control fleas.
The veterinarian PetMD quotes also asks you to weigh your dog's activity level, how much they shed, how much time they spend outdoors and whether anyone in the house has allergies. If those are high, she suggests washing as often as twice a week.
Step 1: take it apart and get the hair off
Start by finding out what comes off. Whole Dog Journal notes that most removable covers can be hand washed or put in the washing machine, and that some beds whose covers do not come off can go in the washer too. On our Foam Dog Bed with Washable Cover and our Washable Memory Foam Dog Bed, the cover unzips so the foam stays out of the machine. Some beds are built to go in whole: our Washable Square Dog Sofa Bed goes in the machine in one piece, walls included.
Then get the hair off before anything gets wet. The AKC suggests vacuuming the surface, the crevices and the sides of the bed with a pet hair vacuum or a pet hair remover tool, because dog hair mixed with water clumps up and can clog your machine. PetMD adds that rubber gloves work for lifting hair between washes.
Step 2: treat stains before the wash
Whole Dog Journal recommends treating stains before washing.
For urine, vomit, feces or blood, use an enzymatic cleaner. Whole Dog Journal describes these cleaners as binding with and removing traces of urine, vomit, feces, blood and drool. It also gives a home alternative: 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water mixed as a spray, left for 10 minutes and then blotted dry.
Step 3: wash each layer the way its label says
Choose the temperature from the care label. PetMD recommends washing at a temperature of at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit to deal with germs, if the fabric can stand it.
Some fabrics cannot. Our quilted waterproof sofa blanket says to wash cool and air dry, because a hot wash and a tumble dryer take the coating out long before use would. Our Waterproof Dog Mattress Pad with Corner Straps also says to wash cool. If your bed is sold as waterproof, read the label before you choose the temperature.
A few practical points:
- Wash covers empty. Our Zippered Oxford Dog Bed Cover puts it plainly: empty, it washes and dries in hours, and filled, it does neither.
- Contain the hair. If you are worried about hair clogging the machine, the AKC suggests a dog bed laundry bag, then checking the filter and wiping the rubber seal once the cycle is done.
- Big beds may need a laundromat. Whole Dog Journal notes that beds with stuffing sewn into the sides sometimes need a commercial machine, like the extra-large front loaders at a laundromat.
- Removable parts first. On our walled car hammock, the floor detaches so you can wash only the muddy part.
Step 4: dry it completely
The AKC warns that a damp bed encourages mold and mildew, and says to wait until thick, fiber-filled beds are fully dry before your dog lies on them again.
PetMD suggests drying at the highest temperature setting, while hang drying fill or matting so it does not clump in the dryer. The AKC says air drying is usually best, because some fillings clump in the dryer. Follow the drying instructions on the label. To air dry, Whole Dog Journal suggests spreading the bed outdoors in the shade or indoors with a fan blowing on it until it is dry.
Between washes
Whole Dog Journal suggests sprinkling the bed with baking soda, leaving it for half an hour and then vacuuming it off. It also recommends spot cleaning new stains as soon as they happen.
The AKC adds that a removable cover might let you wash the main bed less often, and that a cover takes far less time to wash than a thick, fiber-filled cushion. Our fitted dog bed cover goes over a flat mattress bed you already own, and it goes in the machine on its own.
If you are choosing a bed with washing in mind
Look at three things before you buy: whether the cover comes off, whether the insert is meant to stay out of the machine, and what the label says about temperature. Then check those three things on each listing in our washable dog bed collection, and see best washable dog beds for a side-by-side look.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wash a dog bed with stuffing in the washer?
Only if the care label says the whole bed can go in. Some beds are made for it: our Washable Square Dog Sofa Bed goes in the machine whole. Whole Dog Journal notes that beds with stuffing sewn into the sides sometimes need an extra-large machine at a laundromat. Whatever you wash, dry it completely, because the AKC notes that a damp bed encourages mold and mildew.
How do you clean foam from a dog bed?
Check the bed's own label before putting foam in water. Our Foam Dog Bed with Washable Cover and our Washable Memory Foam Dog Bed are both built so the cover comes off and the foam stays out of the machine. Treat stains on the cover before washing it.
How do I get the smell out of a dog bed?
Treat stains with an enzymatic cleaner, which Whole Dog Journal says removes traces of urine and doggy odors, wash what the label allows, and dry it completely. For a very dirty bed, the AKC suggests running an empty cycle afterwards with 1 or 2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of bicarbonate soda in the dispenser to remove lingering odors. If an old bed still smells after washing, the AKC says it might be time for a new one.
How do you keep a bed clean with a dog sleeping in it?
Put a washable layer between the dog and the bed. The AKC notes that with a blanket over the bed, you can often wash the blanket weekly and the bulky bed slightly less often. PetMD suggests placing a sheet over the bed between washes, and Whole Dog Journal suggests an inner liner to protect the mattress when the cover is removable.
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