Even if you allow your dog on your couch or even your own bed, your dog’s bed is a special area. As much as your dog may love being around you and your family, they may even need some time to reset and relax quietly. Because of this, your dog’s bed is an important area for them to reset and be alone whenever needed. Regular grooming can help keep your dog’s bed clean. However, over time, even the cleanest dog may have a bed that’s anything but. Dirty and grime hair—your dog’s bed can become a breeding pool for germs and overall uncleanliness. As a result, it’s essential to learn how to wash and clean a dog bed properly.
In this article, learn the different steps to cleaning your dog’s bed, as well as why each step is important. Before reading, however, it is important to remember that every dog bed is different and may require different laundry steps. As a result, always check the exact specifications for your dog’s bed prior to washing.
Remove Hair
Dog hair can clog and damage your washing machine.
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Before you begin any part of the washing process, you’re going to want to make sure that you take the time first to remove any pet hair. Regardless of what breed of dog you have, unless you have a hairless breed of dog like the Xoloitzcuintle, you’re likely to experience some shedding. This is especially true in your dog’s bed, where they lay and knock loose fur into the fabric.
If you’ve ever washed your dog yourself rather than taken it to a groomer, you’ll likely have noticed something interesting happens to its loose fur when wet. Not only does it shed off your dog’s coat, but it all clumps together. If you skip the essential first step of removing dog hair when washing and cleaning your dog’s bed, this fur will all clump together in your washing machine. The result can be a partially clean dog bed and a fully clogged washing machine.
As a result, before you begin the stain removal process or the actual washing process for your dog’s bed, you’ll want to remove all the hair from the outside of the bed. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be as time-consuming as it may seem at first glance. Instead, if you have a vacuum cleaner capable of cleaning up pet hair, you can use it to clean away the majority of the pet hair on your dog’s bed. You can also buy a specialized tool to remove pet hair. You may also want to use a lint roller because it is important to check every corner and crevice, including around accessories like buttons. This will help lift any stray hairs left behind during vacuuming.
Remove Stains
Mud, grass, blood, and waste are all common dog bed stains.
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From injuries to bathroom accidents, there are several reasons why your dog’s bed may become stained. Surface cleaning helps reduce the appearance or odor of certain stains, such as urine. However, a deep cleaning is often needed to remove the stain fully.
Since stain removal is the first step in the cleaning process, using chemical cleaning over manual is important. Always put your dog’s safety first. Some of the best cleaning solutions may not be safe for your dog, and you’ll want to avoid using these. Thankfully, however, many DIY solutions use non-toxic options. If you choose to use a store-bought cleaning solution, make sure to research and choose a variety that is specifically dog-friendly.
The most common stains that you may find on your dog’s bed are from accidents. This can include feces or urine. Thankfully, you may treat both of these stains in similar ways. For urine, you’ll want to allow a generous sprinkle of baking soda to soak up any urine on the stained area. This takes around 5 to 10 minutes. After letting it sit, you can use vinegar and water solution to spray onto the baking soda and stain. Leave this for another 10 or so minutes. Finally, blot the urine stain until dry. Afterward, you can use a urine-detecting light to ensure the stain is gone. If not, repeat the process.
For feces, immediately remove the waste and apply a cold water and vinegar solution to the area, then scrub the area with a cloth or soft brush. Repeat until the stain is gone, then sprinkle on baking soda. Allow the baking soda to sit overnight, then vacuum the bed in the morning.
Determine the Type of Dog Bed
There are several different types of dog beds, each with specific cleaning instructions.
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With the hair and stains gone, if you feel like your dog’s bed still needs to be cleaned, then you may wish to wash it. However, prior to washing your dog bed, it is important to figure out the type of dog bed. Some have to be washed by hand only, while others may be able to have part of the bed washed in a machine.
Often, you may remember what type of bed you purchased, especially if it wasn’t long ago. Memory foam beds, for instance, are popular and have their own washing method. If you cannot remember the exact type of bed and washing instructions, you can usually find a tag on the bed explaining the process. If this is not an option, you may also be able to reach out to the company responsible for manufacturing the bed.
This step is important because if you machine wash a bed meant to be hand-washed only, you could damage the bed. Next, learn some quick tips for washing the most common types of beds.
How to Wash Hand-Wash-Only Dog Beds
Some dog beds may not be safe for the washing machine and must be washed by hand.
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Believe it or not, hand-wash-only beds aren’t much more difficult to wash compared to other types. Instead, while you may be unable to utilize your washing machine, there are also no removable parts to worry about. Instead, after removing hair and stains from your dog’s bed, you can place it into your sink. If you have a large dog breed, your bathtub or even a small plastic pool may be better suited for this task.
Next, fill your container of choice with water. The water should be warm, neither hot nor cold. This helps ensure a deep clean without any shrinking. Next, add vinegar and a small amount of laundry detergent. Hand wash the bed by gently working it, squeezing, and hand-scrubbing any notable spots. Then, remove all the water from the container and allow the bed to rinse until all the soap is gone. This step is important to help reduce any irritation that leftover soap could cause your pup. Once all the soap has been removed, gently squeeze the bed to remove excess water and lay it out to dry.
How to Wash Memory Foam Dog Beds
A dog bed made of memory foam should never be fully drenched in water. This can cause odors and even mold!
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Memory foam beds can be a bit tricky to clean. This is because you likely don’t want to wash a memory foam dog bed. The material used in these beds can hold water, making it difficult to dry. Not only can this lead to an uncomfortable and damp bed for your dog even hours after washing, but it can cause mold to grow.
Instead, vacuum the bed thoroughly. This step can be completed while removing any pet hair. Then, spray the bed lightly with a water and laundry detergent mixture. Lightly is key here, as you do not want to soak the bed. Next, apply a light coat of baking soda. This should sit for several hours. Afterward, you’ll need to vacuum away the baking soda completely, and your dog’s bed should be much fresher.
How to Wash Dog Beds with Removable Covers
For beds with removable covers, you’ll want to wash the bed and cover seperately.
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Often, in the case of beds with removable covers, you can wash both the bed and the cover. However, you will do this in different ways. For the bed itself, with the cover removed, you’re free to wash it with laundry detergent and vinegar if the bed’s instructions allow machine washing. The cover can be washed in a similar method after you remove hair and stains. It is important to ensure the bed and its cover are washed in separate loads and then air-dried.
