How to Clean a Dog Bed (Without Ruining It)
Dog beds are among the germiest objects in a home — bacteria, yeast, dust mites, dander. Most people wash them less often than they should, in ways that shorten the bed's life significantly.
How Often to Wash
- Removable cover: every 1–2 weeks
- Full bed: every month
- After any sickness or skin condition: immediately
Remove Fur First
Before washing, remove bulk fur with a rubber glove or lint roller. Running a heavily furred bed through the machine clogs drains and leaves fur on everything else in the load.
By Bed Type
Removable cover beds: Machine wash the cover on warm. Mild detergent only — no fabric softener (leaves residue that irritates some dogs' skin). For the inner cushion: vacuum and air out in sunlight.
Memory foam or orthopedic beds: Never machine wash the foam — it destroys the cell structure. Spot clean with 50/50 white vinegar and water. For deeper cleaning, submerge in a bathtub, squeeze gently, rinse thoroughly. Critical: foam takes 24–48 hours to fully dry. A damp core grows mold.
Bolster/donut beds: Machine wash on gentle in a large-capacity machine. Dry on low heat with a tennis ball to break up clumping. Check the center is fully dry.
Elevated/cot beds: Remove the fabric panel if it detaches, or hose down outside. Dry thoroughly before reassembly.
Getting Rid of the Smell
Baking soda: Sprinkle on dry bed, wait 30 minutes, vacuum off. Works for mild odors.
Enzymatic cleaner: For urine or strong biological odors, an enzymatic spray (Rocco & Roxie is reliable) breaks down the compounds rather than masking them.
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Lloyd
5-year dog ownerI've spent five years learning everything the hard way with Maggie — my Australian Labradoodle who is equal parts chaos, charm, and pickiness at the food bowl. Mini/medium sized, absurdly high energy, and firmly convinced that most dog food is beneath her. PawBench is what I wish had existed when I was Googling “why won't my doodle eat anything” at midnight. Everything I recommend has survived Maggie's very exacting standards.
