Dog beds provide a cozy spot for your beloved pup to rest its head after a long day of being super cute. But did you know some infectious diseases can live on your pet’s bed for over 12 months? Tackle all of the germs with our guide on how to wash a dog bed.

In this guide:

How Often You Should Clean
How to Remove Hair
How to Remove Stains
How to Wash Thoroughly
Special Care

How Often You Should Clean a Dog Bed?

To reduce the possibility of contracting an infectious disease from your pet, you should clean your dog’s bed once a week or once every other week. Also consider how active your dog is, how often it sheds, and if you or it has allergies. Every dog bed is different, so always double check the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer. They will best address your specific bed type and material.

Tip!

If you feel your dog’s bed has lived its full life, consider starting over with a great new bed!

How to Remove Hair

What You Will Need

• Lint roller
• Vacuum

Remove lingering hair by taking a lint roller across the surface of your dog’s bed. If your dog is especially hairy and prone to shedding, vacuum the hair instead. Remove as much hair as possible before washing since wet dog hair sticks to fabric easily. If your vacuum comes with a pet groomer attachment, use that on your pooch’s bed. If not, use a standard upholstery attachment.

How to Remove Stains

If you are using a store-bought cleaner, use a pet-friendly option that is void of harsh chemicals, like bleach and chlorine. Check your local pet store if you are unsure. Otherwise, go ahead with the at-home methods below!

Mud

What You Will Need

• Microfiber cloth
• Vacuum

Step 1: If the stain is new, let it dry. If the stain is old, wet a cloth with warm water and wipe the spot away.

Step 2: Let dry. Once the dirt dries and loosens, vacuum it.

Urine

What You Will Need

• Baking soda
• Water
• Vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Microfiber cloth

Step 1: Sprinkle a handful of baking soda onto urine stains. Let this sit for several minutes.

Step 2: Combine 2 cups of warm water, 2 cups of vinegar, and 4 tablespoons of baking soda into a spray bottle. Spray each urine stain, and allow the solution to sit for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Blot the spots with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Repeat spraying and blotting if stains persist.

How to Wash Thoroughly

First, determine if your dog’s bed is machine washable or hand-wash only.

Machine-Washable

What You Will Need

• Mild laundry detergent
• Vinegar

If it is machine-washable, wash the bed and the removable cover (if it comes with one) in separate individual loads on the hottest water setting and delicate cycle, unless stated otherwise. Use a capful of mild laundry detergent along with 1/4 cup of vinegar to act as deodorizer. Once the wash cycle is complete, run a rinse cycle to ensure all of the soap is removed from the bed.

We recommend double checking the bed's cleaning instructions on the best method to dry it. Some dog beds or covers can be placed in the dryer, but if not, place it outside to air-dry. Lay it on a flat surface to prevent clumps or uneven drying.

Hand-Wash Only

What You Will Need

• Large basin
• Warm water
• Mild laundry detergent
• Vinegar

If the bed is hand-wash only, find a basin in your home large enough to wash the bed (think sink or bathtub). Fill your chosen basin with warm water, and add 1 capful of mild laundry detergent and 1/4 cup of vinegar. Lather the bed in the soapy water by kneading and massaging repeatedly. Empty the tub and rinse the bed in warm water until it is completely void of soap. Unless otherwise specified, place the soaked bed outside in the sun to air-dry. Make sure the bed is laid out on a flat surface, rather than hanging from a line, to prevent clumping or uneven drying. Speed up dry-time by fluffing.

If you notice bugs or critters in your dog's bed, it's best to throw it out and get a new one.

Tip!

If you are having trouble washing or fitting the bed in your machine, laundromats often have large-load machines that'll make washing your dog bed much easier.

Special Care

Have a dog bed that needs special cleaning? We have more guides to help you handle these popular bedding options for your pup.

Memory Foam: This guide will help you tackle Memory Foam Mattresses.

Sofa: Our guide on How to Clean a Sofa is just what you need.

We’ve Got It Covered

If all this has been too much work, consider investing in a cover for your dog bed. They are a great way to lessen your weekly cleaning load!

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