How to Wash a Dog Bed in 4 Steps

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

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Updated on 05/03/23
Reviewed by
Brandon Pleshek
Brandon Pleshek headshot.
Reviewed by Brandon Pleshek
Brandon Pleshek of Clean That Up! is a seasoned veteran of the cleaning industry with over 20 years of experience in commercial and residential cleaning. He is a member of The Spruce's Cleaning and Organizing Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Closeup frontal view of a pitbull mix dog laying on a dog bed

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins - 12 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5-10

We all love the feel of clean bedding and your dog will too. Luckily, washing a dog bed is simple and requires just a few laundry supplies you probably have on hand. There are a few rules that will make the washing more successful:

  • Don't skip the care tag: Most dog beds have a care tag (if Fido hasn't chewed it off) that tells you what type of fabric and filling was used to manufacture the bed. It will also have cleaning instructions.
  • Don't put solid foam beds in a washer: The agitation during the wash and spin cycle are too harsh and can break the foam into bits.
  • Don't wash a bed with seam rips: Repair any small rips before washing the dog bed or you'll have a mess to clean up.
  • Don't forget to sanitize your washer: A cleaning cycle will also help flush away excess dog hair after washing pet bedding.
  • Don't add extra laundry additives: Dogs can have allergies and sensitive skin. Do not add fabric softeners or scent enhancers when washing dog beds.
 Detergent  Gentle, unscented detergent
 Water Temperature  Cool to warm
 Cycle Type  Delicate
 Drying Cycle Type  Low heat or air dry
 Special Treatments  Pretreat stains
 Iron Settings  Not required

How Often to Wash a Dog Bed

Just like human bedding, the washing frequency depends on how active your dog is, how much time is spent playing outside, and how frequently you bathe your dog. Ideally, dog beds should be washed every two weeks. Wash more often if your pet has an accident or is ill.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • 1 Washing machine without a center agitator
  • 1 Large laundry sink or bathtub
  • 1 Clothes dryer, drying rack, or clothesline
  • 1 Soft-bristled nylon scrub brush
  • 3 to 4 Wool dryer balls

Materials

  • 1 bottle Laundry detergent that is enzyme-based with no perfumes or dyes

Instructions

Overhead view of a drying rack, wool dryer balls, scrub brush, and enzyme-based detergent

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

How to Wash a Dog Bed in a Washing Machine in 4 Steps

  1. Remove the Cover and Determine the Type of Filler

    • If possible, remove the cover from the bed for easier cleaning. If it is not removable, the bed can still be washed.
    • Dog beds filled with polyester fiberfill or shredded foam can be washed in a top-load washer without a center agitator or in a front-load washer.
    • Solid foam beds must be hand-washed.

    Tip

    If you have a large dog bed but not a large-capacity washer, consider taking it to a laundromat for washing. Overloading a washer is not good for the washer and won't get the dog bed thoroughly clean.

    Checking the care tag on a dog bed to determine the fill content

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  2. Pretreat Stains

    • Use a small amount of an enzyme-based laundry detergent to pretreat stains and heavily soiled areas.
    • Work the detergent into the stains with a soft-bristled nylon brush.
    • Allow the detergent to begin working on the fabric to break apart stains for at least 15 minutes before washing the dog bed.
    Pretreating stains on the dog bed prior to washing

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  3. Wash the Dog Bed

    • Select the delicate cycle and cool to warm water. The delicate cycle will have less agitation and a slower spin cycle.
    • Add the unscented and dye-free laundry detergent.
    • To help neutralize odor, add one cup of baking soda to the wash water. 
    • You can add other similar colored pet bedding or towels to the load, if needed, to balance the washer. The bed and the cover can be washed at the same time.
    • Wash the dog bed.
    Selecting a washer cycle to wash the dog bed

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  4. Dry the Dog Bed

    • At the end of the washing cycle, squeeze any excess moisture from the dog bed, if needed.
    • Place it in an automatic dryer on low heat. Add wool dryer balls to help keep the filling from clumping.
    • Stop the dryer frequently to fluff the bed by hand.
    • Or, place the dog bed on a drying rack or over a clothesline to air dry. Air-drying can take up to 24 hours depending on the size of the bed.
    Placing wool dryer balls into the dryer with the dog bed

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

How to Hand Wash a Dog Bed in 4 Steps

  1. Pretreat Stains

    • Remove the cover for easier cleaning.
    • Use a dab of an enzyme-based, unscented, and dye-free laundry detergent to pretreat each stained area.
    • Work the detergent into the stains with a soft-bristled nylon brush.
    • Allow the detergent to work for at least 15 minutes before washing the entire dog bed.
    Pretreating the dog bed before hand-washing

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  2. Create a Washing Solution

    • Fill a large laundry sink or bathtub with enough cool water to completely submerge the dog bed.
    • Add about one to two teaspoons of laundry detergent and agitate the water so the detergent will disperse.
    • To help neutralize odor, add one cup of baking soda to the wash water. 
    Completely submerging the dog bed in the bathtub cleaning solution

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  3. Wash and Rinse the Dog Bed

    • Add the dog bed and make sure that it is fully submerged. Gently squeeze the bed with your hands to make sure the water is reaching the center of the bed filler.
    • The bed and the cover can be washed at the same time.
    • Let the bed soak for about 15 minutes and then gently squeeze the soapy water through the bed. Do not wring if the bed is made from solid foam.
    • Drain the tub and gently squeeze out the excess water.
    • Refill the tub with clean water and gently squeeze the bed to help remove the soapy water.
    • Drain and refill the tub with clean water until no more soap appears.
    Agitating the dog bed in the bathtub

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  4. Dry the Dog Bed

    • Gently squeeze out the excess water.
    • Place in an automatic dryer on low heat. Add wool dryer balls to help keep the filling from clumping.
    • Stop the dryer frequently to fluff the bed by hand.
    • Or, place the dog bed on a drying rack or over a clothesline to air dry. Air-drying can take up to 24 hours depending on the size of the bed.

    Tip

    To help remove excess water, place the bed between two large terry cloth towels. Squeeze gently and repeat until no more water is transferred to the towels.

    Line-drying the dog bed after washing

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

    Repairs

    Small rips can be repaired by hand-sewing the seams with a matching thread. Do not use iron-on patches because they are too tempting for a strong chewer.

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  1. Allergies in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospital

  2. Bathing Your Dog. Washington State University