We love our hounds and want them to be comfortable so buy them the best dog bed we can find. Unfortunately, more often than not, even the most stylish and well-designed dog beds don’t have removable covers.
While comfort and design are important deciding factors when choosing a dog bed, how you are going to wash a dog bed with stuffing is also a key consideration. Especially if it is your dog’s travel bed which is used for camping or outdoors.
Can you wash a dog bed with stuffing in the washer?
All of your dog’s bedding, including the cover and stuffing, should be washed at a minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit using pet-safe detergent and stain remover. If your washing machine doesn’t have a temperature gauge, wash the bedding on the highest setting possible to ensure that all pathogens are killed.
How Often to Clean Your Dog’s Bed
We always aim to keep our hounds looking and feeling their opulent best, but dogs carry an invisible cloud of germs wherever they go. They can’t help it.
A clean dog bed is just one essential part of the health and wellbeing of your dog and your home.
Dog beds need regular cleaning. Not only when they are completely covered in hair or dirt from grubby paws and you can’t stand the smell or sight of it anymore.
The germs and bacteria your dog carries in can live in their beds for up to 12 months even without your dog in it. Dogs bedding should be washed weekly. For the benefit of both you and your dog.
Washing a dog bed with stuffing every week is not realistic for everyone, so we give tips further on how you can keep your dogs bed clean in between washes.
But, your dog’s bed should be washed as often as possible.
How often should I wash my dog bed?
A good guideline to follow: wash your dog’s bed once a week or once every two weeks at minimum, said Kathy Backus, DVM, Holistic Veterinary Services, in Kaysville, Utah.
FAQ
Can I put my dog’s bed in the washing machine?
How do you wash a dog bed that won’t fit in the washer?
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to washing the bed. If none are provided, you can probably safely toss the bedding shell on a larger bed (or an entire bed for small dogs and cats) in the washing machine on a cold cycle, or on the warmest cycle the material and stain can handle.