How do you deodorize a dog bed? Surprising Answer

Prevention for Minimizing Dog Bed Odors and Stains

Regularly cleaning a dog bed is a must for pet owners if they care about the health of their pets and their families. With a bit of preventive cleaning, not only will your home be a healthier place, you’ll be able to keep things fresh between deep cleanings. Use the pet cleaning tips below to maintain a clean and healthy dog bed.

Keep Your Dog Bed Clean Between Washes.

There are plenty of things you can do to keep your dog’s sleeping area cleaner and fresher longer. You can cover the bed with a comfortable blanket that you regularly remove to wash. If your dog bed is small enough, enclose it in a large garbage bag to protect it from moisture and stains, then cover the bag with the bed’s cover or a blanket.

Vacuum your pet bed in between washes to keep dander and dust to a minimum.

Wipe down the fabric on your dog bed with a mixture of one tablespoon of water and a cup of distilled white vinegar each week.

Put your dog’s bed in direct sunlight once a week to kill bacteria and remove odors.

Sprinkle baking soda over the dog bed when it begins to stink, and then vacuum it up.

Use a waterproof cover to protect the bedding from stains.

Wash your dog’s paws when they come in from outside to remove dirt and germs.

Spot clean stains using water and mild liquid dish soap.

What type of products do I need to clean a dog bed?

Here’s what you’ll need to keep your dog’s bed clean and smelling fresh:

Vacuum. An easy-to-use vacuum cleaner can help keep your dog’s bed clean between washes. It’s also helpful for cleaning off dirt, dander, and hair right before you wash. Portable vacuums or those with detachable tools for easier maneuvering are best for a dog bed with nooks and crannies that are hard to get to.

Enzyme cleaner. An enzyme cleaner can help with stains while minimizing odors. We recommend Bodhi Dog Carpet and Stain Remover as our favorite option.

Dog-safe detergent. Your dog’s skin can be sensitive to harsh soaps and cleaners just like humans. Generally, anything baby-safe will also be pup-safe. For example, betterpet recommends Rockin Green Cloth Diaper Detergent, a mild detergent made for babies but also a great choice for pups.

Optional: Baking soda. If you are handwashing especially stinky beds, baking soda can be a big help. And as a bonus, a lot of people already have this in their kitchens!

Optional: Vinegar. When combined with baking soda, it’s a natural (and powerful) odor eliminator. And because it’s an acid, vinegar also helps kill bacteria.

Hacks to Cleaning a Dog Bed

Fido not having the best smelling week? Maybe he played in the rain and then headed for his bed before you could get him dry. Maybe his beds extra-smelly for another reason. Whatever the reason, you can rehab even the stinkiest dog bed with some heavy cleaning.

Separate the cover from the actual foam or inside filling material if at all possible, so you can wash them separately. This will help you get both cleaner. If theres a tag on the dog bed, read that carefully. Some beds have a “dont use heat to dry” warning while others cautions against using strong detergent if you want to preserve the color and quality of the cover. If thats the case, follow the directions for the cover only. Dont worry too much about the fill material being “mistreated” — itll be covered by a nice slipcover in the end, and your main goal is to get rid of the stink anyway.

Soak the dog bed — with or without the cover, depending on the type you have — in a tub containing hot water and laundry detergent. You can also add a stain-remover product that doesnt contain bleach or ammonia, both of which could cause allergic reactions in your pet. Make sure the water covers the bed completely, even if it means placing something heavy on top so it will sink. Leave it in the tub for at least 15 or 20 minutes. Bed is truly stinky? Soak it in your tub overnight and add a touch of vinegar to the water.

Remove the bed from the tub and immediately place it into the washing machine. If youre washing the cover and filling separately, make sure you dont use very hot water for the slipcover — otherwise, it might shrink too much. Hot water is fine for the filling or if youre washing the whole bed at once. Wash once using vinegar instead of detergent. This will help kill the bacteria causing the strong smell. Then wash again using laundry detergent and color-safe bleach. The bleach will kill any strong odors you wouldnt be able to get out with just soap. Add softener for a touch of flowery smell.

Let the bed air-dry, preferably in a sunny spot. Once its dry, check the smell. You might need to repeat the process for very strong smells that refuse to go away.

Tammy Dray has been writing since 1996. She specializes in health, wellness and travel topics and has credits in various publications including Womans Day, Marie Claire, Adirondack Life and Self. She is also a seasoned independent traveler and a certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant. Dray is pursuing a criminal justice degree at Penn Foster College.