Like every other pet accessory and care material, a dog bed is important for the overall good health of your pooch. It is usual to have your pups get into your bed occasionally. However, your dog should its own bed for varying reasons. For instance, it gives it a sense of comfort and security as well as cushioning sore joints after a day of hyperactivity, among many other benefits.
But one thing might hinder your pooch from enjoying its bed space – a dirty and soiled dog bed. Like humans, pets need their beddings fresh and clean for healthy living. In this article, we will take you through the metrics of cleaning your dog bed, especially if your dog bed is built for machine washing.
Machine Washing Your Dog Bed
Essentially, you can wash most dog beds in the washing machine; particularly those that have removable bed covers while the dog inserts should be hand-washed if made of solid foam. Some brands however might label the entire dog bed unsafe for machine washing, in which instance you ought to hand wash. This is especially for dog beds without removable duvet covers or big-sized dog beds that might not fit into the washer or dryer. Other brands like Pamper Paws make them in different sizes to suit your pooch’s needs.
Otherwise, these are tried and tested tips for safely washing your dog bed in the washing machine:
1. Spot Clean before washing
Going all in with washing your dog bed without pre-treating individual stains and spots will make these stains set in and prove difficult to come off when washing. To handle the stains and spots, use a dog-friendly spot remover or go natural with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to do the magic. In the same light, use only gentle, mild and pet-friendly detergent or liquid soaps when machine washing or hand washing your dog bed. This way, your mutt is safe from toxic cleaning and washing agents.
2. Wash on a gentle cycle
Washing on a delicate and gentle cycle will help preserve your dog’s bed or covers. Vigorous washing might lead to tears and shorten the shelf life of your dog bed. The ideal method is to use the gentle cycle with warm to hot water to kill germs, ticks and fleas. This way your dog’s bed will be thoroughly cleaned but without the agitations of a hard washing cycle.
3. Use a pet- friendly washer
While a regular washing machine works just fine, a pet-friendly washing system will take care of pet hairs and furs which you do not want to get stuck in your washing machine and transfer to your laundry. Where plausible, wash your dog bed in a washing machine built with various compartments to trap and filter your pooch hairs and furs from the dog bed to save you the stress of cleaning your washing machine after every use. However, when using a regular washing machine, clean your machine by running your washer with vinegar to get rid of germs and hair particles.
Finally, know that washing your dog’s bed too often will quickly get it out of shape and ultimately reduce the quality. We advise washing your dog’s bed once weekly, using the listed tips.