How to clean dog bed?

Cleaning a dog bed is one of those routine tasks that quietly affects a pet’s comfort, skin health, and the household atmosphere. As a veterinarian and behavior observer, I typically see owners underestimate how quickly a bed can become a source of skin irritation, persistent odor, or reinfection after an illness. This guide walks through when cleaning matters, how to do it well, and what to watch for so the bed supports—rather than undermines—your dog’s wellbeing.

Protect Your Pet and Home: Why Cleaning a Dog Bed Pays Off

Dog beds pick up more than just loose fur. They collect dander, skin oils, drool, and the microscopic residue of daily life. Regular cleaning helps reduce the load of allergens in the home, which is likely linked to fewer sniffles for sensitive humans and less itching for dogs prone to dermatitis.

Beyond comfort, a clean bed can shorten recovery times. If a dog has a skin infection, hot spot, or a surgical site, sleeping on a bed with bacteria or urine residues may delay healing or encourage reinfection. I advise cleaning more frequently when a pet is recovering from illness or after parasite treatment because linens may carry irritants or infectious material.

Finally, odor control matters—both for your nose and your dog’s social comfort. Dogs respond to scent cues; a strongly soiled bed may encourage marking or avoidance. Keeping bedding fresh often reduces repeated indoor accidents and helps maintain training gains.

At-a-Glance: The Essential Cleaning Overview

For a busy owner who wants a quick action plan: remove hair, inspect for damage or stains, spot-treat with a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner, then launder according to the tag. If the cover is machine-washable, use warm water and a gentle detergent; dry on low heat or air-dry. Non-washable foam cores should be surface-cleaned and fully dried before reuse.

1. Weekly: shake out, vacuum, and spot-clean high-use beds; freshen washable covers.
2. Monthly: full wash of removable covers and any machine-washable inserts, or thorough surface cleaning for non-washable foam.
3. Immediate: clean after accidents, vomiting, parasite treatment, or any skin infection.

Spot-cleaning is for small spills, drool rings, or quick odor reduction. A full wash resets the microbial and allergen load and is the best defense against lingering smells. The pre-clean steps—hair removal and inspection—save wear on machines and let you catch tears or embedded materials before they cause bigger problems.

What’s Soiling the Bed? Common Causes of Dirt and Odor

Hair and dander are the most visible contributors. As dogs shed, loose hairs and skin cells accumulate in fibers and seams. Those tiny skin flakes are food for bacteria and yeasts, which may be tied to the musty, fermented smell that sometimes develops in neglected bedding.

Biological fluids add a second layer. Saliva and drool leave proteins that attract microbes; urine or fecal contamination adds ammonia and other compounds that produce sharp odors and can chemically damage fabrics. Even small, intermittent deposits from incontinent dogs may suggest underlying medical issues and accelerate material breakdown.

Skin oils and environmental dirt tracked in from outside also matter. Oils can trap soil and house dust, creating a matrix where microbes thrive. Over time that blend of oils, proteins, and microbes becomes a persistent odor source that simple airing won’t remove.

When to Wash: Timing and Frequency Guidelines

Visible stains or smells are obvious triggers, but less obvious cues deserve attention too. If your dog has been ill, had diarrhea or vomiting, or is on parasite medication, laundering bedding after recovery is prudent. These events can introduce pathogens or residues that may linger.

Seasonal shedding or molting is another signal: when your dog loses more hair, the bed will accumulate it faster, and cleaning frequency should increase. After muddy walks or rainy outdoor outings, clean the bed to prevent moisture and soil from embedding into the fabric and foam.

Changes in behavior can also be a clue. If a dog suddenly avoids its bed or starts mouthing and grooming more while on the bed, that may indicate a soiled surface or discomfort that a simple cleaning could resolve—or it may need a vet check if the problem persists.

Watch for These Red Flags — Signs a Deep Clean Is Needed

Cleaning is routine, but some signs suggest the bed is not the root problem and veterinary attention is needed. Persistent skin irritation, repeated hot spots, or raw red areas found when you clean the bedding are a red flag and may suggest an allergic, infectious, or parasitic problem that needs diagnosis.

Finding blood in urine or feces on bedding is a more urgent sign that warrants veterinary evaluation; those are not things that will be solved by laundering alone. Similarly, an unusually foul, fermentation-like odor from a bed—distinct from the normal mustiness—may indicate bacterial overgrowth associated with an infected wound or abscess.

Repeated indoor accidents despite otherwise normal housetraining are another sign to investigate medically. Dogs don’t typically relearn indoor urination without a reason; the bedding may hide evidence that helps your vet identify urinary tract issues or other causes.

Practical Walk-Through: Cleaning a Dog Bed from Start to Finish

1. Inspect and prepare: remove covers, tags, and any detachable hardware. Check the washing instructions and look inside seams for hidden debris or parasites (fleas/ticks).
2. Remove hair and debris: use a vacuum with a brush attachment, a lint roller, or a rubber grooming glove. Removing hair first prevents clogs and improves wash performance.
3. Pretreat stains: apply a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner to urine, feces, or drool stains and allow the recommended dwell time so enzymes can break down proteins and odors.
4. Wash accordingly: machine-wash removable covers and washable inserts on a warm, gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Avoid fabric softeners; they can leave residues that irritate skin and reduce absorbency.
5. Handle foam cores carefully: foam usually can’t go in a washer. Spot-clean with a diluted detergent or enzymatic cleaner, rinse with a damp cloth, then press out excess water and air-dry completely—rapid drying reduces mildew risk.
6. Dry fully: tumble dry covers on low heat if permitted, or line-dry in a sunlit, ventilated area. Make sure foam and inner layers are fully dry before reassembly to prevent mold and residual odors.

After reassembly, give the bed a final inspection. If any odor or stain remains, repeat spot treatment rather than over-drying on high heat, which can damage materials and shrink covers.

Keep It Clean Longer: Simple Prevention Strategies

Small changes reduce cleaning frequency. Establishing consistent toileting and crate routines helps most dogs avoid indoor accidents. For elderly or incontinent dogs, waterproof liners under the cover protect inner foam and make laundering easier.

Placement matters: put beds in low-draft, easy-to-clean areas rather than high-traffic, dusty corners. A mat under the bed can catch loose dirt. Using washable covers, preferably zipped and durable, allows rapid turnover without replacing the whole bed.

Regular grooming reduces the source of hair and dander. Brushing a shedding dog outdoors or over a grooming mat removes loose hair before it reaches the bed. Bathing on an appropriate schedule for your dog’s skin type can also reduce oils and microbial growth when done with vet-recommended products.

Cleaning Kit: Recommended Tools, Detergents, and Supplies

A reliable HEPA-capable vacuum or a hand vacuum with a brush attachment is one of the best investments; it removes embedded hair and loose dirt. Lint rollers or rubber grooming tools are inexpensive for quick hair removal between washes. For stains and odors, choose a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner labeled for urine and organic stains; enzymes are more effective at breaking down protein residues than bleach or vinegar alone.

Waterproof liners and durable, removable covers extend the useful life of beds. For machines, a washer with a gentle cycle option and a low-heat dryer setting helps protect fabrics. When foam is involved, have a drying space with strong airflow—fans or outdoor drying on warm, breezy days usually works better than constrained indoor spaces.

Always follow the bed manufacturer’s care label; if unsure, contact the maker for guidance. In some cases, professional upholstery cleaning is appropriate for large or non-removable pet beds.

References and Further Reading

• Merck Veterinary Manual: Bacterial and Fungal (Yeast) Skin Infections in Dogs — Merck Veterinary Manual, section on canine dermatology
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthy Pets, Healthy People — Pet Care and Hygiene guidance for preventing zoonotic disease transmission
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): Managing Pet Hygiene and Zoonotic Disease Risks — AVMA client information on household pet care
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): Canine Preventive Care Guidelines — recommendations on parasite control and illness-related hygiene
• Journal of Veterinary Dermatology: reviews on the role of bacteria and yeast in canine skin disease (select review articles on microbial ecology of canine skin)