Cleaning your dog’s bed is not just about keeping your house smell-free, but it is also about taking good care of your dog’s and your own health.
For this reason, it’s important you make use of fabric cleaners, washing machines, and vacuum machines to clean a dog’s bed thoroughly. Non-abrasive cleaners are the best for cleaning a dog bed.
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How to wash a dog bed?
Only through deep cleaning techniques, such as washing in machines or soaking in water can you get rid of bacteria, debris, and dirt you’ll often find in dog beds.
Small beds are easy to wash, so you can use non-abrasive bed cleaners or even try regular fabric cleaners that won’t be too harsh on the bed. You can also put small beds in washing machines and wash a larger bed by vacuuming first, then soaking it in a tub.
What are some of the options?
Our dogs are just not our pets but best of friends. They are our perfect housemates, who are always there for us.
They keep our surroundings cheery and happy all the time by giving us unconditional love. We feed them, bathe them, and take care of their necessities.
However, we forget the most important thing and overlook the importance of a clean bed. Here are various ways in which you can clean your dog’s bed.
Vacuum the Bed
Vacuuming a dog’s bed is important since it removes dog hair, dirt, dander, and other debris. An unclean bed can get smelly and make it harder for you to clean it later if you don’t maintain it regularly.
Dog hair tends to stick to even slightly moist or wet fabric, so it is better to get as much hair as possible off the bed before you send off the cover for a wash.
In some cases, the dog hair can get stuck in your machine or even water pipes if there are lots of them, so vacuuming is an extremely important step.
Vacuuming also helps remove any unhatched eggs from insects. Although a vacuum is much better for deeper cleansing, a lint roller is also good enough if any hair is missed out.
Try to use a vacuum hose and an upholstery attachment for the best results. Do not forget to clean the covers and try to clean the bed from time to time between washings so it stays cleaner for a longer time and you don’t end up with a bed full of hair when it’s time to wash it.
Wash the bed cover
The second step is to wash off the bed covers. Covers are exposed to the most dirt and dust, and it’s better to clean these more regularly than the whole bed.
Take off the cover and put it in the washing machine. When you do so, make sure to put it in the machine separately from other laundry.
Make sure you have pet-safe washing detergent, which protects your dog’s skin from irritation and possible allergies. A wise thing to do would be to read the instructions given on the cover’s tags, so you don’t end up using any harmful chemical on it.
Wash the bed [Large Dog Beds Can Be Problematic]
Most dog beds have removable covers, but if yours does not, then there is nothing to be worried about.
First of all, read the manufacturer’s instructions on the tag attached to your dog’s bed and follow the given steps. If your bed fits in the washing machine, then load it in hot water. Do not forget to use pet-safe detergent.
However, large dog beds can be problematic, and you will have to wash them by hand. You can either find an extra-large washing machine or just put it in your bathtub. Hot soapy water helps in effectively killing all the bacteria on the bed.
Use Stain/Odor Remover
After you have washed the covers or the bed, there might be some stubborn stains left. There can be urine, feces, mud, or other problematic stains that ruin the whole look.
You can use a non-toxic stain remover, such as those made for baby clothes. This step is very important because, without a stain remover, you won’t be satisfied with how the bed looks even after vacuuming and washing.
You can directly apply the stain remover to the bed or covers and use a clean towel then. Gently rub it to prevent the fabric from getting damaged.
Dry the Bed
Make sure you have squeezed out as much water as you can with your hand before you throw the bed in the dryer.
If your bed is too large to fit in the dryer, then you can leave it under the sun and let it air dry. Dry it for 20 minutes and then air fluff it with a pet-safe dryer sheet to decrease static. By doing this, the remaining pet fur gets separated from the bed and prevents shrinking.
You can also place the bed or covers in front of a heater at a safe distance or just let them air dry by hanging them in a well-ventilated area. Make sure the bed is completely dried so that no mold or mildew grows.
How Often to Clean Your Dog’s Bed?
A dog’s bed can be filled with dirt and debris that the dog brings back from outside, and with the dirt, you can also expect to see insects and parasites.
These insects and parasites can cause some serious health issues to your dog, and in some cases, they can make you sick, too.
While your dog might look all fine, the bacteria can be contagious for other dogs and can cause them to be ill. Luckily, dog beds are cleanable, and you won’t have to go through a lot of trouble either.
You should clean the bed covers very frequently, at least once in two weeks. Meanwhile, you need to wash your dog’s bed routinely, once in a month or two, to avoid any build-up of bacteria, mold, bed bugs, and bad smell.
The frequency of keeping it clean depends on how much time your dog spends outdoors, how much hair fall it experiences, and also how frequently it takes a leak in the bed.
So, you’ll have to clean your bed more frequently if your dog spends a lot of time playing in the mud outside. You might want to clean the bed every couple of days if you notice that dirt builds up really quickly.
Conclusion
We strongly suggest cleaning your dog’s bed periodically since it is important not for your dog’s cleanliness but also for your health. A clean bed will help your dog sleep better and more peacefully. You can follow all the steps mentioned above to easily wash off your dog’s bed and keep its surroundings healthy and happy.
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