Cleaning a Dog Bed – Easy Steps

The stench of a dog bed can be a quick reminder that something needs to be done. That giant dog bed your beloved companion has been using for years now seems to have taken on a life of its own. We will take a closer look at some of the options available to make life a little more pleasant, and make your furry friend happier.   

When cleaning a dog bed there’s something you should consider. Dogs are sensitive to chemicals, so using a pet-friendly detergent is ideal. If they are no good for you, then they are certainly no good for your dog.

We spend a great deal of time nurturing our loved pet, but we often overlook some of the things that need our attention. A large dog bed can go easily unnoticed, while your patient canine waits for you.

After months, or even years of your dog stepping in his bed with his dirty paws. The pet stains and even the fur becomes too much for that bed. We need to tackle this issue head-on. Now it’s time to do something about it. We’re going to talk about some of the best solutions to make this as easy as possible for you and your canine.

Vacuum

Here we begin with the basics. Before you do anything else, you will need to start here. This dog bed needs to be cleaned, so the first thing to do is use a vacuum cleaner on it. It doesn’t matter what type, it just needs to work. Your hairy pet has probably been adding loose hair on the bed, and it may now be filled with bugs too. Not a pleasant thought, but this should help a bit. Don’t forget to vacuum in the crevices.

Before cleaning the dog bed, check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. If they don’t have anything listed, check online to see if you can find the answer.

Cleaning Supplies for Pet Bed

Your pet’s giant dog bed needs a few supplies to help get it back to being clean again. As mentioned before, pet-friendly detergents are the best options here. You don’t want to be using harmful chemicals when cleaning your pet’s bed. Avoid using bleach, and stay away from any products with chlorine. You can find a variety of safe cleaning products for your dog at any local pet store, or online if you can’t find one near you.

For those who want to try some natural products to clean your dog’s pet bed.

* You can use white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice

* Vinegar is the easiest and most affordable product for cleaning your large dog bed. A dog’s bed can be washed with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

* Baking Soda has odor-absorbing qualities, which can be used for things other than pet

   beds.

* Lemon Juice is considered an all-purpose cleaner

Add these ingredients together to clean your dog’s pet bed.

•  2 Cups of boiling water
•  3/4 tablespoon of baking soda
•  3/4 tablespoon of lemon juice

Add all these ingredients in a spray bottle, and shake it until it is completely dissolved.

Spray on the dog bed and wipe with a damp cloth.

Washing Machine

Some Big Dog Beds will fit into a front-loading washer, but that depends if they are a thick pillow bed. I wouldn’t recommend putting this type of bed through a machine at home, but a laundromat may have the larger machines to help, though I’m not sure how hard their dryer would be on it.

 If you have a removable pet bed cover, then I would recommend this as a great option for your washer. Choose a cycle that will be easy on the material, and avoid placing it in the dryer to prevent it from shrinking. 

People often make the mistake of putting the fabric in the dryer, then finding out later it won’t fit. Your frustration leads to leaving a bad review of the product and ends up discouraging someone from potentially buying a useful product.

Cleaning in the Sink

This is a great option if the cover is removable from the large dog bed, and will likely be much easier on the fabric. Submerging a large dog bed into water isn’t the problem, but drying it after is. 

You may not be able to properly dry it at home, which could open the door for opportunistic bacteria, mold, and mildew. Using one of those industrial dryers at the laundromat may be the best choice to ensure you will dry it completely.

 The laundromat usually has several large dryers that are capable of handling large dog beds, and possibly even bigger than that. Just remember the high heat from the dryer will be hard on the fabric. 

You can always try drying the pet bed outside, where there is plenty of air with the warm sun beating down on it. I think this is a good idea, but the duration of dry may be slightly extended.

Steam Cleaning your Pet Bed?

This is a great option for cleaning most things in life, but it’s not recommended to clean urine odors. The heat can bond the stain and odor with the fabric and be permanently set and may continue to contribute to the urine scent in that area.

You may only make this problem worse by trying to clean it this way. Unfortunately, it may be best to avoid this method.

Final Thought     

Cleaning can seem like a tedious task when looking at some of the options here. Picking the right bed can make all the difference. Is the quality any good, and what are people saying about it? 

Check what the cleaning options are before buying that large dog bed, this may make your experience more enjoyable. Avoid any harmful products to help protect and possibly extend the life of your dog. Don’t rush this part of the process, and give yourself time to make an informed decision.

For more great topics you can find us at everythingbigdogs.com and we can also be found on our YouTube channel by Clicking Here.