A clean dog bed matters as much as clean human bedding. Dogs spend 12 to 14 hours a day sleeping, and the bed collects hair, dander, dirt, and the occasional accident. Wash the bed every two weeks as a baseline, and sooner if the dog has been ill, has had an accident, or spends a lot of time outdoors. The task itself is simple: 10 to 30 minutes of hands-on work plus drying time, using supplies most households already own.
The bed is only part of the picture. Pets and children share the same rooms, and the same care that goes into building a custom-themed bed frame for a child’s bedroom should extend to the dog’s sleeping area. Choosing washable fabrics and removable covers from the start makes every future cleaning faster.
Before You Wash: Prep the Bed and Gather Supplies
Start by reading the care tag, if the bed has one. It lists the cover fabric, the filling, and the washing and drying instructions that apply to that specific product. Beds without removable covers need a different approach than those with zip-off cases.
What You Will Need
- Gentle, unscented detergent
- Washing machine without a center agitator, or a large laundry sink or bathtub
- Clothes dryer, drying rack, or clothesline
- Soft-bristled nylon scrub brush
- Stain pretreatment
- Baking soda for odors
Check the Cover and Filling
Unzip the cover and check the filling. Polyester fiberfill can go in the machine; memory foam and shredded foam should not. Solid foam cores trap water and take days to dry, which leads to mildew, so beds with solid foam need hand washing of the cover and spot cleaning of the core. If the filling stays wet, compressed, or smelly even when clean, replace the bed.
Dog beds that tuck away when not in use need the same cleaning routine as permanent ones. A Murphy bed for your dog that hides away in style is a popular space-saving build, and the folding design means the cover gets handled more often, so build washing into the plan from the start: removable covers, washable foam, and straps that survive the machine.
Pretreat Stains and Odors
Treat spots before the main wash. Work a little detergent or stain remover into the fabric with a soft-bristled brush, let it sit for ten minutes, then rinse. For strong odors, sprinkle baking soda over the surface, wait thirty minutes, and vacuum it off before washing.
Washing Methods at a Glance
| Method | Best for | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine wash | Removable covers, small fiberfill beds | 1 to 2 hours with drying | Delicate cycle, cool water, extra rinse |
| Hand wash | Large beds, foam covers, no machine | 30 to 60 minutes plus drying | Cool water, gentle detergent, thorough rinsing |
| Spot clean | Foam cores, touch-ups between washes | 10 to 15 minutes | Enzyme cleaner, baking soda, vacuum |
How to Wash a Dog Bed in the Washing Machine
Machine washing works for beds with removable covers and for beds whose whole construction is fabric and fiberfill. Use cool or warm water, never hot, which can set stains and shrink fill. Choose the delicate cycle and add an extra rinse to remove all detergent residue, because leftover soap irritates dog skin.
Step-by-Step Machine Wash
- Remove the cover and shake off loose hair outdoors.
- Pretreat visible stains and let them sit.
- Load the cover alone or with a few towels; overloading stops water from reaching the fabric.
- Run a delicate cycle with cool water and gentle, unscented detergent.
- Run a second rinse cycle with no detergent.
- Air dry or tumble dry on low, checking the care tag first.
Choosing the Right Detergent
Use a gentle, unscented detergent. Fragrances and brighteners linger in the fabric and can bother dogs, which have far more sensitive noses than people. Skip fabric softeners as well, because they coat the fibers and make the cover less absorbent.
When the Whole Bed Fits in the Machine
Small round beds and flat mats often fit entirely in a top-loader without a center agitator, which protects the filling from being twisted. Front-loaders work too for flat beds. If the bed is too large, take it to a laundromat with industrial machines, or hand wash it instead.
Home setup determines how easy this chore is. In tight houses, a drying spot near the staircase works well, and the half-landing of a dog-legged staircase is a classic out-of-the-way place to hang covers to dry. Whatever spot you choose, keep the washing and drying routine on the same schedule as the rest of the household laundry so it does not pile up.
How to Hand Wash a Dog Bed
Hand washing suits large beds, memory foam covers, and households without a machine. It takes longer but gives control over water temperature and agitation.
Step-by-Step Hand Wash
- Fill a large laundry sink or bathtub with cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent.
- Submerge the cover and press it to work the soap through; do not scrub hard or wring.
- Drain the tub and refill with clean water for rinsing; repeat until the water runs clear.
- Press out excess water gently, roll the cover in a towel, and step on the roll to squeeze out moisture.
- Lay flat or hang to dry away from direct heat.
Washing the Foam Core
Do not submerge solid foam. Wipe the core with a cloth dampened in soapy water, then a second cloth with plain water. Sprinkle baking soda over it, let it sit, and vacuum. Foam that stays soggy or smells after cleaning should be replaced.
Size matters when you shop for a replacement or a second bed. The same comparison shoppers make between king vs queen bed dimensions applies to dogs: measure the sleeping dog, add six to eight inches, and buy a bed that gives room to stretch without swallowing the room. A bed that is too small gets ignored; one that is too large becomes another piece of furniture to clean.
How to Dry a Dog Bed Properly
Drying is the step where most washing goes wrong. Fiberfill that is put away damp grows mildew and smells, and foam that is heated shrinks or crumbles.
Air Drying vs. Machine Drying
Air drying is safest for every type of bed. Hang covers on a line or rack, and dry foam cores flat with airflow on both sides. If the care tag allows machine drying, use low heat and check every twenty minutes. Add two or three clean tennis balls in the dryer to fluff fiberfill as it dries; they break up clumps that form during washing.
Drying Fiberfill Covers
Fiberfill covers dry in two to four hours on a line in good weather, or about an hour on low in a dryer. Fluff them by hand a few times while drying so the filling does not settle into lumps.
Drying Foam Cores
Solid foam cores take 24 to 48 hours and need to be flipped several times. Keep them out of direct sun, which can degrade the foam, and away from heaters, which can warp it.
How Long Does It Take?
Plan the wash so the bed is dry before bedtime, or set up a temporary sleeping pad for the dog. A wet bed left overnight in a warm room is the classic setup for mildew.
A dedicated washing spot makes the chore easier to repeat. Homeowners who build a DIY garage dog wash station for rinsing muddy paws find the same setup works for pre-rinsing bed covers and scrubbing stained corners before the main wash. A utility sink, a spray hose, and a drying hook turn the whole pet-cleaning routine into a ten-minute job.
Keeping the Bed Clean Between Washes
Regular small efforts cut down the deep-cleaning workload. Vacuum the bed weekly, brush it outdoors, and deal with spots the day they appear.
A Weekly Maintenance Routine
- Vacuum the cover with the upholstery attachment to lift hair and dander.
- Brush the dog before it lies down to reduce what reaches the bed.
- Air the bed outside on sunny days; UV light helps kill odors.
- Spot clean accidents immediately with an enzyme cleaner, which breaks down the proteins that cause smells.
When to Replace the Bed
A bed needs replacing when the filling no longer springs back, the cover is torn or stained beyond cleaning, or the bed smells even after a thorough wash. Most fiberfill beds last one to three years with regular washing; foam beds last longer but degrade faster if washed wrong.
Space-saving pet furniture follows the same logic as space-saving sleep solutions in the rest of the house. Comparisons like bunk bed vs trundle bed for kids’ rooms weigh how much floor space each option frees up, and the same tradeoff applies to dog beds that fold, slide, or stack. Whatever the design, the bed must come apart for cleaning, or the storage feature becomes a hygiene problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should You Wash a Dog Bed?
Every two weeks for an average indoor dog. Wash weekly if the dog is outdoors a lot, sheds heavily, has allergies, or shares the bed with a child. Wash immediately after accidents, illness, or flea treatment.
Can You Machine Wash Any Dog Bed?
No. Check the care tag first. Removable covers and all-fabric beds with fiberfill are machine safe; solid foam and memory foam beds are not, because the cores hold water and dry too slowly.
Does Vinegar or Baking Soda Help?
Yes, used properly. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to cut odors and soften fabric naturally, or sprinkle baking soda on the dry bed and vacuum it off. Test any treatment on a small hidden patch first.
A two-week washing habit keeps the bed fresh, the house smelling clean, and the dog comfortable. Match the method to the bed, dry it completely, and replace it when the filling gives out. The same careful comparison that helps families choose between a bunk bed vs loft bed for a shared kids’ room applies here: pick the option that fits the space, survives regular cleaning, and keeps everyone sleeping better.