You should also wash the dog bed in the washing machine. If the dog bed is too large, you can take it to the laundromat to be washed. Load the dog bed cover or the entire bed into a front-load washing machine and wash it in hot water to kill any insects and eggs that may be on the bed.
Most removable dog beds covers can be put in the washing machine, but it's best to handwash the bed insert or take it to the laundromat.
Washing your pet bed in the washer is much easier than hand washing. If it's time to purchase a new bed for your furbaby, choosing one that is machine washable will save you a lot of time and hassle. Veterinarians recommend washing your dog's blankets and outer bed cover weekly to help eliminate dirt and odors.
Wash at the highest temperature to kill off bacteria. Use an extra cycle to make sure that all of the detergent is washed off. Air dry the bed or put it in the dryer at a low heat – do not use dryer sheets. Clean the machine of any lingering dirt or pet hair by running the washer on empty with one cup of vinegar .
If you don't have an enzyme cleaner, you can pre-treat tough stains with mild dish liquid or laundry detergent. Avoid products with bleach and other harsh chemicals that could irritate your dog's skin.
Should You Wash Dog Towels Separately? Ideally, you should wash your dog's towels and your personal towels separately. This is to prevent the cross-contamination of germs, to stop your pooch's hair from getting onto your own towels, and so you can actually wash your pet's towels in the correct manner.
Always check the product's care label before cleaning. If your mattress doesn't have an L zipper, fold the mattress to insert it into the cover to reassemble the bed after cleaning it. Use a front load washing machine (no agitator or spindle in the middle) to clean beds to avoid damage.
The Vetbed is machine washable at up to 40 degrees and is suitable for use in cars, pet baskets, polished flooring and tiles. Suitable for cats, dogs and other small animals, especially those with skin problems or allergies.
Put the washer settings on the gentle cycle and place the bed inside. Make sure you put in pet-safe laundry detergent. Once it's finished, place it out to dry. When fully dry, fluff the stuffing and place it back inside the bed.
Bed, bedding and blankets should all be washed at at least 60 degrees celcius (the optimum temperature for killing bacteria) - and should be washed separately from the remainder of your household laundry.
You should wash your duvet cover every week if you co-sleep with your pets. If you don't you can get away with washing it every two weeks. We get that duvet covers are incredibly challenging to put back on your comforter.
Laundry detergents are poisonous to cats and dogs. Detergents while commonly used in the household, contain corrosive agents that can lead to injuries.
Wash: Small beds may be placed in a washing machine on gentle cycle. Large beds; either hand wash in a tub or use a large machine at the laundromat. Use a pet-friendly laundry soap to avoid skin irritations or allergic reactions. You can also add a 1/4 cup of apple cider or white vinegar.
Heinz All-Natural Distilled White Vinegar
Another way to address pet hair in the laundry is to use a laundry booster, such as white vinegar, that loosens fur. “Adding some white vinegar to the rinse cycle of the washer machine softens the water and helps to loosen fur from fabrics,” Bendersky says.
3. Soak in Warm, Soapy Water. Depending on the size of your dog bed, fill up a tub or sink with warm water and mix in some unscented laundry detergent. Submerge the bed into the water until it's completely wet and let it stand for 10-15 minutes.
Pet bedding should be washed once a week, just as often as our human bedding (if not more often) to keep the nasties away. Pets don't bathe as often as humans so ensuring their bedding is in top condition can help avoid bad smells too!
Submerge the bed in the water and scrub any filthy spots with a washcloth or sponge. You can put bed covers in the dryer if the instructions say it's allowed. If you have to wash the entire bed, you'll want to allow it to air dry. Putting dog beds in the dryer can cause the stuffing to become lumpy and displaced.
This is especially important for older dogs who may have incontinence issues and young pups who are still potty training. Let's face it- you love the feel of freshly washed bedding, and so does your dog. Having a clean spot to sleep is important.
So, to answer your question about how often to change dog beds, we would recommend giving your dog a new bed about once every year or so. Of course, this may vary depending on your personal dog and how durable their bed is, but purchasing a new dog bed every one to two years is a good rule of thumb.
To wash bleach-safe bed sheets and towels, machine wash in the hottest water recommended using a good detergent and ⅔ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach in a traditional deep-fill washer, or ⅓ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach in a high efficiency clothes washer. Make sure the bleach contacts the load for 10 minutes.
A temperature of at least 155 degrees Fahrenheit kills most common germs. This is acceptable for cotton towels but too hot for linen towels. Choose the hot temperature setting for cotton towels and the warm setting (less than 140 degrees F) for linen towels.
Over time, soap residue accumulates in the fibres of the towels, stopping them from absorbing as much water as possible, and from drying as well as they could. Bacteria then starts to builds up in the fabric, and hey presto, you've got yourself mildew-y smelly towels in a pile of just-washed laundry.
A Clean Dog Bed Starts With a Clean Dog
But be cautious about using just any detergent or shampoo. Many of us have used dish soap or our own shampoo to wash our dogs, but it's not recommended. “Harsh chemicals aren't necessary,” assured Terese DeManuelle, a veterinary dermatologist from Portland, Oregon.