A dog is man’s best friend. Living with a dog means you have a companion to share life with during your sad and happy moments in a judgment-free way. For all the unconditional love and undivided attention they give, dogs don’t ask for much in return. If you’re a pet parent, you probably feed, wash, groom and ensure your pooch gets regular medical check-ups at the vet.
Although these are the normal responsibilities that come with owning a dog, there’s one vital bit most dog owners easily overlook – washing their dogs’ beds. This is despite the fact that dogs spend a lot of their time laying on their beds. Some dog owners think it’s not necessary, while others have no idea how to do it right. Most folks forget cleaning dog beds until their noses can no longer ignore them.
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Cleaning is essential for any type of dog bed. While it’s important to provide your pooch with a comfortable place to rest, it is equally important to keep it clean. Over time, your dog’s bed will get stained and dirty. Your dog may drool, shed their hair or get their dirty paws on the bed. If you don’t remember to clean your pup’s bed properly and regularly, they can create quite the odor! No one wants to wake up to an unpleasant smell wafting all over the house.
The same way you like having clean bedding each night after a hectic day at work, ensuring your dog’s bed is clean and comfortable is the best present you can give them. Leaving the bed dirty is bad for both your health and that of your dog. Dogs are known to carry different diseases that can cause problems if you ignore cleanliness. Regular washing can help get rid of eggs from fleas and other disease-causing organisms. If you are allergic to dust, dander and dog fur, frequent washings are a great way to help avoid triggering those allergies. Besides getting rid of the dirt, cleaning will also freshen the bed up and make it smell good again.
I understand cleaning your dog’s bed isn’t the most fun activity in the world. But if done correctly, you won’t have to do it often. Before you clean any bed, you first need to take note of what the bed is made out of. Dog beds are not created equal, and some dog beds are easier to clean than others. If your dog bed has an un-detachable cover, chances are it has stuffing. For a dog bed stuffed with cotton or foam inserts, you should aim for trying to clean it about once a week if your dog sleeps exclusively sleep on his bed every night. Wash twice a week if your dog is very active or outdoorsy. These kinds of beds are designed to withstand frequent washings.
This article will break down steps on how to wash a dog bed with stuffing to make it look like a new one and make your pooch healthy and happy.
Inspect the bed before washing. Ensure that all zippers are closed to protect them from loss and damage. Closing zippers before you wash a dog bed with stuffing also gives it a longer life. Also, look out for torn areas in the covering. If you come across any area of weakness, fix it first to avoid clogging of drains.
If the bed has a cover, remove it and wash it separately from other laundry. Most dog beds have removable covers to make the cleaning process easier. For washing instructions, check the tag. Try and adhere to the instructions. For most covers, you just need a pet-friendly detergent and hot water.
The next step involves getting rid of as much loose dirt as possible. A dog’s love of adventure often leads him to dirty places. Before applying any liquid to the bed, use a vacuum cleaner to remove loose hair, unhatched eggs and dander, especially on the sleeping surface. Loose dirt will stick to the wet fabric in the washing machine. Make several passes over the whole bed and check corners as they tend to accumulate more loose dirt. Roll a lint roller over the bed if any hairs have been missed.
Your dog bed could be stained from urine, poop, food or mud. Whatever the dirt, you need to deal with the stains before you wash. Simply washing it may not get rid of all the stains from the cover. By spot cleaning the stains, this will make the washing process faster and less hectic. Use a mild spot removal with no bleaching effect that won’t irritate your pooch.
Once you get rid of loose dirt and stains, now you are ready to wash the dog bed. Read the washing instructions on the manufacturer’s tag to wash the bed how they intended. If the dog bed complies with a machine wash, you will have an easy job. You just put it in the washing machine and wash it in hot water. If the bed is big-sized, a machine wash may not help. In this case, you can take it to the laundromat to be washed in high-capacity washers or better yet wash it by hand in your bathtub. For purposes of inclusivity, this guide will focus on handwashing.
Not having a machine wash shouldn’t be an excuse for not washing your dog’s bed. When done the right way, washing it using your hand is as effective. Fill your bathtub with hot water. Hot water ensures that the insects and eggs that weren’t removed in step 2 are gotten rid of. Add a cup of mild detergent to the hot water and stir. Work the soapy water in the bed with your hands. Dogs are sensitive to chemicals, and a mild detergent will prevent irritation. At this point, you can also add a deodorizer. A scoop of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar can also work.
After a thorough wash, drain out the dirty water from the tub and wring off the accumulated water. Use warm water to rinse out the dog bed. Continue to pour more water and squeeze out as much water as you can repeatedly until you see no bubbles in the water. Wring out as much water as possible to help the dog bed dry out fast.
If you have a big dryer, you can throw the bed inside to dry. Ensure that the bed can freely tumble to avoid damaging the fabric due to excessive heat. To reduce static, use a pet-safe dryer sheet to air fluff the dog bed. If you don’t own a dryer, worry not. Take the dog bed outside, and place it on a flat surface under the sun. Let it dry well until you see no sign of dampness. If some areas take longer to dry, feel free to use a hairdryer. This is meant to avoid mold growth in the cotton or foam inserts.
When the dog bed is completely dry, it is now time to fluff it. You can do this by gently pulling the stuffing with both hands. If the dog bed had a cover, place the bed back in and zip. Spray the bed with a pet odor eliminator to leave it with a nice, fresh scent.
Now you know the entire process of how to wash a dog bed with stuffing from the start to end. Remember to follow pre-washing steps such as vacuuming and lint-rolling before you wash your pooch’s bed. Whether you are cleaning deep urine stains or muddy paw prints, regular washing can help keep you and your canine friend healthy and happy.
Remember, keeping your furry companion clean is the single easiest way to keep their bed cleaner for extended periods.
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