How To WASH A Dog Bed With Stuffing? (3 Ways)

Keeping your dogs’ beds washed is imperative for their hygiene and wellbeing. It’s very easy to forget or dismiss it. However, this can lead to problems for your pup and your home.

Dogs are very adventurous by nature, and that leads to them being in various environments. Unfortunately, in these environments, they can quickly pick up bacteria, germs, and other particles in their fur.

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how to wash a dog bed with stuffing — How to wash a dog bed with stuffing? (3 Ways)

Over time these particles get trapped in their beds and can lead to many issues. These particles can also travel throughout the home with bacteria attached to them, becoming a danger even for owners.

Ensuring your dog’s bed is cleaned regularly can help put an end to any of these issues. Thankfully, you can go about cleaning your dog’s bed in different ways.

Each method gives the bed a close clean so that it can stay fresh while eliminating any potential germs and bacteria from the inside out.

Wash Inside and Outside Materials Separate

To wash the inner and outer materials, you need to separate them. Separating them is typically very simple since you only need to unzip or open the bed and remove the stuffing.

If the stuffing can be washed per the instructions, you can place the washer on the gentle cycle for wool. However, how you wash the stuffing also depends on how dirty it is.

If it’s not very dirty or the outer cover is where most of the dirt is, it’s probably safe to wash the cover and place the stuffing back in without washing it. But, if the stuffing is very dirty, you may need to wash it by hand.

If you wash it by hand, ensure it’s done inside of a pillowcase.

bed cover wash — Washing dog bed covers.

Items you Need:

A firm brush
Vacuum
Lint roller
Washer for a gentle cycle
Detergent (pet safe)

How to Wash:

After removing any loose debris, unzip the cover and remove the stuffing.
Look at the instructions, follow the suggested setting, and place both inner and outer parts into the washer.
Once they are done washing, take them out and check for dryer instructions. Otherwise, just place them out to dry.
After they are dry, place the stuffing back inside the outer cover.

Place Bed in the Washer Whole

This method is best for those who don’t feel like going through the trouble of removing the stuffing or if you cannot get it out.

Placing it in the washer machine is much quicker since you don’t have to separate anything. Be sure to look at the washing instructions on your dog bed to ensure it’s machine washable.

dog bed — Dog bed should be washed at least once a week.

Items you Need:

An area to air dry the bed
Laundry detergent safe for pets
Lint roller and or a vacuum
Washing machine
Dryer sheet (pet safe)

Check to make sure the bed won’t snag in the washer, as well as any potential special washing instructions.

How to Wash:

Remove any loose debris or hair with the vacuum or lint roller.
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.

If there are any remaining stains, you can get them out with the spot cleaning method.

Spot Wash the Bed

Maybe your dog’s bed is too large, or the fabric is too delicate to be moved about in the washing machine. In this case, you can still effectively get it clean by spot washing it.

Spot washing doesn’t require it to be immersed in water. You only need to wash certain areas on the bed.

Items You Need:

Clean water (warm)
Firm brush
Vacuum cleaner
A mild detergent or spot stain safe for pets
Disposable towels or clean cloths

Before you start, ensure there are no loose ends or frayed fabric hanging off that will cause you to damage the bed accidentally. Also, ensure to spot test before using any products on the bed.

How to Clean:

First, take the lint roller to remove as much debris and hair as possible.
Then use the vacuum to clean small pieces of debris. Ensure you get each crevice and corner; using a narrow head is best.
Next, take the firm brush and start brushing any stains or soiling. After, apply a mixture of cleaning fluid and water.
Now you want to blot the stain after letting the solution sit on the spots for about 3 minutes. A great tip is to place it on a hard surface and blot it. Doing this can help the blotting process work much more quickly.
Continue letting the solution soak, and blot until the stains are gone.
Then leave the bed to dry.

Although this method takes much longer than putting it in the washer, it’s still effective at removing stains and cleaning the bed.

The Importance of Keeping Dog Beds Clean

Dogs are often outside and in a variety of surroundings. Due to this, it’s impossible for a dog bed not to get the brunt of whatever dogs may have in their fur or paws.

A dog bed can quickly turn into a hotspot for germs and bacteria. Since dogs also enjoy spending time in various parts of the home, they can easily track those germs and bacteria all over the house.

To help avoid this, it may help to take specific measures to help upkeep their hygiene throughout the week. Also, washing it frequently to eliminate dander build-up can help prevent an overflow of fur and other particles.

Parasites

Parasites, unfortunately, can easily find their way to your dog. If a dog accidentally consumes spores in an environment where parasitic larvae live, they will infect their system.

Once a dog becomes a parasite-host, it can further spread them through feces. So, if your dog is infected and accidentally excretes in your home, those parasites can potentially spread and infect everyone else.

Another danger is parasites harboring in the dog bed. They can quickly hang onto their fur, and once your dog’s in bed, they will make a home.

Fleas, for example, can stay and hatch in the bed as it’s the perfect environment. However, parasites like tapeworms can also live there, and their spores can get into the air, causing ringworm.

So, keeping your dog’s bed clean and other pet hygienic practices can help you avoid the issue of parasites altogether.

brown and white puppy on dog bed — A (very) sleepy brown and white puppy nods off on a large dog bed.

Pet Dander

Dog beds quickly build up lots of pet dander and flakes of dead skin. While it may seem harmless, pet dander can be pretty dangerous.

According to the ALA or the American Lung Association, pet dander can affect your lungs by reducing function. It can also be highly irritating to the nose and eyes.

A clean dog bed helps decrease the likelihood of dander particles entering the air and your airways, especially since pet dander can hang around for four to six months, even if your pet isn’t there.

sore leg lab takes a nap — A Lab taking snooze on a dog bed

How Often Should You Clean Their Bed?

It’s suggested to clean a dog’s bed once a week. Dog beds are, unfortunately, the perfect home for various germs and bacteria.

Despite this, most people don’t keep their dog’s bed clean. One study showed that a whopping 63 percent of owners don’t wash them once a week.

Not washing them is dangerous for their health and yours, especially since dog beds are one of the top eight germiest items in a home.

Best dog beds for labs — A Labrador lounges on his dog bed

Conclusion

Depending on the kind of dog bed your pet has, it may be quite a task, but it’s crucial to keep them clean as often as possible. Your dog’s comfort is paramount, as is their health.

It’s also important to note that if you are allergic, have an extremely active dog, or if your dog frequently sheds, it’s best to wash their beds twice a week instead.