Dog Bed Hygiene 101 | How Often Should I Wash My Dog's Bed?

One would think that cleaning a dog bed would be something pretty straightforward, right? On the surface, you wash a dog bed with some simple soap and water as needed, dry it off, and go on with your day. However, there is a bit more to understand about this necessary hygiene factor, and it all stems from the quality of the dog bed in the first place.

In general, not all dog beds are created equal and that is especially true when you are comparing a dog bed with a removable cover with those that don’t. Now, because there is more tacked into cleaning a dog bed than meets the eye, below you’ll find a comprehensive SHOOBY guide that not only showcases how often to wash a dog bed but also delivers key tips to answer the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of it as well.

How Often Should You Wash A Dog Bed and Why

First and foremost, how often should you be cleaning a dog bed? As a standard rule of thumb, you should be proactively washing your dog bed at least once every 1-2 weeks. This, of course, is relative to how dirty your dog happens to get on certain days playing outside, but use this window as your foundation to work within to optimize the health and safety of your dog.

The how often is one thing, but the why is another. The most obvious reason why cleaning a dog bed frequently is ideal is simply because it reduces odor and unwanted smells. Dogs tend to be very active and curious animals who venture around and explore the world around them. As wonderful as that is, it can lead to them getting into contact with dirt, dust, and other residues that can become matted into their beds.

The worst part?

Though an unwashed dog bed can smell and cause even freshly washed pups to smell after just one night, those particles and residues can become the catalyst for bacterial and viral infections to grow. In fact, PetMD states that disease-causing organisms from both outside and from bodily fluids can live up to one full year on a dog bed without a host. That means you, your dog, and the rest of your family can be at a higher risk of getting sick.

Additional Cleaning Tips For Dog Beds With Removable Covers

Alright, you know the how often and the why aspects. Now it’s time to get into additional cleaning tips to keep you and your dog healthy and do so while simultaneously saving time, effort, and money. The first thing that can bolster and simplify cleaning a dog bed is investing in a high-quality dog bed with a removable cover. In the world of dog beds, you have the option to pick a bed with or without a removable cover.

Though the choice is yours, not having a removable cover significantly makes cleaning harder and more convoluted as you have to wash everything by hand. It also wears down the bed structure itself from being cleaned like that – thus you needing to spend money to replace it faster than a quality one with a removable cover. All in all, going with a dog bed with a removable cover like featured on SHOOBY requires just taking the cover off, putting it in the washer/dryer and putting it back on the bed itself. With that being said, some additional tips to consider include: 

• When investing in a dog bed, removable cover or not, always go with a quality one from a reputable brand. Low-quality dog beds, though cheaper upfront, will not last as long wash after wash and will end up causing you to spend more on replacing it in the long run.

• Before removing the dog bed cover, consider vacuuming it first to help get rid of loose dirt and fur.

• During the rinsing cycle, consider extending it an extra cycle to make sure all detergent is off before placing it back on the dog bed. 

• After washing a dog bed with a removable cover, run your washing machine empty with one cup of vinegar to rid it of excess dirt and pet hair.

Summary – Clean + Quality = Happy Dogs

Whether you are a first-time dog owner or looking to finally train your pup to sleep in their own space to get your own bed back to yourself, it is no secret that a clean dog bed is essential. You likely already know that right from the very beginning, which is why this post wasn’t aimed to tell you that but rather how to optimize it.