How to clean a dog bed properly is the difference between a bed that lasts three years and one that smells permanently like wet dog after six months. Most owners either over-wash (destroying the cover) or under-wash (letting dander, oils, and bacteria build up). The right approach handles each part of the bed differently.
Dog beds have layers. Removable cover (usually washable), inner liner (sometimes washable), and the stuffing or foam core (rarely machine-washable). Treating all three the same is what wrecks beds. This guide covers what to wash, what to spot-treat, and what to replace.
I clean my Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix’s bed every 2 weeks. The routine takes about 15 minutes of active time plus a wash cycle and dry time. Steps below work for almost every common bed type: bolster, rectangular pad, donut, and orthopedic memory foam.
Key Takeaways
- Vacuum the bed weekly; do a full wash every 2 to 4 weeks.
- Wash the cover separately from the inner liner; never machine-wash memory foam.
- Use unscented, dye-free detergent at half the normal amount.
- Replace the bed when the foam compresses permanently or the cover loses its shape.
How Often to Clean a Dog Bed
Vacuum the bed once a week and do a full wash every 2 to 4 weeks. Adjust based on the dog: longer-haired breeds, dogs who go outside in mud, dogs with skin conditions, and beds in shared family rooms all need the higher end of that range.
Signs the bed needs a wash sooner: visible dirt, an off smell when you walk past it, your dog scratching at the surface more than usual, or shed hair you can see embedded in the fabric. A weekly vacuum keeps the gap between deep washes manageable.
What about during shedding season?
Spring and fall coat blows can triple the hair load on the bed. Vacuum twice a week during those periods. A rubber pet hair brush run over the bed before vacuuming pulls embedded hair to the surface, where the vacuum can grab it.
What You Need Before You Start
The supplies below cover almost every dog bed type. You probably already have most of them.
- Vacuum with an upholstery attachment or a handheld vacuum
- Lint roller or rubber pet hair brush
- Unscented, dye-free laundry detergent (free-and-clear formulas work well)
- Baking soda for pre-treatment of odors
- Enzymatic cleaner for urine, vomit, or other organic stains
- White vinegar (1 cup, optional, for the rinse cycle)
- Spare bed or blanket for your dog to use while the regular bed dries
Skip fabric softener, bleach, and heavily scented detergents. Fabric softener coats the fibers and reduces the cover’s ability to wick moisture away from the foam. Bleach degrades the fabric and any waterproof inner liner. Scented detergents can irritate a dog’s nose and skin, and most dogs do not love the smell of “ocean breeze” on their bed.
Step 1: Vacuum the Bed Thoroughly
Start dry. A vacuum pass before any water touches the bed removes the bulk of loose hair, dirt, and dander. Skipping this step means you are washing all that debris into the fibers, which makes the bed harder to clean and shortens the wash cycle’s effectiveness.
Run the upholstery attachment slowly across every surface: top, sides, bolsters, and the underside. Press into seams and corners where hair collects. If the cover is removable, vacuum it both unzipped and on the foam core; loose hair likes to wedge in the gap.
For badly embedded hair
Run a rubber pet hair brush or a lint roller over the bed first. Rubber bristles create static that pulls embedded hair to the surface. Vacuum to collect what the brush lifted.
Step 2: Pre-Treat Stains and Odors
Pre-treatment handles what the wash cycle alone cannot. Three types of stains need attention before the bed goes anywhere near a washing machine.
General odor
Sprinkle baking soda over the entire surface of the cover (still on the bed). Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Baking soda absorbs organic odors at the source. Vacuum off after the wait. For strong odors, this baking-soda step alone can sometimes be enough between wash cycles.
Urine, vomit, or feces
Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet stains. Brands like Nature’s Miracle, Rocco & Roxie, and Simple Solution are widely available on Amazon. Saturate the area, let it sit per the product instructions (usually 10 to 15 minutes), and blot up the excess before washing. Enzymatic cleaners break down the proteins that cause repeat marking.
Mud, food, or grease stains
Pre-treat with a small amount of liquid detergent rubbed directly into the stain. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before washing. For dried mud, knock as much off as possible with a stiff brush before adding any moisture.
Step 3: Wash the Removable Cover
Unzip and remove the cover. Read the care label first. If you cannot find one or it has worn off, default to cold water on a gentle cycle.
Use half the amount of detergent you would use for a normal load. Dog beds are bulky, but the fabric is not heavily soiled in the way clothes are; too much detergent leaves residue that attracts dirt faster and irritates the dog’s skin.
Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle if your machine allows. Vinegar helps strip detergent residue and softens fabric naturally. The smell rinses out completely once dried.
Top-loader vs front-loader considerations
Front-loaders generally handle large dog bed covers better. Top-loaders with agitators can tear seams on bolster covers. If you only have a top-loader with an agitator, put the cover inside a large mesh laundry bag to reduce stress on the seams.
For very large beds
If the cover does not fit your home machine, use a commercial-size washer at a laundromat. Trying to force a cover that does not fit creates uneven cleaning and damages both the cover and the machine. Many owners run their large dog bed covers at a laundromat every other month for this reason.
Step 4: Handle the Inner Liner and Stuffing
The cover is the easy part. What lives inside is where bed cleaning gets variable.
Polyester fiberfill stuffing
Some flat-pad and bolster beds have a removable inner liner with polyester fiberfill. These can usually go in the machine on a gentle cycle in cold water. Check the care label. Dry on low heat or air-dry; high heat melts polyester fibers and clumps the fill.
Memory foam core
Never put memory foam in a washing machine. The agitation tears the foam apart, and the foam absorbs more water than the machine can spin out, which means it never fully dries and starts growing mold inside. Memory foam cores get vacuumed, spot-cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap, and air-dried.
Stuffed core that is sewn shut
Some beds have a non-removable inner cover with stuffing. If the outer cover is removable, that is your only wash target. The inner stays as-is, with vacuum and spot-treatment only. If the whole bed is one sealed unit, follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly; some sealed beds are machine-washable on a gentle cycle, others are not.
Step 5: Dry the Cover Without Shrinking It
The drying step is where most bed covers get ruined. Hot dryer settings shrink the cover by enough that it no longer fits over the foam core, and shrinking is almost always permanent.
Air drying is the safest option. Hang the cover over a drying rack, a porch railing, or a couple of dining chairs. Most covers dry in 6 to 12 hours, depending on humidity.
For machine drying, use the lowest heat setting (or no-heat tumble) and remove the cover slightly damp. Pulling it onto the foam core while still slightly damp helps it conform and prevents over-drying. Reshape the cover by hand while it finishes drying on the bed.
If the cover did shrink
Soak it in lukewarm water with a tablespoon of hair conditioner for 30 minutes. The conditioner relaxes the fibers. Gently stretch the cover back into shape while wet and let it air-dry flat. This does not always work, but it is worth trying before buying a replacement cover.
Common Mistakes That Wreck Dog Beds
Most of these are fixable once you know they exist.
Too much detergent
The biggest mistake. Excess detergent does not rinse out fully on a single cycle and leaves a sticky residue that attracts dirt and irritates skin. Half the normal amount is the right answer for dog bed loads.
High-heat drying the cover.
Shrinkage of even 5 percent makes the cover impossible to put back on the foam. Once a cover is shrunk, it is rarely recoverable. Air-dry or use the lowest heat setting.
Machine-washing memory foam
Memory foam beds and toppers cannot survive a washing machine. The foam tears, and the wet foam grows mold internally, where you cannot see it. Spot-clean only.
Skipping the pre-wash vacuum
Loose hair turns into a paste in the wash cycle and clogs both the machine drain and the cover’s fibers. Always vacuum first, every time.
Washing alongside other laundry
Wash dog bed covers alone. They are bulky enough to throw off the balance of mixed loads, and the hair that escapes the pre-vacuum will end up on your clothes.
Skipping the second cover
Your dog needs somewhere to sleep while the bed is drying. Have a spare cover or a backup bed ready. Otherwise, the dog finds your couch.
When to Replace the Bed Instead
Cleaning extends the life of a bed but does not reverse certain kinds of wear. Replace the bed when you see any of these:
- Foam compresses permanently and no longer recovers its shape after the dog gets up
- The cover loses its shape from repeated washing and no longer fits the foam smoothly
- Odors persist after a deep clean (especially urine that has soaked into the foam core)
- Visible mold or mildew anywhere on the foam or stuffing
- The bed has been chewed through to the core
- Your dog’s age, weight, or joint health has changed, and the current bed no longer offers enough support
For seniors and dogs with joint issues, an orthopedic memory foam bed is usually the upgrade. See the how to choose the right dog bed guide for sizing and material selection, or browse the roundups for specific bed types if you know what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash a dog bed in a regular washing machine?
Removable covers, yes (gentle cycle, cold water, half detergent). Foam cores, no. Polyester stuffing inner liners, usually yes if removable, on a gentle cycle with low or no heat drying. Check the care label first.
What is the best detergent for washing dog beds?
An unscented, dye-free detergent. Free-and-clear formulas from Tide, All, or Seventh Generation work well. Avoid fabric softeners, bleach, and heavily scented detergents; all three either irritate dog skin or degrade the cover.
How do I get the wet dog smell out of a bed?
Three steps. Vacuum thoroughly. Sprinkle baking soda over the cover, leave for 30 minutes, and vacuum off. Wash the cover with detergent plus 1 cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle. If the smell is in the foam core, spot-clean with a mix of water, vinegar, and a drop of mild dish soap, then air-dry in sunlight if possible.
Can I put a memory foam dog bed in the dryer?
No. Memory foam melts at dryer temperatures, and the foam will not survive the agitation regardless. Air-dry only, ideally in a well-ventilated area or outdoors.
How long does a dog bed take to dry?
The cover dries in 6 to 12 hours of air-drying, or 30 to 60 minutes on low heat in a dryer. Memory foam cores take 24 to 48 hours to fully air-dry if they get wet during cleaning. Polyester fiberfill inner liners take about 4 to 8 hours to air-dry.
What kills the bacteria on a dog bed?
A normal wash cycle with detergent in warm water (not cold) kills most bacteria. For higher sanitation, use a sanitize cycle if your washer has one. Sun-drying outdoors adds UV exposure, which is also bactericidal.
How do I clean a dog bed that cannot be machine-washed?
Vacuum thoroughly. Spot-clean stains with an enzymatic cleaner. Wipe down the entire surface with a cloth dampened in a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda over the surface, let it sit for 30 minutes, and vacuum off. Air-dry in a well-ventilated area.
Should I wash a new dog bed before my dog uses it?
For removable covers, yes. New covers often have manufacturing residue and a “new fabric” smell that some dogs find off-putting. Run the cover through one wash with half the normal detergent before introducing the bed.
