Learning how to wash a dog bed properly keeps your home smelling fresh, controls fleas and allergens, and makes the bed last far longer. The quick answer: most dog beds with a removable, zippered cover can be machine-washed on a cold, gentle cycle with a pet-safe detergent, then air-dried or tumble-dried on low. But the exact method depends on the bed’s construction — a foam orthopedic bed, a stuffed pillow bed, and a chew-proof cot each need a different approach. This guide walks through every type step by step.
How often should you wash a dog bed?
As a baseline, wash the removable cover every one to two weeks and do a deeper clean of the whole bed monthly. Bump that up if your dog has allergies or skin issues, spends lots of time outdoors, sheds heavily, or has had a recent flea problem. Vacuuming the bed and shaking it out between washes goes a long way — most of what makes a bed smell is loose hair, dander, and dried skin oils that a quick vacuum removes before they build up.
Before you wash: check the care tag
Always read the label first. It tells you the safe water temperature, whether the cover and the insert are separately washable, and whether the filling can go in a machine at all. Look for a zipper on the cover — if there is one, unzip and separate the cover from the foam or stuffing, because most inserts should not go through a normal wash the same way a cover can. If there’s no care tag, err toward cold water and air drying to avoid shrinking or breaking down the materials.
Step by step: washing a removable, machine-washable cover
This covers the majority of beds from brands like popular dog bed makers. Here’s the reliable routine:
- Vacuum first. Run a vacuum over both sides of the cover to pull off loose hair. Hair that goes into the machine mats into the fabric and clogs your washer’s filter.
- Pre-treat stains. Dab a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner onto any urine, drool, or mud spots and let it sit for ten minutes. Enzyme cleaners break down organic stains and the odor molecules that ordinary detergent leaves behind.
- Wash cold on gentle. Use a mild, fragrance-free or pet-safe detergent. Cold water protects the fabric and any water-resistant coating; hot water can shrink covers and degrade waterproof liners.
- Add a rinse or a splash of white vinegar. A half-cup of white vinegar in the rinse neutralizes lingering odor and helps strip detergent residue, which itself can smell over time.
- Skip fabric softener. It leaves a coating that traps odor and can irritate sensitive dog skin.
- Dry fully. Air-dry or tumble on low. A cover put back on the bed even slightly damp grows mildew fast, which is a top cause of that stubborn musty smell.
| Bed type | Best washing method | Key precaution |
|---|---|---|
| Removable zippered cover | Machine, cold gentle cycle | Vacuum and pre-treat stains first |
| Foam / orthopedic insert | Hand-wash, spot-clean, air-dry | Never machine-wash or wring foam |
| Stuffed pillow bed (no cover) | Machine on gentle if bed fits | Confirm the filling is machine-safe |
| Elevated cot / mesh bed | Hose off, scrub, air-dry | Dry fully to prevent frame rust |
| Waterproof-lined bed | Cold wash, air-dry only | Heat destroys the waterproof layer |
How to wash a foam or orthopedic dog bed
Foam is the one material you must never put in a washing machine — the agitation tears it apart, and a soaked foam block takes days to dry and traps mildew in the meantime. Instead, spot-clean and hand-wash: vacuum the foam, dab stains with a cloth and a pet-safe cleaner, then wipe the whole surface with a damp cloth and a little mild detergent. Press out excess water gently between towels rather than wringing, which crushes the foam’s structure. Then let it air-dry completely, flipping it once, before returning it to its washed cover. Orthopedic beds for older or larger dogs — like those in our large dog bed and durable dog bed guides — are almost always foam-core, so this is the method they need.
How to wash a bed with no removable cover
Many simpler pillow and bolster beds are sewn shut. If the care tag says machine-washable and the bed fits your drum with room to tumble, wash it cold on gentle and dry on low with clean tennis balls or dryer balls to keep the filling from clumping. If it’s too big for your home machine, a laundromat’s oversized front-loader is the safe bet — never cram a bed in so tight it can’t move, or it won’t actually get clean and can throw the machine off balance.
Handling odor, fleas, and tough stains
Killing odor at the source
Persistent smell is almost always mildew, dried urine, or skin oil that regular detergent didn’t fully break down. The fix is an enzymatic cleaner (which digests the odor-causing organics rather than masking them) plus a vinegar rinse and, above all, drying the bed completely. Sprinkling baking soda on the bed, letting it sit an hour, then vacuuming it off between washes helps between deep cleans.
Dealing with fleas
If you’re washing because of fleas, use hot water if the care tag allows it, since heat kills fleas and eggs. Wash the bed at the same time you treat your dog and vacuum the surrounding floor — otherwise re-infestation is nearly guaranteed. For beds that can’t take heat, a long soak and thorough drying plus environmental treatment is the workaround.
Drying: the step people rush
More dog beds are ruined by improper drying than by washing. Waterproof liners and memory foam both break down under high heat, so default to low heat or air-drying for anything you’re unsure about. And confirm the bed is bone dry before your dog uses it again — even a slightly damp core breeds the exact mildew smell you were trying to remove. Sun-drying outdoors is a bonus: UV light is a natural deodorizer and helps kill lingering bacteria.
Choosing an easy-to-clean bed next time
If washing is a battle, the bed itself may be the problem. When it’s time to replace, look for a removable, machine-washable, zippered cover and a waterproof inner liner — that combination makes cleanup dramatically easier. Our best dog beds roundup flags the most washable picks, and for chewers and diggers who trash soft beds, elevated dog beds hose clean in minutes. Smaller dogs are covered in the best small dog beds guide, most of which are fully machine-washable.
Tired of fighting an unwashable bed?
An easy-clean bed with a removable, machine-washable cover and waterproof liner saves you hours. See our top washable picks.
Check price on AmazonHow often should I wash my dog’s bed?
Wash the removable cover every one to two weeks and deep-clean the whole bed monthly. Wash more often if your dog has allergies, sheds heavily, spends time outdoors, or recently had fleas.
Can I put a dog bed in the washing machine?
Yes, if the care tag says so and the bed fits with room to tumble. Removable covers and machine-safe stuffed beds are fine on a cold gentle cycle. Never machine-wash a foam or orthopedic insert.
What detergent is safe for dog beds?
Use a mild, fragrance-free or pet-safe detergent. Skip fabric softener, which coats the fabric, traps odor, and can irritate sensitive dog skin. A vinegar rinse helps neutralize smells.
How do I get the smell out of a dog bed?
Pre-treat with an enzymatic cleaner, add white vinegar to the rinse, skip fabric softener, and — most importantly — dry the bed completely. Lingering smell is usually mildew from a bed that wasn’t fully dried.
How do I wash a memory foam or orthopedic dog bed?
Never machine-wash the foam. Vacuum it, spot-clean stains with a pet-safe cleaner, wipe it with a damp cloth and mild detergent, press out water between towels, and air-dry completely before use.
Can washing a dog bed kill fleas?
Yes, if you can use hot water (check the care tag), since heat kills fleas and eggs. Wash the bed while treating your dog and vacuuming the area, or the fleas will simply return.
How do I dry a dog bed without ruining it?
Use low heat or air-drying, especially for waterproof liners and foam, which break down under high heat. Add dryer balls to fluff filling, and make sure the bed is completely dry to prevent mildew.
Why does my dog’s bed still smell after washing?
Usually because it wasn’t dried fully, leaving mildew, or because regular detergent didn’t break down urine and skin oils. Re-wash with an enzymatic cleaner and a vinegar rinse, then dry it thoroughly.
Sophie Laurent
Sophie Laurent is TalkBeds' Beds & Bedroom Editor. With more than ten years covering home and furniture, she leads everything on the site that isn't the mattress itself: bed frames, platform beds, headboards, bunk and kids' beds, sizing, and the interiors decisions… Full profile & sources →