Elevated cots and cooling mats have become the default dog bed style for warm climates, senior dogs, and anyone tired of washing a giant stuffed cushion every week. But “easy to clean” only holds true if you actually clean these beds the right way. In 2026, most elevated frames use powder-coated steel or PVC with a stretched mesh or ballistic fabric top, while cooling beds add a gel-infused pad, phase-change fabric, or a hard cooling mat surface. Each material reacts differently to soap, heat, and machine washing, and getting it wrong can void a warranty or wreck the cooling effect entirely. This guide breaks down exactly how to clean both bed types without shortening their lifespan.
Why Elevated and Cooling Beds Need Different Care Than Standard Dog Beds
A stuffed dog bed is mostly foam and fabric, so tossing the cover in the wash solves 90% of hygiene issues. Elevated and cooling beds are more like furniture: a rigid frame plus a functional textile. The frame collects dust and grime in the joints, the fabric stretches under tension and can sag or tear if machine-washed on high heat, and cooling components (gel packs, phase-change liners, chilled mats) can degrade if soaked, wrung out, or dried with heat. Cleaning these beds correctly is really two smaller jobs: caring for the structure, and caring for the surface material.
Cleaning the Frame on an Elevated Cot Bed
Daily and weekly upkeep
Shake or vacuum loose hair and dirt off the mesh or fabric surface daily if your dog sheds heavily. A handheld vacuum with a brush attachment lifts embedded hair out of woven mesh far better than wiping. Weekly, wipe down the aluminum or steel legs and corner connectors with a damp microfiber cloth, since dander and drool tend to pool at the seams where the fabric wraps the frame.
Deeper frame cleaning
Once a month, unclip or unstretch the fabric from the frame (most elevated cots use a sleeve-and-pin or hook system) and clean the bare frame separately. Use a mild dish soap solution and a soft brush on the joints, then dry completely before reattaching the cover — trapped moisture in aluminum joints can lead to mildew smell over time, and steel frames without full powder coating can develop light surface rust.
Washing the Fabric or Mesh Cover
Most elevated bed covers are ripstop polyester, ballistic nylon, or a breathable mesh, and nearly all of them are removable. Check the care tag first, but the general process that works across most Amazon-sold elevated cots is:
- Unhook the fabric from the frame entirely rather than washing it while attached.
- Pre-treat any urine or drool stains with an enzyme cleaner made for pet messes; regular detergent alone won’t fully break down the protein in the stain and odor will return once the fabric warms up again.
- Hand wash in cool or lukewarm water with a mild detergent, or machine wash on a gentle/cold cycle if the tag allows it — high heat is the single biggest cause of mesh shrinking and no longer fitting the frame.
- Air dry flat or hang dry. Skip the dryer. Heat can warp ballistic fabric tension and, worse, can melt or delaminate any bonded waterproof backing.
For mesh specifically, a soft-bristle brush worked in small circles removes ground-in dirt from the weave better than scrubbing in one direction, which can distort the mesh pattern.
Cleaning Gel and Phase-Change Cooling Pads
Cooling mats work by either a solid gel layer, a pressure-activated gel bead pack, or a phase-change fabric that pulls heat away from the body. These are the pieces owners most often ruin by treating them like a regular pillow.
- Gel mats: Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap; never submerge or machine wash. Water intrusion around the seal can cause the gel to leak or separate unevenly, which kills the cooling effect permanently.
- Phase-change fabric covers: These are usually removable and machine washable on cold, gentle cycle, but must be air dried. Dryer heat degrades the phase-change coating that gives the fabric its cooling property.
- Pressure-activated cooling mats: Spot clean only. These typically have a sealed inner bladder that isn’t designed to be opened, washed, or wrung.
After cleaning any cooling surface, let it lie flat to fully dry before folding or rolling it for storage — folding a damp gel mat can crease the internal gel unevenly.
Handling Odor Without Damaging Cooling Function
Baking soda is the safest deodorizer for cooling surfaces. Sprinkle it dry over the mat, let it sit 15–20 minutes, then vacuum it off with a brush attachment — no water needed, no risk to the gel or phase-change layer. Avoid scented sprays and essential-oil-based deodorizers directly on cooling fabric; some solvents in fragrance oils can break down the polymer coating that creates the cooling sensation.
Comparison: Cleaning Method by Bed Component
| Component | Safe Cleaning Method | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Steel/aluminum frame | Damp cloth, mild soap, dry fully | Soaking, abrasive metal scrubbers |
| Mesh or fabric cover | Hand wash or gentle cold machine wash, air dry | Hot water, dryer heat |
| Solid gel cooling mat | Damp wipe, baking soda deodorize | Submerging, wringing, folding while wet |
| Phase-change fabric cover | Cold gentle machine wash, air dry | Dryer heat, bleach |
| Sealed cooling bladder mats | Spot clean surface only | Opening the seal, washing whole unit |
How Often Should You Actually Clean These Beds?
For most households, a light wipe-down or vacuum weekly plus a full fabric wash every 2–3 weeks keeps odor and shedding under control. Multi-dog homes or dogs that swim, roll in mud, or have skin conditions benefit from washing covers weekly. The frame itself rarely needs more than a monthly wipe unless it lives outdoors, in which case checking for rust or UV-related fabric fading should be part of that same monthly pass.
Storage Tips That Extend Bed Life Between Cleanings
Store elevated frames disassembled if you’re rotating beds seasonally — this prevents fabric from staying under constant tension, which is a common cause of premature sagging. Cooling mats should be stored flat, not rolled tightly, and kept out of direct sun when not in use, since UV exposure breaks down both gel stability and fabric coatings faster than normal wear does.
Related buying guides
- Best dog beds
- Cooling mattresses for hot sleepers
- Platform bed frames
- Bed frames with storage
- Bed sizes and dimensions guide
- How we test
- All bed types
Can you machine wash an elevated dog bed cover?
Most elevated bed covers can be machine washed on a cold, gentle cycle once unhooked from the frame, but always air dry them — dryer heat causes mesh and ballistic fabric to shrink or warp.
Is it safe to submerge a gel cooling mat in water?
No. Submerging or wringing a gel cooling mat can compromise the seal and cause the gel to leak or shift unevenly, permanently reducing its cooling effect.
How do I get dog smell out of mesh fabric?
Pre-treat stains with an enzyme cleaner, hand wash or gently machine wash in cool water, then air dry fully; sprinkling dry baking soda before vacuuming also helps between washes.
Can I pressure wash an elevated dog bed frame?
It’s best to avoid pressure washing. Forceful water can drive dirt and moisture into joints and connectors, leading to rust on steel frames or trapped mildew smell.
Why did my cooling mat stop feeling cool after washing?
This usually happens when dryer heat or hot water degraded the phase-change coating or gel seal. Stick to cold water and air drying to preserve the cooling function.
How often should I replace an elevated dog bed cover?
Most fabric covers last 12–18 months with regular washing before the weave loosens or the fabric sags; replacing just the cover rather than the whole frame is usually available for popular models.
Is baking soda safe on all dog bed materials?
Yes, dry baking soda is safe on mesh, fabric, and gel cooling surfaces since it requires no added moisture or chemical solvents, unlike scented sprays.
Can I leave a cooling mat outside in direct sun?
Extended UV exposure breaks down gel stability and fabric coatings faster, so it’s best to bring cooling mats indoors or into shade when not actively in use.
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 →