If your dog’s bed smells like a wet gym sock and you’re wondering whether you can just toss it in the washer, the short answer is yes — most dog beds can be washed, but how you wash them depends heavily on what they’re made of. A cheap flat cushion, a memory foam orthopedic bed, and an elevated cot-style bed all need completely different care, and washing the wrong one the wrong way can flatten filling, crack foam, or leave you with a moldy mess that smells worse than before. In 2026, more dog bed manufacturers are building washability into the design — removable covers, machine-washable liners, water-resistant shells — but plenty of older or budget beds still aren’t built for a washing machine at all. Here’s how to figure out what you have and clean it properly.
First, check the care label and construction
Before you load anything into the washer, flip the bed over or unzip the cover and look for a care tag. Most name-brand dog beds include washing instructions, and this is the fastest way to avoid a mistake. If there’s no tag, use the construction of the bed as your guide:
- Removable cover, separate insert: The cover is almost always machine washable. The insert (foam or stuffing) usually is not, or needs special handling.
- One-piece stuffed cushion (no zipper): These are trickier. Small ones may fit in a washer; larger ones often need spot cleaning or a bathtub soak.
- Memory foam or orthopedic base: The foam itself should never go in a washing machine or dryer. Only the cover washes.
- Elevated/cot-style bed: The fabric sling usually unhooks from the frame and can be hosed off or hand washed; it rarely needs a washing machine at all.
- Donut/bolster bed with polyester fill: Many are labeled machine washable on gentle cycle, but oversized ones may not fit in a home washer.
How to wash a removable dog bed cover
This is the easiest and most common scenario, since most mid-range and premium dog beds today are designed with a zip-off cover specifically so you can wash it regularly.
- Unzip the cover and shake out loose hair and debris outside, or vacuum it first — this keeps your washer’s filter and drain from clogging with fur.
- Pretreat any urine, drool, or food stains with a stain remover or a mix of white vinegar and baking soda; let it sit 10–15 minutes.
- Wash in cold or warm water (check the tag) on a gentle cycle, using a small amount of dog-safe or fragrance-free detergent. Skip fabric softener — it can irritate a dog’s skin and reduce absorbency in some fabrics.
- Air dry when possible. If the tag allows tumble drying, use low heat, since high heat can shrink covers or degrade elastic edges.
Washing the filling or foam insert
This is where people run into trouble. Polyester fiberfill inserts can often go through a gentle wash cycle on their own, but they take a long time to dry fully and can develop a musty smell if any moisture stays trapped inside — running them through an extra spin cycle and drying with wool dryer balls on low heat helps a lot. Memory foam inserts are a different story entirely: never machine wash or machine dry solid memory foam. Water gets trapped in the cell structure and the foam won’t fully dry, which leads to mold and a permanent odor. Instead, spot clean the foam with a damp cloth and mild soap, blot with a dry towel, and let it air dry completely — ideally outside in the sun — before putting the cover back on.
What if the bed doesn’t fit in your washer?
Large beds (anything sized for a big breed) frequently won’t fit in a standard home washing machine, especially top-loaders with agitators, which can also tear stuffing. Options for oversized beds:
- Use a large-capacity front-loading washer at a laundromat.
- Hand wash in a bathtub with warm water and mild detergent, working the fabric and rinsing thoroughly, then wring out excess water and dry outdoors.
- Hose it down outside on a warm day if it’s a water-resistant or outdoor-style bed, then let gravity and sun do the drying.
Dealing with odor and stains between washes
You don’t need to fully wash a bed every time it smells slightly off. Sprinkling baking soda over the surface, letting it sit for 15–20 minutes, then vacuuming it up will absorb a lot of odor between washes. A diluted white vinegar spray (equal parts vinegar and water) is also effective on surface odors and is safe once fully dried, since dogs generally aren’t bothered by the smell after it airs out. For urine accidents specifically, an enzymatic cleaner made for pet stains breaks down the odor-causing compounds far better than regular detergent or vinegar alone.
How often should you actually wash a dog bed?
Most vets and groomers suggest washing removable covers every one to two weeks for dogs who spend a lot of time on the bed, and every 3–4 weeks for dogs who mostly nap elsewhere. Dogs with allergies, fleas, or skin conditions may need weekly washing regardless. Foam inserts and non-removable cushions should be spot cleaned as needed and fully washed (if the tag allows it) every couple of months, or immediately after any accident or illness.
| Bed type | Machine washable? | Best cleaning method |
|---|---|---|
| Bed with removable zip cover | Yes (cover only) | Cold/warm gentle cycle, air dry |
| Memory foam orthopedic bed | No (foam) | Spot clean foam, machine wash cover |
| One-piece stuffed cushion | Sometimes, if it fits | Gentle cycle or hand wash in tub |
| Elevated cot/sling bed | Rarely needed | Hose off or wipe down, air dry |
| Donut/bolster fiberfill bed | Often yes | Gentle cycle, extra spin, low-heat dry |
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Can you put a dog bed in the washing machine?
Most beds with removable covers can go in the washing machine on a gentle cold or warm cycle. Solid foam inserts and oversized cushions usually cannot fit or should not be machine washed at all — check the care tag first.
Can memory foam dog beds be washed?
The foam itself should never be machine washed or dried; it traps water and can develop mold. Spot clean the foam with a damp cloth and mild soap, then air dry completely before replacing the cover.
How do you wash a dog bed that has no removable cover?
If it fits, use a gentle cycle in a large-capacity washer. If it’s too big, hand wash it in a bathtub with mild detergent, rinse thoroughly, wring out excess water, and air dry outdoors.
How often should I wash my dog’s bed?
Every one to two weeks for dogs who use it heavily or have allergies, and every three to four weeks for occasional use. Spot clean and deodorize with baking soda between full washes.
Can you tumble dry a dog bed?
Fabric covers and fiberfill can often go on low heat if the tag allows it, but foam inserts should never go in the dryer — the heat can warp or damage the foam structure.
What’s the best way to remove dog bed odor without washing?
Sprinkle baking soda over the bed, let it sit 15–20 minutes, then vacuum it off. A diluted white vinegar spray also helps neutralize odors on fabric surfaces once fully dried.
Is it safe to use regular laundry detergent on a dog bed?
Yes, but choose a fragrance-free or dog-safe detergent and avoid fabric softener, which can irritate skin and reduce fabric breathability.
Can outdoor or water-resistant dog beds just be hosed off?
Yes, many elevated or outdoor-style beds are designed to be rinsed with a hose and air dried, which is often easier than machine washing for larger sizes.
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 →