A dog bed collects hair, dander, dirt, drool, dead skin and outdoor allergens, then gets slept on for fourteen hours a day. Most people wash them far less often than they'd guess is reasonable.
The short answer
| Situation | Wash the cover |
|---|---|
| Average indoor dog | Every 1–2 weeks |
| Dog with allergies or skin issues | Weekly |
| Someone in the house has allergies | Weekly |
| Outdoor/working dog, or beach and bush walks | Weekly |
| Puppy still toilet training | As needed, expect often |
| Senior dog with incontinence | As needed, plus a waterproof liner |
Between washes, vacuum the bed when you do the floors and shake it out outside. That alone dramatically reduces build-up.
How to wash it properly
1. Vacuum or shake first
Loose hair turns into a felted mess in the machine and clogs the filter. Get as much off as you can before it goes anywhere near water. A rubber glove dragged across the fabric lifts embedded hair well.
2. Treat stains before washing
For urine, vomit or anything organic, use an enzymatic cleaner. Ordinary detergent masks the smell; enzymes actually break down the compounds causing it. This matters because a dog who can still smell urine on a bed may re-mark it.
3. Wash on a warm cycle
Warm water, gentle or normal cycle, on its own or with other pet bedding. Use a fragrance-free detergent — a strong scent is a common reason a dog stops using a freshly washed bed, and it can irritate sensitive skin.
Skip the fabric softener. It coats fibres, reduces breathability, and leaves residue that irritates skin.
4. Dry it fully
This step is where beds get ruined and where mildew starts. Air drying in the sun is ideal — sunlight is a natural disinfectant and won't shrink anything. If you're using a dryer, low heat only.
The inner cushion in particular must be completely dry before the cover goes back on. A damp core will smell within days.
Beds that don't come apart
If the cover doesn't unzip, you're washing the whole thing — which is why removable covers are worth prioritising when you buy. Our bolster bed has a fully removable cover for exactly this reason.
For a one-piece bed too big for your machine: use the bath. Warm water, a little detergent, press it repeatedly to work water through, drain, then press through several rinses until the water runs clear. Squeeze out as much water as you can (don't wring), then dry flat outdoors — expect a day or two.
Dealing with lingering smell
If a bed still smells after washing, the odour is in the inner cushion, not the cover. Options:
- Sprinkle bicarb soda over the cushion, leave for a few hours, vacuum thoroughly
- Wash the cushion itself with an enzymatic cleaner if it's washable
- Dry it in direct sunlight for a full day
- If none of that works, replace the insert — many beds sell them separately
Make it easier on yourself
- Buy a second cover if available. Swap and wash at leisure rather than having a bedless dog for a day.
- Use a washable throw on top of the bed. It catches most of the mess and washes in minutes.
- Wipe paws at the door — a huge amount of what ends up in the bed comes in on feet.
- Set a reminder. Attaching it to an existing chore (bed sheets day) is the trick that actually makes it stick.