Nowadays a lot of dogs enjoy their bed. However, the accumulation of insects, dirt, and debris can be a real problem. All these aspects can harm your pet’s health at some point.
That’s why here you can learn how to wash a dog bed efficiently. Besides, it is a very simple procedure that can be done with few elements. The more efficient the cleaning is, the better health and quality of life your dog will enjoy.
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Contents
How to Wash A Dog Bed Without a Removable Cover?
Cleaning your dog’s bed is always an important procedure to ensure an excellent quality of life and health for your pet. In this case, it is advisable to have some accessories and objects to be able to apply for excellent work. This way, you can make sure that ticks, fleas, larvae, and bacteria will die.
- Vacuum cleaner specially designed for dog hair
- Enzymatic Cleaner
- Large bathtub
- Detergent for baby clothes
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Clean towel
- Toothbrush
- Soft Scrubbing Brush
Once you have everything you need, you can start the cleaning procedure. Without a doubt, your dog will thank you because he will be able to sleep more safely and comfortably between new beds.
Step # 1
Vacuuming the Bed
Of course, to start reducing the amount of dirt found on your dog’s bed you should start using the vacuum cleaner. This can be a bit difficult due to the small spaces in the dog’s bed. Here the reduced space between the seams and the padding could make the cleaning procedure a little more difficult.
That’s why some very useful accessories come with a vacuum cleaner. You can use some of these accessories to apply more efficient cleaning in these difficult places. Both the outside and the bottom of the dog bed should be completely vacuumed.
At the same time, it is very common to find dog hair entangled in different fibers of the bed. That’s why you can use the brush with soft bristles to remove these hairs with a vacuum. As you apply a more complete cleaning, it will take less time in the next cleaning you must apply in the dog’s bed.
After vacuuming once you can use the soft bristle brush on each part of the bed. Once you have finished using the brush it is recommended to use the vacuum again. This way, you will be able to remove a greater amount of waste and debris thanks to the brush. Even using the vacuum twice in this way provides a much more complete and efficient cleaning.
Step # 2
Stain Cleaning
Before finishing a wash or a complete cleaning it is advisable to treat the stains on the dog’s bed. In general, these types of stains are very difficult to remove in the first attempt. This happens simply because it is a set of stains that require cleaning at a much deeper level.
Here the adherence of the stains to the bedding material is much greater as more time passes. When the time that passes is too much, then the adherence prevents that a simple cleaning is enough. Here it will be convenient to use a clean towel together with an enzymatic cleaner. These two components are essential and you want to clean difficult stains like:
- Wet mud
- Stains from dirty legs
- Accumulated dog slime
- Pet Urine
- Other stains found on any dog’s bed
To apply for excellent work, you must follow each of the instructions of the cleaner you use. In this way, you will be able to take advantage of the maximum effectiveness of the enzymatic cleaner you have chosen. Performing this step is important to make the dog’s bed a much cleaner and more suitable place to sleep.
Step # 3
Use Warm Water and Soap
You should use these two main components if you want to apply a complete cleaning on your dog’s bed. This is done not only to remove all the remaining stains from the bed. It is also important if you want to offer your dog a healthy and safe bed to sleep in every night.
In particular, soap combined with warm water is the most efficient solution to permanently remove dirt and kill bacteria. Both dirt and bacteria can be a real problem for your dog’s health when they accumulate too much. Here you don’t have to turn the bed over like a washing machine.
You can start by soaking the bed in a large bathtub with soap and warm water. You should also make sure the bed is completely immersed in water. By applying safe cleaning, you will be preventing the bed from being damaged by corrosive soap. This is why it is important to use baby soap.
The time you should immerse and wet the dog’s bed will depend on the amount of dirt present. When it is a routine cleaning, 15 minutes maybe more than enough. However, if it is a deeper cleaning, you will have to wait longer than just 15 minutes.
In turn, every two minutes you should use your hands to press down on the bed. In particular, this way you will be able to remove as much dirt that is trapped in the quilt or padding.
If the water becomes too dirty then it is advisable to replace the warm water and soap. You can then soak the bed for another 5 minutes to continue and finish the cleaning.
Step # 4
Use the Baking Soda
One of the elements that bring more benefits anywhere is sodium bicarbonate. You can dip a wet brush in some baking soda to continue cleaning the bed. To do this, you should remove the bed from the large bathtub. Here the most important thing is to rub every inch and space of your dog’s bed.
If you don’t want your dog’s bed to have bad odors, baking soda is the perfect solution. Even the strong fragrance that some laundry detergents may contain can also be removed efficiently. This is necessary since some dogs may feel some discomfort due to strong odors.
However, it is necessary to remember that dogs have a much greater ability to smell than humans. Additionally, the cleaning of your dog’s bed will be much more complete due to the excellent advantages of baking soda. This is why many people use this supplement to clean their homes.
Here you can use the toothbrush to reach all the small and difficult spaces. It is especially a necessary place to wash since some flea larvae can hide there. If you manage to reach these places then your dog’s bed will be completely free of bacteria, flea larvae, and any other similar threat.
Every certain number of minutes you should not forget to rinse the brush you are using. This way, you will be able to continue cleaning your dog’s bed with the same efficiency as in the beginning. In turn, this cleaning should be applied at intervals both outside and inside the bed. As you do a good job your dog will be able to enjoy a better quality of life.
Step # 5
Apply a Full Rinse
Once you have made sure that you are applying a really thorough and efficient cleaning you should continue with the rinse. Whether you use mild or natural cleaners as normal options you should apply an efficient rinse. The important thing here is to remove all traces of the detergent you have used in cleaning.
Even if you don’t know it, your dog could be allergic to some component of the detergent. So if you want to avoid generating new problems in the health of your dog it is recommended to apply a cleaning at the appropriate time. For this, you can re-use the same large bathtub or sink that you have used before.
Of course, one rinse of your dog’s bed is not enough here. At least two or three rinses will likely be necessary to completely remove the detergent. This way you can also use your hands to more quickly remove the detergent that has been left inside the bed.
You can also remove all the water after three rinses. You can then refill the large tub with water and repeat the entire procedure. This way you can make sure that all the soap has been removed completely. Also, some flea larvae or bacteria could still be found next to the detergent. That is why rinsing is really important.
Step # 6
Drying the Dog’s Bed
Last but not least, you should remove as much water from the dog’s bed as possible. To do this, you can squeeze the different sections and areas of the dog’s bed. This way, the drying process will take much less time in the end. However, you should squeeze the bed carefully to avoid producing damage or deformation in the filling.
Here it is necessary not to use direct sunlight as the fabric could become discolored or weakened. It is usually more than enough to use an airy place with indirect sunlight. After that, it’s a matter of waiting long enough for the bed to be completely dry inside and out. Complete drying is important to prevent moisture buildup and mold.
How to Clean Large Dog Bed?
In case you do not have a large enough bathtub you should consider laundry for the cleaning process. You can also count on a front-loading washing machine to eliminate as many bacteria, insects, and larvae as possible from your dog’s bed.
In particular, it is highly recommended to use a hypoallergenic laundry detergent. This way you will avoid your dog’s skin to become irritated or other similar problems. Beyond that, the cleaning procedure you should apply is the same as in the previous case.
- Vacuum the cover. In this way, you will remove the most accumulated dirt.
- Remove the cover. When it is a removable cover you can use a washing machine to make the task easier.
- Use stain remover. To remove the most difficult stains you should use a stain remover if you want a complete cleaning.
- Wash the bed. Here it will be more than enough to use a bath with hot water or a washing machine. Try to use a soft detergent to avoid irritation to your dog.
- Dry the bed. Here it is about having a ventilated area and indirect sunlight. A completely dry bed prevents the growth of fungus and mold.
How to Wash a Smelly Dog Bed?
Today some solutions are highly effective in eliminating bad odors in a dog bed. In this case, it is a solution that combines a quarter cup of white vinegar with a quarter cup of pet-friendly detergent.
In this case, the vinegar can neutralize the bad odors. At the same time, the components of the vinegar do not produce any kind of health problem for the dogs. Besides, the detergent can break down every stain and dirt in the dog’s bed. It is also the most efficient way to eliminate bacteria, insect eggs, and similar threats.
Once you get these two components combined you should only soak the dog’s bed for 15 minutes. If the dirt is too abundant you can wait about 20 or 25 minutes to ensure the results. Then simply apply a thorough rinse to remove all components of the detergent and vinegar.
Finally, you simply have to wait long enough for the dog bed to dry completely. Here a place with abundant airflow and without direct sunlight will be enough. This way, you will be able to take care of your dog’s bed as well as your pet.
Conclusion:
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