How to Wash a Dog Bed
Dog dander (Can f 1 protein) binds to fabric — enzyme detergent and 60°C are required to denature it. Cold washing moves allergens around without neutralising them. Flea eggs survive 40°C but die at 60°C. Foam inserts cannot be machine washed. Pre-treat urine stains with enzyme cleaner before washing or the smell returns.
The Chemistry
Dog beds accumulate several distinct contaminants that require specific treatments — dog dander allergen, pet urine, bacterial odour compounds, flea eggs, and dust mites. Standard cold washing with regular detergent addresses almost none of these effectively. Dog dander is not simply loose skin flakes. The primary dog allergen, Can f 1 (Canis familiaris allergen 1), is a lipocalin protein secreted by the sebaceous glands and salivary glands of dogs. It binds to skin cells, coat hair, and fabric fibres. Can f 1 is one of the most persistent indoor allergens — it remains airborne and fabric-bound for months. Enzyme (biological) detergent containing protease is the only detergent type that can break down and denature the Can f 1 protein. Standard non-biological detergent moves the allergen around without neutralising it. Washing at 60°C also denatures the allergen protein directly. Cold or 40°C washing without enzyme detergent is largely ineffective for allergen reduction. Pet urine in dog bed fabric presents the same chemistry as cat urine but with some differences. Dog urine contains urea (which urease bacteria convert to ammonia), uric acid crystals, and various proteins. The ammonia compound is responsible for the initial strong smell. As urine dries and ages, bacterial action on the uric acid crystals produces volatile fatty acids — 3-methylbutanoic acid (isovaleric acid) and butyric acid — which produce the persistent sour odour. Regular detergent does not dissolve uric acid crystals. Enzyme cleaners containing uricase specifically break down uric acid, eliminating both the chemical and the food source for odour-producing bacteria. White vinegar deodorises temporarily by neutralising the ammonia but does not address the uric acid. Flea eggs are a specific consideration for dog beds. Fleas lay eggs on the host animal, but the eggs are not adhesive — they roll off into the surrounding environment, particularly the sleeping area. A single female flea can lay 20–50 eggs per day. Flea eggs are heat-sensitive: sustained temperature of 55°C for 10 minutes kills all flea life stages (eggs, larvae, pupae, adults). Washing at 60°C in a washing machine is sufficient to kill all stages. Washing at 30°C or 40°C is not reliable. Tumble drying on high heat is also effective for cover fabrics that cannot withstand 60°C washing — sustained heat inside the drum reaches temperatures above flea survival thresholds. Dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae) accumulate in dog beds exactly as in human bedding. Washing at 60°C kills all mite life stages. 40°C reduces populations but does not eliminate them. The mite allergen (Der p 1 and Der f 1) is also a protein — enzyme detergent at 60°C denatures both the mite and its allergen. Foam inserts in orthopaedic or memory foam dog beds follow the same rules as mattress toppers — they cannot be machine washed. Machine washing saturates the open-cell foam structure and agitation tears the cell walls. Spot clean foam inserts with enzyme cleaner, allow thorough air drying, and replace the insert when it becomes heavily soiled or compressed.
Step-by-step
- 1
Shake out and vacuum before washing
Take the bed outdoors and shake it vigorously to dislodge loose hair and debris. Vacuum the cover and any foam insert with a pet hair or upholstery attachment. Removing loose hair before washing prevents it from re-depositing on the fabric in the machine and clogging the filter. If the bed has a flea problem, dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister outdoors immediately.
- 2
Remove the cover from any foam or fibrefill insert
Most dog beds have a zippered or velcro-secured removable cover. Remove it. The cover goes in the washing machine. The foam or fibrefill insert must be cleaned separately — never machine wash a memory foam or latex foam insert. Check the insert for staining and spot treat with enzyme cleaner before air drying.
- 3
Pre-treat urine stains with enzyme cleaner
Apply an enzyme cleaner (uricase + protease) directly to any urine-stained areas of the cover. Allow 10–20 minutes contact time. This breaks down uric acid crystals before washing, preventing the 'urine smell return' that happens when uric acid re-activates in humid conditions. White vinegar can be added to the prewash drum compartment as an additional deodoriser.
- 4
Machine wash the cover at 60°C with enzyme detergent
Wash at 60°C to kill flea eggs, dust mites, and denature dog allergen (Can f 1) protein. Use a full dose of biological (enzyme) detergent — enzyme detergent contains protease that breaks down the Can f 1 allergen and bacteria-produced odour compounds. Add a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment as a natural deodoriser and fabric softener alternative. Do not use fabric softener on terry or microfibre dog beds — it reduces absorbency.
- 5
Spot clean foam inserts with enzyme cleaner
Apply enzyme cleaner to soiled areas of the foam insert. Blot clean with a damp cloth. Do not soak the foam. Allow complete air drying in a ventilated space with good airflow before returning to the cover — at least 8–12 hours. Press firmly on the treated area to check for residual dampness. Damp foam + enclosed cover = mould growth inside the insert.
- 6
Tumble dry on high heat or line dry in direct sunlight
Tumble dry the cover on medium-high heat — the sustained heat inside the drum reaches temperatures that kill any flea eggs or larvae that survived washing. For covers that cannot tolerate high dryer heat, dry in direct sunlight: UV radiation destroys flea larvae, bacteria, and deodorises fabric. Confirm the cover is completely dry before reassembling — residual moisture inside the cover against foam creates mould.
Dog bed type guide
| Type | Construction | Cover | Insert | Temp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Removable cover + foam insert | Polyester or cotton cover over foam pad | Machine wash 60°C, enzyme detergent | Spot clean + enzyme cleaner only; air dry fully | 60°C cover; no heat for foam | Most common dog bed type — treat cover and insert separately |
| Orthopaedic / memory foam | Viscoelastic PU foam — open-cell structure | Machine wash 60°C if removable | Spot clean only — machine wash tears cell walls | 60°C cover; cold for foam spot cleaning | Same as mattress topper foam — water saturation destroys structure |
| Bolster / donut bed | Fibrefill polyester fill in a shaped ring or raised edge | Machine wash 60°C | Wash fibrefill in 9kg+ machine if removable; tennis balls in dryer | 60°C for cover; 30–40°C for fibrefill insert | Tennis balls in dryer prevent fill clumping during drying |
| Waterproof-lined cover | PU-coated inner lining to protect foam | Machine wash cold to warm — high heat degrades PU lining | Spot clean only | 30–40°C for covers with PU coating | 60°C destroys the waterproof PU lining coating — use 40°C maximum |
| Flat mat / blanket-style | Single layer or quilted polyester or cotton | Machine wash full 60°C — no separate insert | N/A | 60°C — most durable dog bed type to wash | Easiest to wash; dry quickly; machine wash weekly if needed |
Frequently asked questions
What temperature kills fleas in a dog bed?
55°C sustained for 10 minutes kills all flea life stages — eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. A washing machine cycle at 60°C achieves this. Tumble drying on high heat is also effective for cover fabrics. Washing at 30°C or 40°C is not reliable for killing flea eggs — the temperature is insufficient. If your dog has fleas, wash the bed cover at 60°C and tumble dry on high.
How often should you wash a dog bed?
Weekly for the cover, or every 1–2 weeks minimum. Dog beds accumulate dander, bacteria, and odour-producing compounds faster than human bedding because dogs sleep directly on the fabric without sheets. Homes with allergy sufferers should wash at 60°C weekly to manage Can f 1 allergen levels. Spot clean urine accidents immediately.
Can you put a foam dog bed in the washing machine?
No — not the foam insert. Water saturates the open-cell foam structure and machine agitation tears the cell walls permanently under wet compression. Remove the fabric cover (which can be machine washed) and spot clean the foam insert with enzyme cleaner, then air dry completely. Only fibrefill polyester inserts (the kind that feels like stuffed animal fill, not foam) can be machine washed in a large front-loader.
Why does my dog's bed still smell after washing?
The most common cause is uric acid crystals remaining in the fabric. Standard detergent cannot dissolve uric acid — it requires an enzyme cleaner containing uricase. The crystals reactivate in humid conditions (including the damp after washing), releasing the odour again. Pre-treat with enzyme cleaner before washing, use biological (enzyme) detergent in the machine, and add white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment to deodorise. Wash at 60°C.