How to Wash Pet Bedding and Blankets (Without Ruining Your Washer)

Pet beds and blankets harbor more bacteria, allergens, and odor-causing compounds per square inch than almost anything else in your home. They collect fur, dander, drool, outdoor dirt, and sometimes urine — all of which require a specific cleaning approach to actually eliminate rather than redistribute. Washing pet bedding incorrectly can also clog your washing machine with hair, which is a separate (and expensive) problem.

This guide covers how often to wash pet bedding, the right preparation steps, machine and hand washing methods, and how to deal with heavily soiled items.

How Often to Wash Pet Bedding

The right frequency depends on your pet and how the bedding is used:

Situation	Recommended Frequency
Standard indoor dog or cat bedding	Every 2 weeks
Dogs that go outside regularly or roll in dirt	Weekly
Pets with skin conditions, allergies, or infections	Weekly or more
Pets with flea exposure	Immediately + weekly during treatment
Pet blankets used on furniture	Every 1–2 weeks
After any illness, accident, or soiling	Immediately

If you can smell the bed before you pick it up, it's overdue. Pet bedding odor is caused by bacteria that have already colonized the fabric — a wash removes them, but the smell will return faster each time if you let the cycle stretch too long between cleanings.

Step 1: Pre-Clean the Bedding Before Washing

Skipping this step is the most common mistake — and it's what clogs washing machines with pet hair. Do these steps before the bed goes in the machine:

Remove Loose Hair

Take the bedding outside and shake it vigorously. Then use one of these to get the bulk of the hair off:

• A rubber pet hair removal brush or rubber glove (most effective)
• A lint roller (works on blankets, less effective on plush beds)
• Vacuum with an upholstery attachment
• Run through the dryer on air-only for 10 minutes — loosened hair collects in the lint trap

Your goal is to remove as much loose hair as possible before water makes it stick to everything and clump in the drain filter.

Treat Spots and Stains

Apply an enzyme-based cleaner (like Nature's Miracle or similar) directly to urine stains, drool, or mud patches. Let sit for 10–15 minutes before washing. Enzyme cleaners break down the proteins in urine and dander that cause persistent odor — regular detergent alone won't fully eliminate them.

Check the Care Label

Most pet beds have a removable cover that's machine washable, with a foam insert that isn't. Wash the cover; spot-clean and air out the insert. If the entire bed is machine washable, check for temperature and cycle restrictions — many memory foam or orthopedic beds require cold water and gentle cycle only.

Machine Washing Pet Bedding

Once pre-cleaned, pet bedding can go in a standard washing machine for most fabric types. Follow these settings:

• Temperature: Hot (60°C / 140°F) for cotton, canvas, or durable fabric. Cold or warm for delicate or foam-backed covers
• Cycle: Normal or heavy-duty for cotton beds; gentle for plush or delicate fabrics
• Detergent: Enzyme-based or fragrance-free pet-safe detergent. Strong fragrances can be irritating or unpleasant to pets with sensitive noses
• Load size: Wash pet bedding alone, not with your own laundry — pet hair transfers to clothing
• Extra rinse: Run an additional rinse cycle to remove all detergent — some pets react to detergent residue

After Washing: Clean Your Machine

Always run a brief rinse-and-spin or a machine cleaning cycle after washing pet bedding. Hair and dander that makes it past the pre-clean step collects in the drum, door gasket, and drain filter. Left untreated, it builds up and causes odor in your machine. Wipe the drum interior and door seal with a damp cloth after the cycle ends.

Hand Washing Pet Blankets

For smaller blankets or items the machine can't handle, hand washing works well:

1. Remove all loose hair first (rubber brush or glove)
2. Fill a large basin or bathtub with hot water and a small amount of pet-safe detergent
3. Submerge the blanket and work the fabric firmly — squeeze and knead rather than scrub
4. For odor, add ½ cup of white vinegar to the wash water; for deodorizing soak, let sit 20 minutes
5. Drain and rinse thoroughly in clean water — repeat until no suds remain
6. Press out excess water, then hang or lay flat to dry

After hand washing pet items in a bathtub, rinse the tub walls and drain with hot water to flush away hair, dander, and detergent.

Drying Pet Bedding

Pet bedding generally tolerates machine drying better than human clothing, but check the care label first. For most cotton or canvas beds and blankets:

• Tumble dry on medium heat — high heat can shrink cotton and damage foam inserts
• Dry fully before returning to the pet — a damp bed smells worse and grows mold or mildew
• Dryer on medium heat also kills any remaining dust mites or fleas
• For foam inserts: air dry only, flat, in a well-ventilated area (can take 24–48 hours)

If the bedding still smells after drying, the odor is embedded in the foam or fill — a second wash cycle often fixes this, or it may be time to replace the bed.

Dealing with Fleas

If your pet has had fleas, their bedding requires immediate attention — fleas and eggs survive in fabric at room temperature for weeks. The protocol:

1. Bag the bedding immediately in a sealed plastic bag before bringing it through the house
2. Wash at the highest safe temperature — 60°C (140°F) or hotter kills both adult fleas and eggs
3. Dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes
4. Treat the pet (vet-recommended flea treatment) and your home (vacuum all floors, treat with appropriate spray) simultaneously
5. Continue washing bedding weekly until the flea cycle is broken (can take 3–4 weeks)

How to Reduce How Often You Need to Wash

A few habits reduce the cleaning burden without cutting corners on hygiene:

• Use washable covers or blankets over the pet bed — wash the cover weekly, the full bed less often
• Wipe paws before your dog comes in from outside — reduces dirt, pollen, and outdoor allergen transfer significantly
• Brush your pet regularly to reduce shedding on bedding
• Keep a dedicated "pet blanket" on sofas and chairs, separate from the dog's main sleeping area

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular laundry detergent on pet bedding?

You can, but choose a fragrance-free, dye-free formula. Heavy fragrances may irritate sensitive pets, and some synthetic fragrance chemicals can cause skin reactions in animals with allergies. An enzyme-based detergent is a better option for urine odor.

Why does my dog's bed still smell after washing?

If the foam core or fill absorbed urine or sebaceous oils (from your dog's skin glands), those compounds won't wash out with a single cycle. Try soaking the removable cover in an enzyme solution before washing, and wash the foam insert separately by hand with an enzyme cleaner. If the odor is inside the foam itself, the bed likely needs to be replaced.

Is it safe to wash cat bedding in the same machine as human clothes?

Yes, the machine itself is safe — but wash pet items separately because the hair and dander that transfers to the drum will stick to human clothing in the next load. Run the machine empty (warm water, quick cycle) between pet and human laundry if you want to be thorough.

My washing machine smells after washing the dog bed — what do I do?

Run a hot empty cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar, or use a washing machine cleaning tablet. Check and clean the door gasket (rubber seal) — hair accumulates there and causes persistent odor. Also clean the drain pump filter if your machine has one.

Can I put a dog bed with memory foam in the washer?

The cover yes (if removable and labeled washable); the foam insert no. Machine agitation tears and deforms memory foam. Spot-clean the insert with a damp cloth and mild soap, then air dry completely before replacing the cover.

Recommended Products (Affiliate)

• Pet Odor Enzyme Detergent
• Mesh Laundry Bags for Pet Items
• Lint Roller for Pet Hair
• Pet Bed Replacement

Conclusion

Pet bedding needs more frequent washing than most people realize — every 1–2 weeks is the minimum for blankets, every 2–4 weeks for full beds. The key steps are: pre-remove hair before loading the machine, use an enzyme-based detergent for odor, wash hot when the fabric allows, and always clean your machine afterward. Build these habits and both your home and your pet will be noticeably fresher.

See also our guides on how often to wash bed sheets and how to wash microfiber cloths for more on fabric care routines.