How to Wash Dog Beds, Pet Blankets, and Pet Laundry Without the Smell Coming Back

A dog bed smells not because of the dog, exactly, but because of the oil the dog's skin leaves on the fabric — a body-oil-and-bacteria film that a normal wash lifts only partially. The rest oxidizes between washes and reactivates the moment the bed gets warm and damp again, which is why a freshly-washed dog bed can smell fine for a day and then smell like a dog again. The fix is a hot cycle that lifts the oil, an enzyme detergent that breaks it down, and a vinegar rinse that strips the residue and deodorizes — never fabric softener, which coats the bed in a film the dog can smell and that traps the next round of odor.

For pet bedding that has built up months of oil and hair, our Burlington S Church St team runs hot commercial cycles, or browse all four Royal Clean Locations.

Remove the Hair First

Dog hair in the wash is the first failure: it sheds off the bed in the cycle, floats in the water, and re-deposits across everything in the load. Remove the bulk of the hair before the wash. A lint roller, a rubber glove rubbed across the fabric (the static grabs the hair), or a dedicated pet-hair remover all work. For a bed with a removable cover, take the cover off and shake it out hard; for a one-piece bed, vacuum it first.

The goal is to get the loose hair out before it ever hits the water. The hair that makes it into the wash will clog your machine's lint filter and shorten the machine's life — a real cost over time.

The Wash Cycle

The Smell-Test

The only way to know a dog bed is clean is the wet-nose test: dampen the bed slightly and smell it. If it smells like wet dog, the oil isn't out — wash it again, hot, with a booster. If it smells like clean cotton, it's done. Never dry a dog bed that still smells; the dryer's heat sets the residual oil and makes the next wash harder.

The Foam Insert

Most dog beds have a foam insert inside the cover. The cover goes in the washer; the foam does not. Hand-wash the foam in a bathtub with a small amount of dish detergent, rinse thoroughly (squeeze, don't wring), and air-dry flat. A machine shreds the foam; a hand-wash keeps it for years.

Pet Allergens and Dander

For households with a family member who's allergic to the dog, the wash protocol matters more, not less. Hot water and an enzyme detergent lift the dander and the Can f 1 allergen protein; a second rinse clears it from the fabric. Wash the dog's bedding weekly during allergy season and the allergen load drops dramatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wash a dog bed with a foam insert?

The cover, yes — hot, enzyme detergent, vinegar rinse. The foam insert, no — hand-wash it in the tub with dish detergent, air-dry.

How do I get the wet-dog smell out after washing?

A vinegar rinse in the cycle strips the residual oil that causes the smell. If it still smells when you dampen it, wash again hot with a half-cup of baking soda.

Can I use fabric softener on pet bedding?

No. Softener coats the fabric in a film the dog can smell and that traps the next round of odor. Use vinegar in the rinse instead.

How often should I wash a dog bed?

Weekly for a dog that sheds and sleeps in the bed nightly; biweekly for a short-haired dog. A smell-test tells you when it's time.

The Bottom Line on Pet Laundry

Hot water, enzyme detergent, vinegar rinse, no softener, remove the hair first, hand-wash the foam. Run that routine and a dog bed stays clean instead of forever coming back to the wet-dog smell — and for the loads you'd rather hand off, our Drop Off Wash & Fold teams across Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Burlington handle the heavy pet bedding.