How to Wash Dog Bedding Properly: Remove Dirt, Odours & Keep It Fresh

Dog beds and blankets can get dirty surprisingly quickly.

Hair, mud, saliva, skin oils, urine, outdoor dirt and that unmistakable doggy smell can all build up on bedding – particularly when you have multiple dogs or a dog that considers every puddle an invitation.

But what's the best way to wash dog bedding?

And what's the difference between simply making a dog bed smell nice and actually getting it clean?

The key is understanding that cleaning, odour control, disinfection and fragrance are different jobs.

At Pet Connection, products such as Pet Bed Wash, Odor-Kill, Bio-Safe and Kifra Laundry Perfume can all have a place in a pet household's cleaning routine – but they aren't interchangeable.

Here's how to keep dog beds, blankets, crate bedding and other washable pet textiles properly clean and fresh.

How Often Should You Wash Dog Bedding?

For most dogs, washing their main bedding approximately once every one to two weeks is a reasonable starting point.

But there's no universal schedule.

You may need to wash bedding more frequently if your dog:

• Sleeps in the bed every day

• Gets muddy regularly

• Swims frequently

• Sheds heavily

• Drools

• Has toileting accidents

• Has particularly oily skin or coat

• Shares bedding with several dogs

• Is recovering from an infectious illness

• Has bedding that develops an obvious smell quickly

Multi-dog households can find themselves washing pet bedding considerably more often simply because more dogs mean more hair, dirt and moisture.

Use your eyes and nose too. If the bed is visibly dirty or smells unpleasant, don't wait for an arbitrary washing day.

Why Does Dog Bedding Smell?

That familiar dog-bed smell isn't caused by one single thing.

Dog bedding collects a mixture of:

Skin oils and sebum

Hair and dander

Saliva

Moisture

Mud and outdoor debris

Urine or other bodily fluids

Microorganisms

These can accumulate within the fabric and padding over time.

Simply covering the resulting smell with a strong fragrance doesn't actually remove what's causing it.

That's why an effective dog-bedding routine starts with cleaning, not perfume.

Step 1: Remove as Much Dog Hair as Possible

Before putting a dog bed or blanket into the washing machine, remove as much loose hair and debris as practical.

Shake the bedding outside and use a vacuum, brush or other suitable hair-removal tool if necessary.

This is particularly worthwhile with fleece blankets and heavily shedding dogs.

Removing hair beforehand means less of it ends up:

• Inside your washing machine

• Around the door seal

• In the filter

• In drainage components

• Stuck back onto the freshly washed bedding

If you wash a lot of pet bedding, check and clean your washing machine's filter according to the manufacturer's instructions too.

Step 2: Check the Dog Bed's Washing Instructions

Before washing anything, check the care label.

Some dog beds can be put into the washing machine whole.

Others have a removable washable cover but an inner mattress or filling that needs to be cleaned differently.

Check the recommended:

• Washing temperature

• Cycle

• Drying method

• Maximum temperature

• Whether tumble drying is permitted

Don't automatically use the hottest wash available.

The correct temperature is the highest appropriate temperature for the textile, detergent and cleaning objective – not simply the highest number your washing machine can produce.

Step 3: Treat Obvious Soiling Before Washing

If there's a particularly dirty area, deal with it before putting the bedding through a normal wash.

Mud should be allowed to dry and removed where practical rather than introducing huge quantities of soil directly into the washing machine.

Urine, vomit, faeces and other biological contamination may require a more thorough cleaning and hygiene process.

This is also where it's important to distinguish between an unpleasant smell and the underlying material causing that smell.

The aim isn't just to make urine smell like flowers.

The aim is to remove the contamination.

Step 4: Use a Suitable Pet Bedding Laundry Product

The main washing stage needs to actually remove dirt and contamination from the fabric.

This is where a dedicated product such as Pet Bed Wash can be useful.

Pet Bed Wash is designed specifically with washable pet textiles in mind, making it suitable for items such as:

• Dog beds

• Pet blankets

• Crate bedding

• Towels

• Throws

• Washable pet mats

• Other suitable washable pet fabrics

Use it according to the manufacturer's directions and the care instructions for the bedding.

A specialist pet laundry product can make particularly good sense in households where dog washing accounts for a significant percentage of everything that goes through the machine.

And if your washing machine seems to contain a dog blanket every time you open it, we're talking about you.

Step 5: Deal With Persistent Pet Odours

Sometimes washing alone isn't the entire problem.

Pet smells can be remarkably persistent, particularly where urine, dampness or heavily used bedding is involved.

This is where an odour-neutralising product has a different role from detergent or fragrance.

What Is Odor-Kill?

Odor-Kill is a highly concentrated professional odour neutraliser available from Pet Connection.

Rather than simply covering an unpleasant smell with another fragrance, an odour-control product is intended to tackle the odour itself.

Pet Connection's concentrated Odor-Kill is extremely economical:

250ml of concentrate can make approximately 25 x 500ml spray bottles when diluted as directed.

It's available in a Bubblegum fragrance and can be useful around pet environments where persistent odours are a regular challenge.

The important distinction is:

Odour neutraliser ≠ detergent

and

Odour neutraliser ≠ laundry perfume

Each product has a different job.

For laundry or textile applications, always follow the product's directions carefully and ensure the intended method is suitable for the particular fabric or surface.

Step 6: When Do You Need to Disinfect Dog Bedding?

Not every dog blanket needs to be treated as a biohazard.

For routine household washing, effective cleaning is generally the priority.

There are situations, however, where disinfection becomes much more important.

Examples can include environments involving:

• Infectious disease

• Multiple unrelated dogs

• Boarding

• Breeding

• Rescue or foster dogs

• Veterinary environments

• Contamination with bodily fluids

• Higher-risk hygiene situations

Cleaning and disinfection aren't the same thing.

Cleaning removes dirt and organic material.

Disinfection uses an appropriate product to reduce or destroy susceptible microorganisms.

And importantly, effective cleaning is often required before a disinfectant can work properly.

Step 7: Where Does Bio-Safe Fit In?

Bio-Safe is one of the hygiene products available from Pet Connection for pet and animal environments.

A disinfectant should be used when your objective goes beyond making something visibly clean or pleasantly scented and you specifically need an appropriate hygiene or biosecurity step.

That makes products such as Bio-Safe particularly relevant to:

• Kennels

• Multi-dog households

• Boarding environments

• Breeders

• Grooming environments

• Rescue facilities

• Pet professionals

• Households dealing with particular contamination risks

The exact dilution, contact time and method of application matter enormously with disinfectants.

Stronger is not automatically better.

Always follow the manufacturer's current instructions for Bio-Safe, including the correct dilution, required contact time, suitable surfaces and whether rinsing is necessary.

Never mix disinfectants with other cleaning chemicals unless the manufacturer specifically states that this is safe.

Cleaning vs Disinfecting Dog Bedding

These terms are often used as though they mean the same thing.

They don't.

Imagine a dog blanket covered in mud.

Spraying disinfectant over the top doesn't magically remove the mud.

The physical dirt and organic material need to be removed first.

Similarly, a blanket coming out of the washing machine smelling strongly of perfume doesn't automatically mean it has been disinfected.

A useful way to think about the process is:

DIRT → CLEAN

ODOUR → NEUTRALISE

GERMS → DISINFECT when necessary

FRAGRANCE → ADD afterwards if wanted

That distinction makes it much easier to choose the correct pet cleaning product.

Step 8: Dry Dog Bedding Thoroughly

Don't underestimate drying.

Putting slightly damp bedding back into a dog bed, crate or cupboard is an excellent way to create that unpleasant musty smell you've just worked to remove.

Dry bedding completely according to its care instructions.

Depending on the item, this might mean:

• Line drying

• Air drying

• Tumble drying

Thick beds and padded items need particular attention because the outside can feel dry while moisture remains trapped inside the filling.

Don't put the bedding back into use until it's properly dry throughout.

Step 9: Want It to Smell Amazing? Add Fragrance Separately

Once the bedding is actually clean, you can think about fragrance if that's something you want.

This is where Kifra Laundry Perfume fits into the routine.

Kifra is a concentrated fabric fragrance rather than a detergent, disinfectant or specialist pet-odour neutraliser.

For suitable washable fabrics, Kifra is added to the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine.

It's extremely concentrated, with approximately 2.5ml per standard load providing a useful starting point.

At that dose, a 200ml bottle can provide up to approximately 80 washes.

There are fresh, floral, fruity, sweet and perfume-style fragrances available, alongside smaller samples and mini bottles if you don't want to commit to a full-size fragrance immediately.

But Should You Use Laundry Perfume on Dog Bedding?

This needs a little common sense.

Dogs have an extremely well-developed sense of smell, and individual animals can also have sensitivities to fragranced household products.

Just because you love a strongly fragranced blanket doesn't necessarily mean your dog wants to sleep with their nose pressed into it for eight hours.

If you choose to fragrance pet bedding, consider the individual animal and start conservatively.

For dogs with known skin, respiratory or fragrance sensitivities, an unfragranced or appropriately formulated cleaning routine may be preferable.

You can always reserve your favourite Kifra for the human bedding.

Even if the dog sleeps there too.

Pet Bed Wash vs Odor-Kill vs Bio-Safe vs Kifra: What's the Difference?

This is probably the most useful way to understand the four products.

Pet Bed Wash – For Cleaning

Think:

"I need to wash this."

Pet Bed Wash is the cleaning stage for suitable washable pet bedding and textiles.

Its role is dealing with the actual laundry.

Odor-Kill – For Odour Control

Think:

"This still smells."

Odor-Kill is a concentrated odour neutraliser for tackling persistent smells in pet environments.

Its purpose shouldn't be confused with simply adding a pleasant perfume over the top of an existing odour.

Bio-Safe – For Hygiene & Disinfection

Think:

"I need an additional hygiene/biosecurity step."

Bio-Safe fits into situations where disinfection is required rather than routine cleaning alone.

Correct dilution, application and contact time are essential.

Kifra – For Fragrance

Think:

"It's clean. Now I want it to smell amazing."

Kifra is the optional fragrance stage.

It isn't there to clean, disinfect or neutralise the source of bad smells.

That distinction matters.

A Simple Dog Bedding Cleaning Routine

For normal everyday bedding, your routine might look like this:

1. Shake and remove loose hair

↓

2. Check the care label

↓

3. Pre-treat obvious contamination if required

↓

4. Wash using Pet Bed Wash or another appropriate laundry detergent

↓

5. Deal with persistent odour using an appropriate odour-control product such as Odor-Kill where suitable

↓

6. Add an appropriate disinfection stage using Bio-Safe when there is a genuine hygiene requirement

↓

7. Dry completely

↓

8. Add fragrance such as Kifra where appropriate and wanted

Not every load needs every product.

That's important.

For an ordinary blanket from a healthy household dog, you may simply need effective washing and drying.

For heavily soiled bedding in a multi-dog professional environment, your cleaning protocol may be considerably more involved.

Use products according to the actual problem you're trying to solve.

How to Wash Dog Bedding After a Toileting Accident

If a dog urinates or defecates on bedding, remove the contamination promptly.

Remove solid material before washing and follow appropriate hygiene precautions.

Check the bedding's care instructions and use a suitable washing process to remove the contamination thoroughly.

If an odour remains, an appropriate odour-neutralising product may be useful.

If the circumstances create an infectious-disease concern, an appropriate disinfectant may also be required.

Don't simply spray perfume onto contaminated bedding and consider the job finished.

Clean first. Fragrance last.

How to Wash Dog Bedding in a Multi-Dog Home

The more dogs you have, the more useful it becomes to have an actual bedding routine.

Consider keeping spare sets of washable blankets so dirty bedding can be removed immediately rather than waiting until washing day.

Shake hair outside before washing.

Avoid overloading the washing machine with enormous quantities of fleece.

Clean the machine's filter regularly.

Allow bedding to dry completely.

And consider separating routine cleaning products from specialist products for odour control and disinfection so you're not automatically throwing every chemical you own into every wash.

The goal is an effective routine, not a chemistry experiment.

How to Keep Dog Bedding Fresh Between Washes

Regular washing remains the foundation, but a few habits can help keep bedding fresher between washes.

Vacuum or shake loose hair regularly.

Don't allow wet dogs to climb straight into thick bedding where possible.

Rotate washable blankets.

Deal with accidents immediately.

Make sure the room and bedding remain dry and well ventilated.

And wash bedding when it needs washing rather than repeatedly spraying fragrance onto something that's already dirty.

Can You Wash Dog Bedding in the Same Washing Machine as Your Clothes?

For most normal household situations, washable pet bedding can be cleaned in a domestic washing machine according to the machine manufacturer's guidance.

Good machine hygiene is important.

Remove excessive hair beforehand, clean the door seal, check the filter regularly and use any recommended machine-cleaning programme.

Where bedding has been heavily contaminated or there is an infectious-disease concern, additional hygiene precautions may be appropriate.

Dog Bedding Cleaning FAQs

What should I wash dog bedding with?

Use a suitable laundry detergent or specialist pet-bedding wash according to the textile's care instructions. Pet Bed Wash is one option specifically intended for washable pet textiles.

How often should dog bedding be washed?

Approximately every one to two weeks can be a useful starting point for normal household bedding, but wash more frequently when bedding becomes dirty, wet or smelly or where individual hygiene requirements make this necessary.

How do I get dog smell out of blankets?

Start with effective cleaning rather than fragrance. Remove loose hair and dirt, wash the blanket appropriately and dry it completely. For persistent odours, an appropriate odour-neutralising product such as Odor-Kill may be useful according to its directions.

Is Odor-Kill a disinfectant?

Odour control and disinfection are different functions. Choose products according to whether your objective is removing an odour or addressing a specific hygiene risk.

What is Bio-Safe used for?

Bio-Safe is used as part of hygiene and disinfection routines in suitable animal environments. Follow the manufacturer's current directions regarding dilution, contact time, application and suitable surfaces.

Can I use Kifra on dog blankets?

Kifra is a concentrated laundry fragrance that can add scent to suitable washable fabrics. Consider your individual dog's sensitivity to fragrance and follow the product and textile instructions.

Does Kifra remove dog smell?

Kifra should be thought of as a fragrance product, not a substitute for cleaning or specialist odour neutralisation.

If dog bedding smells unpleasant, clean it and address the cause of the odour first.

What's the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?

Cleaning physically removes dirt and organic material. Disinfection involves using an appropriate disinfectant under specified conditions to reduce or destroy susceptible microorganisms.

Something can look clean without having been disinfected, and spraying disinfectant onto something visibly dirty isn't a substitute for cleaning.

Should I disinfect dog bedding every time I wash it?

Not necessarily. Routine household washing and situations involving specific infection or biosecurity risks are different.

Use a disinfectant when there is a reason to disinfect and follow its directions rather than automatically adding disinfectant to every normal load.

Dog Bedding Cleaning Products at Pet Connection

Keeping dog bedding fresh is much easier when you choose products according to the job they actually need to do.

Pet Bed Wash – for washing suitable pet beds, blankets and textiles.

Odor-Kill – for tackling persistent odours rather than simply masking them.

Bio-Safe – for situations requiring an appropriate hygiene and disinfection step.

Kifra Laundry Perfume – for adding your chosen fragrance once suitable laundry is clean.

The most important rule?

Don't use fragrance to hide dirty bedding.

Get it clean first, deal with persistent odours appropriately, disinfect when there's a genuine need – and then, if you want your freshly washed laundry to smell incredible, that's when you can have some fun choosing the fragrance.