How Often To Wash Dog Bedding

Every day, you come into contact with germy areas, such as public restrooms and the refrigerator door in the break room. Your dog's bed is another item to consider.

You may not be the one who sleeps there, but your dog's bedding is likely to come into contact with you multiple times per day.

When your dog comes to you to give a quick peck or moves from his bed onto your couch, he is bringing an invisible cloud full of germs with him.

Thankfully, dog beds and mats can be cleaned. Read on to find out how to wash a dog mat or bed.

Dogs, Germs and Diseases

According to the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, domestic animals can carry disease-causing bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.

Although your pet may not seem ill, infections can be passed from animals to people when you pet their fur or come in contact with their feces, vomit, saliva, urine or other bodily discharges.

Unfortunately, many of these disease-causing organisms can live in the environment (including on your dog's bed) for up to 12 months without a host.

How Often Should a Dog's Bed be Cleaned?

Laundering your pet's bedding at least once every week or once every two weeks will reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases.

However, as we know, not all dogs are the same, so you may wish to consider a few points.

You should consider the activity level of your dog, their shedding habits, how much time they spend outside, and whether they have allergies.

You may want to wash your clothes twice a week if these factors are significant.

The longer between washings you wait, the more difficult it is for your washing machine removes all of the pathogens that may be present in the bedding.

How to Clean a Dog's Bed

Sally Bloomfield is an honorary professor of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She recommends washing all pet bedding, including dog covers and cushion covers, at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, using chlorine bleach and detergent.

Choose the highest setting if your washing machine does not measure temperature. This will help to kill as many bacteria as possible.

For pets with sensitive skin choose a natural soap and an additional rinse cycle. You should dry your pet's bedding at the highest temperature possible. Be sure to hang-dry any matting or filling so they do not clump together in the dryer.

To reduce the risk of infection, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you have touched your pet or its bedding.

Use paper towels and gloves to wipe up any feces. Also, clean the floor around your pet's bedding regularly.

Is There a Quick Cleaning Method?

There is no easy way to clean the bedding of your dog. Vacuuming can reduce hair and dirt but it won't get rid of microbes that are harmful to your dog's bedding.

According to the IFH, washing your pet's bedding once a week is the only way to lower your risk of transmitting infectious diseases.

Between washings, use a vacuum cleaner or rubber gloves to remove the hair or cover the bed with a sheet.

If you want to clean different types of dog bed, then follow the instructions on the label. The washing instructions can vary depending on whether the bed is removable or has a removable fill.

Water temperature and washing time should be the same, regardless of bed type.

Take Away

To avoid contracting any illnesses or diseases from your dog, you should clean your dog's bedding once a week, or, at least once every two weeks.

However, this may need to change based on your dog's activity levels. If they spend lots of time outside and with other animals you may need to wash it more often.