How do I Wash my Waterproof Dog Bed?

Can I Wash it in the Washing Machine?

You can definitely not wash your waterproof dog bed in the washing machine. The surface might clean up nicely, but the stitched seams are not waterproof in themselves. So therefore the prolonged period in the washing machine where the bed is submerged in water will mean that water will get in to the middle. Once the water has reached the stuffing in the dog bed it won’t come out. No matter how strong the spin cycle is, the water will stay in the stuffing. After a while it will start to rot and a fusty, moldy smell will appear. So washing machine is a no-no for waterproof dog beds.

Here is What you Need for Washing a Large, Waterproof Dog Bed. 

It is best to use hot, soapy water, a sponge or stiff brush and probably rubber gloves. You take the dog bed outside and give all surfaces a good scrub with the soapy water. You can certainly scrub over the seams, but don’t linger too long there; just enough time to make sure it is clean. Once you have cleaned the bed all over you can use the garden hose to rinse all the soapy water off. It is amazing how clean even the dirtiest dog beds end up. If you are cleaning a Tuffies Nest Dog Bed you will see that the most dirty part will be the top. The top is where your dog will be resting his head and also make a mark from getting in and out. So you can scrub extra on the top. With a Tuffies Nest you will also find it easier and more efficient if you turn it inside out. 

How do I Best Dry my Large Waterproof Dog Bed?

It is easy to dry your large waterproof dog bed in the summer. On a warm, dry day you just leave it outside leaning against the wall or resting on some garden furniture, fencing or similar. Leave it there for a few hours and it will be ready for use. 

When you wash beds in the winter time it will be difficult to dry them outside. The solution is your boiler room or if you have a dry boot room. It is important to dry them in a short period of time so they don’t start getting fusty. 

It is such a pleasure to give the dog his bed back, all clean and nice. Remember not to use strongly smelling detergents. A dog’s nose is extremely sensitive and it would be unfair to burden him with a pungent Washing smell. Many of the ecological detergents are quite neutral.