How to Wash a Dog Bed So It Actually Stops Smelling

Most dog beds don't actually get washed — the removable cover does, while the foam or fiber-fill insert underneath sits for months soaking up skin oils, drool, and whatever your dog tracked in from outside. That's usually why a "clean" cover still smells musty within a day of going back on the bed. Getting a dog bed to actually stop smelling means washing what you can, treating what you can't machine-wash, and using a detergent built to break odor down rather than perfume over it.

Check what you're actually working with

Look at the bed before you start. Most beds fall into one of two categories:

• Removable, machine-washable cover over a separate insert. The cover goes in the wash on its own. The insert (foam, poly-fill, or a cushion pad) usually can't go in a washing machine — check the care tag, since some polyester fill inserts are machine-safe on a gentle cycle and some foam inserts are explicitly not.
• One-piece bed, no removable cover. These need to go in as a whole if the tag allows it, which limits your machine size and cycle options more than a cover-only wash.

If the insert isn't machine-washable, it still needs attention — foam and fill hold onto oils and odor even when the cover looks spotless. Vacuum it, air it out in the sun for a few hours (UV and airflow both help with odor), and spot-clean any obvious stains with a cloth and a small amount of detergent solution rather than fully saturating it.

How often, and why it matters more than people think

The American Kennel Club recommends washing your dog's bedding weekly "to reduce the risk of spreading parasites or zoonoses," and cites the EPA's guidance to deep clean beds every two to three weeks to help control flea infestations. The AKC also notes that pet bedding can carry harmful bacteria that spread through direct contact — which is a bigger deal than it sounds, since a dog bed gets far more skin contact, drool, and (for many dogs) outdoor debris than almost any other fabric in the house.

If your dog sheds heavily, has a skin condition, or spends a lot of time outside before flopping onto their bed, lean toward the weekly end of that range rather than "whenever it starts to smell."

The wash

1. Shake or vacuum off loose hair and debris first. A bed insert or cover with a lot of embedded hair will trap it further once wet, making both the wash and the smell worse.
2. Use one to two enzyme-based laundry sheets, depending on size. Our pet safe laundry detergent sheets go straight into the drum — one for a small or lightly soiled cover, two for a large bed cover or anything heavily soiled. The AKC's own guidance points the same direction: "use a fragrance-free, pet-friendly detergent" rather than a heavily scented one, since fragrance and dye sit right against your dog's skin for hours at a time.
3. Wash on the warmest setting the fabric allows. Check the care tag — many covers tolerate warm water, which helps break down oils and odor more effectively than a cold cycle. Don't guess past what the tag says; some fabrics or fill materials degrade at higher heat.
4. Dry it completely before it goes back on the bed. Any leftover dampness gives bacteria exactly the environment they need to start producing odor again, sometimes within hours. If you air-dried it, feel the center and any seams, not just the surface — those hold moisture longest.

When washing isn't the fix

If a bed still smells musty after a proper wash and full dry, and it's an older bed, the problem may be structural rather than a laundry one — foam that's broken down and started to hold moisture permanently doesn't fully recover with a better detergent. That's a bed-replacement decision, not a cleaning-product one, and no amount of enzyme power changes that outcome. Worth checking honestly before buying another round of detergent expecting a different result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often should I wash my dog's bed?

A: Weekly is the AKC's general guidance, based on reducing the spread of bacteria and parasites through contact with pet bedding. The EPA's recommendation for a deeper clean, specifically for flea control, is every two to three weeks. Heavy shedders or dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors may need weekly washing on the more frequent end of that range.

Q: Can I wash the foam insert, or just the cover?

A: Check the care tag first — foam inserts are often not machine-washable and can break down in a washer or dryer. If it's not machine-safe, vacuum it, air it out, and spot-clean stains rather than submerging it.

Q: What detergent is best for a smelly dog bed?

A: A fragrance-free, enzyme-based detergent does more of the actual work than a heavily scented one — the enzymes break down the proteins and oils causing the smell, rather than covering them. Skip chlorine bleach and optical brighteners, since neither is necessary on pet bedding and both are harsher than needed for something your dog lies on directly.

Q: Why does my dog's bed smell again so quickly after washing?

A: Usually because it wasn't fully dry before going back into use. Even slight dampness lets odor-causing bacteria restart quickly. If it smells musty despite a full, proper dry, an older or degraded insert may be holding onto moisture permanently — at that point, it's a bed-replacement issue rather than a laundry one.

Sources

• American Kennel Club — How to Clean Your Dog's Bed and Why It's Important (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/how-to-clean-a-dog-bed/)