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You bought a washable dog bed. Good call. But if it's been sitting in the corner for three months collecting fur and that distinct "wet dog" smell, the "washable" part isn't doing you much good.
Most owners wash their dog's bed far less often than they should — and when they finally do, they run into the same problems: stuffing that clumps, covers that shrink, or mats that take forever to dry and end up musty anyway. The issue usually isn't the bed itself. It's not having a system.
Here's a practical routine that actually works, broken down by bed type.
How Often Should You Wash a Dog Bed?
A good rule of thumb: wash your dog's sleeping surface at least once every one to two weeks. If your dog goes outside daily, swims, has skin issues, or sheds heavily, lean toward weekly. Flat mats near entryways — the kind that catch muddy paws the moment your dog comes in — can need a wash every few days during rainy seasons.
Between washes, a quick shake outside and a once-over with a lint roller or vacuum goes a long way. It's not a substitute, but it keeps things manageable.
Flat Mats: The Easiest to Keep Clean
Flat mats are the low-maintenance workhorse of dog bedding — and for good reason. With no thick stuffing to deal with, they dry fast, fit easily in a standard washing machine, and don't require any special handling.
The Pet Life Fuzzy Quick-Drying Anti-Skid and Machine Washable Dog Mat (available in Dark Brown and Pink) is a good example of what a well-designed mat looks like in practice. The chenille-loop surface — those dense, rounded fibers you can see across the mat — is built to pull moisture away from paws quickly, which matters both for drying after a wash and for day-to-day use after muddy walks. Both colorways also feature a paw-print motif woven into the surface, so the design holds up even after repeated laundering.
For mats like these, washing is straightforward:
- Shake it out first. Take it outside and give it a firm shake to dislodge loose fur and debris before it goes in the machine.
- Wash on a gentle cycle with cold or warm water. Hot water is the most common cause of shrinkage and fiber breakdown — avoid it.
- Skip the fabric softener. It coats the fibers and reduces their ability to absorb moisture — the opposite of what you want from a quick-drying mat.
- Tumble dry low, or air dry. High heat can mat the fibers down permanently. Low heat or air drying keeps the texture intact.
Because these mats dry so fast, you can realistically wash them mid-week and have them back in place the same day. That's the advantage of going flat.
Cushioned Beds with Removable Covers: Wash Smarter, Not Harder
A stuffed dog bed is more comfortable for most dogs, but it introduces a real cleaning challenge: you can't always throw the whole thing in the machine, and even when you can, getting the fill to dry evenly is tricky.
This is where a removable cover changes everything. The Armarkat Mat Model M12HMB/MB-L Large with Handle has a removable cover over a poly fill cushion — which means you can pull the cover off, wash it separately, and let the inner cushion air out without soaking it every single time. For most households, that's the right approach: wash the cover weekly, and do a full cushion wash monthly or when it genuinely needs it.
The bed itself has a beige and white two-tone look — a linen-like beige on the sides and base, with a textured cream surface on top — and the large size gives bigger dogs real room to stretch out. The carry handle on the side is a small detail that makes a real difference when you're moving it to the laundry room or taking it to the car.
Washing the cover: Zip it off, check the care label, and wash on a gentle cycle. Most covers do fine in cold water. Tumble dry low and pull it out while it's slightly damp to ease it back onto the cushion — this prevents the frustrating scenario where a cover shrinks just enough to not fit properly anymore.
Washing the cushion insert: If your machine is large enough, wash it on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. The key step most people skip: add a couple of clean tennis balls to the dryer. They help break up clumping fill as it dries, so you don't end up with a lumpy, uneven cushion. Dry on low heat and check it every 20-30 minutes, fluffing and repositioning as needed. If the cushion is too large for your machine, spot-clean it and let it air out in a sunny spot — UV exposure is a natural deodorizer.
What to Do When a Cover Shrinks
It happens. You wash the cover on warm, dry it on high, and now it won't go back on. A few things to try:
- Dampen the cover while it's still warm and gently stretch it back into shape before it cools.
- Soak it in lukewarm water with a small amount of hair conditioner for about 30 minutes — this relaxes the fibers enough to regain some stretch.
- Going forward, always wash covers on cold and air dry or tumble dry low.
If the cover is beyond saving, it's worth checking whether the bed manufacturer sells replacement covers. For beds with a removable cover design, this is often an option — and it's cheaper than replacing the whole bed.
A Note on Travel Beds
If your dog sleeps in the car or in hotels as often as at home, a travel-specific bed is worth having alongside your main one. The Pet Life Travel-Nest Folding Travel Cat and Dog Bed folds flat into a carry bag — the blue and black nylon exterior folds down to a flat tote with handles, making it easy to pack. Having a dedicated travel bed means your clean home bed stays clean, and your dog always has a familiar sleeping spot away from home.
The Simplest System That Actually Works
You don't need a complicated schedule. Just two habits:
- Weekly: Wash the cover (or the whole mat, if it's flat). Vacuum the cushion if the cover isn't coming off this week.
- Monthly: Full wash of the cushion insert. Deodorize with baking soda if needed — sprinkle it on, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum off before washing.
Set a recurring reminder on your phone if you need to. Your dog can't ask for a clean bed, but they'll sleep better on one — and your living room will smell noticeably better within a week of keeping up with it.
Browse washable dog beds and mats at Petocart — free shipping anywhere in the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put a dog bed with stuffing in the washing machine?
It depends on the size of the bed and your machine. Many cushioned dog beds can go in a large-capacity front-loading machine on a gentle cycle, but stuffed inserts need to dry thoroughly — often with tennis balls in the dryer to prevent clumping. If the insert is too large for your machine, spot-clean it and air dry it in the sun instead. Beds with removable covers, like the Armarkat Mat M12HMB/MB-L, make this much easier since you can wash the cover frequently and only deal with the insert occasionally.
How often should I wash my dog's bed?
At minimum, every one to two weeks. If your dog goes outside often, has skin issues, or sheds heavily, once a week is better. Flat mats near entryways may need washing even more frequently — especially in wet weather when muddy paws are a daily reality. Between washes, vacuuming and shaking the bed out helps keep things fresher for longer.
Why does my dog bed cover keep shrinking in the wash?
The most common culprit is heat — either washing on hot or drying on high. Most dog bed covers do best on a cold or warm gentle cycle, then tumble dried on low or air dried. Pull the cover out while it's still slightly damp and ease it back onto the insert right away; this prevents it from setting in a shrunken shape as it finishes drying.
What's the best way to get dog smell out of a bed without washing it?
Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the bed, let it sit for a few hours (or overnight if the smell is strong), then vacuum it thoroughly. Airing the bed outside in direct sunlight also helps — UV light is a natural deodorizer. These are good between-wash options, but they're not a replacement for regular laundering.
