As much as I love my dog, I don’t love the wet-dog smells that come from his bed after he’s been in the rain or playing n the creek.
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If you’re a dog owner, chances are that sometimes the dog bed stinks. It doesn’t matter how well and how often you clean your dog, some beds hold onto bad odors. If washing your dog bed is difficult or impossible, it’s even tougher to get the bed clean.
These are the solutions:
- Buy a dog bed made from odor-free materials like the premium Choozy products we recommend.
- Try these products and tips that work for us, that you might find helpful too.
Use natural cleaning products for dog beds
Non-Toxic Stain and odor remover
This product is safe for use around pets.
- The natural enzyme cleaner is designed to breakdown the stains
- It’s suitable for pet bedding, carpet, rugs, auto upholstery, tile, and laminates
- Product eliminates unpleasant odors urine, faeces, vomit, dirt etc.
- Use on new stains or old, set-in stains
Bio-Active stain and odour remover
Pet Stain and Odour Miracle
- A natural enzyme cleaner
- Animal cruelty free
- A safe, gentle, fresh, pure product
- Removes drool, urine, faeces, vomit
- Child and pet safe
- Deodorizer for pet beds, couches, etc.
- Removes pet stains and odors on furniture, carpets, rugs,
- Good for long haired dogs
Best dog shampoos and grooming products
100% Organic, 100% Vegan Cruelty Free shampoo
There’s a lot to love about this hypoallergenic dog shampoo that’s locally made in Queensland.
- 100% organic, hypoallergenic chemical free, vegan, cruelty free shampoo
- Ideal for pets with sensitive skin
- Contains natural oils – lavender, tea tree, sandalwood, sea buckthorn, flaxseed, sunflower seed oil, macadamia oil
- Bottles are biodegradable
- Made in Australia
4 in 1 natural whitening shampoo and conditioner
- Brightens white and light coloured coats
- Soap free
- Neutralizers odors
- Acts as deodorizer
- Enhances coat softness
- Free from dyes and parabens
- 3 fragrance options: jasmine pear, spring water, oatmeal
Clean and condition skin and coat – Jasmin Pear shampoo and conditioner
De-Stress Aromatherapy grooming spray for dogs
- Calming essential oils of lavender and chamomile destress and calm anxious dogs
- Use for freshening and grooming dogs
- The natural ingredients hydrate and soothe sensitive skin – contains Chamomile, lanolin, vitamin e oil, oats
- Eliminates pet odor
How to clean elevated dog beds
Trampoline dog beds, also called Elevated, Raised or Suspension beds use a vinyl bed material similar to a trampoline or an outdoor awning. The vinyl material is soft, flexible, and most importantly, it’s odour-free.
If you have a raised dog bed with vinyl material, you can spray the bed with “Simple Green” stain and odor remover. Wipe down the material and then let it air dry for a few minutes.
The frame of a trampoline dog bed allows you to remove the vinyl material so that it can be properly cleaned with a simple disinfectant spray. Of course, make sure the disinfectant spray you choose is safe for your dog.
How to clean dog beds that sit on the floor
Dog floor cushions and padded materials hold on to odors longer. Almost all of the fluffy, padded materials used in dog beds have a tendency to retain smells.
You might have been unlucky in the past and had one of the dog beds that sit on the ground that can’t be washed in your normal washing machine. These dog beds are hand wash-only and are very difficult to get entirely clean. And although some of these claim to be machine washable often they lose their shape after going through the wash.
The solution:
Buy washable pet beds
We recommend the washable Cubby pet bed for just this reason. Choozy beds have been given the antimicrobial ‘Ultra-fresh’ treatment.
A quality Australian product, locally made from premium materials is your assurance that you’re buying the best.
This gives you a head start in the ‘trying to keep the bed clean’ challenge that we all face.
More tips for clean dog bedding
To really get your dog bedding clean, you have to machine wash and air dry or tumble dry.
Don’t put dog bedding into the wash with any other laundry, and you shouldn’t use regular laundry detergent.
Apply dish detergent to the primary trouble spots, and use a mild odour-reducing spray before putting the bedding into the wash.
Most raised dog bed padding can be washed with the remainder of your pet’s laundry (like towels and toys).
- Regularly wash your dog and keep bedding clean to stay ‘flea free’ and your dog healthy.
- Brush your dog regularly to remove shedding hair.
- Regularly vacuum in and around the bed and pay particular attention to seams and the creases. A nail brush or old toothbrush works well to get into the really difficult areas to clean them out. And a hand-held portable vacuum is ideal.
- Good old fashioned baking soda is a household cleaner that can get rid of bad odours and help in the clean up of accidents.
Because some dogs can be sensitive to ingredients, it’s important that all traces of any detergent or baking soda you use are thoroughly removed.
The sunshine factor – sunlight is a natural antibacterial
The sun’s rays act as a natural antibacterial and have a disinfecting effect on fabric. Airing your pet’s bedding regularly, turning it over and placing it out in the sun helps cut down unpleasant odours and naturally kill bugs that are prone to breeding in your dog’s bed.
How do I stop my dog from rolling in the dirt after a bath?
I had this problem, much to my frustration. My dog loved it! In the end my solution was simply to go with the flow and try a new strategy. And it worked!
Throw a few old clean towels down on the grass and lay them out. My dog seems just as happy rolling around in the towels as dirt when he’s just had his bath. Try it, it might work for you too!
And if you’re looking for washable dog blankets to thrown in the washing machine check out this link and find out why we recommend Furhaven dog blankets and throws.
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