I love my dog but I definitely don’t love the wet-dog smells that come from his bed after he’s been in the rain or playing around in the creek.
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If you’re a dog owner, then you probably also own a dog bed, or should, and chances are that sometimes the dog bed stinks.
Regardless of how well and how often you clean your dog, some beds hold onto these bad odors, no matter what you try. If washing your dog bed is difficult or impossible, it’s even tougher to get the bed clean.
The solutions are:
- Buy a dog bed made from odor-free materials like the premium Choozy products we recommend.
- Try these products we like and tips that work for us, that you might find work for you 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
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
Buy the 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
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
Elevated dog beds
Suspension or elevated dog 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 (trampoline) 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.
Dog beds that sit on the floor:
The problem:
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:
Washable pet beds
We’ve sourced the washable Cubby pet bed for just this reason. It’s a quality product that’s hand-made by the Australian company Choozy. Being locally made from premium materials is your assurance that you’re buying the best.
We recommend the Choozy range of dog beds because the products are superior and made from premium materials that have been given the antimicrobial ‘Ultra-fresh’ treatment. This gives you a head start in the ‘trying to keep the bed clean’ challenge that we all face.
Properly clean dog bedding
In order to really get your dog bedding clean, you have to machine wash and air dry or tumble dry. The bedding can’t go 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.
Remember 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.
Stop dog from rolling in the dirt after a bath
I had the same problem. How to stop my dog rolling in the dirt straight after a bath. He loved it, much to my frustration. But my answer was simply to go with the flow and try a new strategy. I 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. Give it a try. It might work for you too.
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