To get the smell out of a pet bed, wash the removable cover in a hot wash and treat the inner cushion or foam separately with an enzyme cleaner, because that is where the odour really lives. A pet bed soaks up drool, dander, paw oils and the odd accident, and a surface wash of the cover alone leaves the smell in the stuffing. Vacuum it first, treat the source with enzymes, and dry it completely, and never put a damp pet bed back, because damp is what turns a doggy smell musty.
Start with the cover
- Vacuum the whole bed first to remove loose hair and dander, which otherwise clog the wash.
- Check the care label and wash the removable cover in the hottest wash the fabric allows, hot water helps break down odour and kills dust mites. Add an enzyme laundry treatment for set-in pet smells.
- Air- or tumble-dry per the label, and make sure it is fully dry before reassembling.
Treat the inner cushion, where the smell hides
The cover is the easy part; the foam or fibre filling is where odour concentrates, and a cover wash alone never fully fixes a smelly bed. For a washable insert, wash it as above. For a non-washable foam insert, spot-treat it with an enzyme cleaner that neutralises the odour-causing matter at the source, using minimal moisture, then dry it thoroughly with airflow. A light sprinkle of baking soda left on and vacuumed off can freshen the surface, but like all surface treatments it does not reach a deep source.
Drying matters as much as cleaning
A pet bed that goes back damp develops a musty smell on top of the pet smell, because moisture trapped in the foam grows mould. Dry both the cover and the insert completely, sunlight and airflow both help, before putting the bed back together. This is the same controlled-moisture principle that applies to mattresses and upholstery.
When to replace it
Be honest with a bed that has absorbed years of accidents and odour deep into the foam: sometimes the smell is beyond cleaning, and a new bed (with a washable, removable cover this time) is the better answer. A waterproof liner under the cover makes future cleaning far easier.
Common questions
How do you get the smell out of a dog bed?
Vacuum it, wash the removable cover in a hot wash with an enzyme treatment, and treat the inner cushion separately, washing a washable insert or spot-treating a foam one with an enzyme cleaner. Dry everything completely before reassembling, because a damp bed turns musty on top of the pet smell.
Can you wash the foam insert of a pet bed?
Only if the label says it is washable. A washable insert can go through a hot wash; a non-washable foam insert should be spot-treated with an enzyme cleaner using minimal moisture and then dried thoroughly. Never soak foam, it holds water and grows mould.
Does baking soda get smells out of a pet bed?
Only on the surface, and only briefly. A sprinkle left on and vacuumed off freshens the top layer, but it cannot reach the drool, oils and accidents soaked into the foam, so a deep smell returns. An enzyme treatment at the source is what actually removes it.
For pet odours that have spread beyond the bed into carpets and upholstery, contact us or see how to stop your home smelling like a pet.