How to keep a dog bed from smelling

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How to keep a dog bed from smelling

Your furry family members are your pride and joy, but along with pets comes a host of smells that can make your home smell like … well, like a dog.

Dog beds are notorious for harbouring all sorts of odours and smells, but learning how to keep a dog bed from smelling is a lot easier than you think.

The truth is, you can keep your dog bed smelling much nicer if you learn how to keep both the dog bed and the dog itself a lot cleaner, and that’s what this article is here to help you do.

First Thing’s First…

First of all, keeping your dog bed clean is essential if you want it to smell better.

A good cleaning once a week is highly recommended, and you can use a pet-friendly detergent or a gentle detergent to get the job done.

If you have a dog bed with a cover, simply throw the cover in the washer at least once a week, but the bed itself has to be cleaned weekly for sure.

If you dog bed comes without a detachable cover, be sure to read our article on how to clean a dog bed without a removable cover.

Follow the instructions on the dog bed to make sure you don’t overlook anything important.

Your dog should also be bathed regularly so that dirt and germs don’t get too stuck within the bedding.

Indeed, keeping both the bed and the dog as clean as possible at all times does a lot to keep the doggie bed smelling better.

Ideally, dogs should be bathed two to five times per week, but you can also give them a “quickie” bath using corn starch or baking soda if you’re in a hurry.

Many pet parents, however, find that giving them a bath once a week is enough to keep them odor-free and healthy.

But of course, there are things you can do in between cleanings and bathing’s that will keep the bed smelling better.

One of the best things you can do is learn how to clean and disinfect the bed with natural cleaners instead of ones that are chemical-filled and purchased from a store.

Let’s Talk About in Between Dog Bed Cleanings

So, if you want to know how to keep a dog bed from smelling bad when you’re in between washings, there are a few things you can do.

First of all, while it’s impractical for you to wash the bed every day, you can still spot-clean it or do some disinfecting throughout the week.

For example, a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda and one cup of warm water can be used as a natural disinfectant.

Simply put it in a spray bottle and spray the bed daily. You can even add a few drops of tea tree oil if you like.

Another suggestion is to mix one-fourth cup of white vinegar with one-fourth cup of pet-friendly detergent, put it in a spray bottle, then spray the bed.

Let it sit for 15 minutes minimum, then vacuum the bed well.

The combination of the detergent and the vinegar keeps the bed both clean and sanitized, and you can do this three to five times per week or whenever you start to smell odors from the bed.

Why Does the Dog Bed Smell Bad?

Dog bedding doesn’t just smell bad because of urine, poop, or sweat stains.

It can also come from the dog’s ear infections or even certain skin conditions, including allergies, parasites, and bacterial and yeast infections.

If you’re wondering how to keep a dog bed from smelling, it’s best if you know where the source of the smells is coming from, which shouldn’t be that difficult.

Learning how to keep a dog bed from smelling is easy if you know what to do, have a read of our recent article on if you can use Tide and other detergents to clean your dog bed.