A dirty dog bed is not just ugly — it holds hair, dander, spit, mud, and sometimes urine that soaks into foam and never fully leaves. Washing the right way keeps the bed usable longer and keeps your home smelling like a home. The golden rule: wash what the maker says is washable, dry foam completely before reassembly, and never put a memory-foam or egg-crate core in the machine unless the label explicitly allows it.

This guide sits under our Complete Guide to Dog Beds. Prefer beds that are easy to clean from day one? See How to Choose a Dog Bed. Shop washable picks in our dog beds catalog.

Before you wash

  1. Read the care tag — cover-only wash, whole-bed wash, and “spot clean only” are different products.
  2. Shake and vacuum — knock out hair and grit so it does not redeposit in the washer.
  3. Unzip carefully — note which zipper closes the base vs. the bolster so reassembly is not a puzzle.
  4. Check for a waterproof liner — wipe it; do not shred it trying to stuff foam into the dryer.
  5. Spot-treat stains first — enzyme cleaner for urine/vomit; mild detergent for mud and food.
  6. Have a backup — spare cover or crate mat so laundry day is not floor night.

What usually goes in the washer

  • Removable outer covers (most orthopedic couches)
  • Many crate pads sold as fully machine-washable
  • Some donut beds (cover or whole nest — follow the listing)

Default cycle: cold or warm water, gentle/delicate, mild detergent, extra rinse if the dog has a sensitive skin history. Skip fabric softener — it leaves residue dogs lick and can reduce waterproofing.

Default dry: low heat or air dry until the cover is fully dry. High heat can shrink covers so they no longer fit the foam.

What usually does not go in the washer

  • Memory foam and egg-crate foam cores
  • Solid orthopedic mattress inserts
  • Gel cooling pads (wipe only; punctures spill gel)
  • Beds with glued seams or “spot clean only” tags

If foam gets wet from an accident: blot, wipe the waterproof liner, air-dry the core fully in a ventilated spot, and replace the foam if it smells permanently or crumbles. Soaked unprotected foam is often a replace, not a rescue.

Wash by bed type

Orthopedic couch / bolster beds

  1. Unzip and remove the cover (and bolster inserts if separate).
  2. Wipe the waterproof liner and foam with a damp cloth; air-dry foam if damp.
  3. Wash the cover on gentle; dry completely.
  4. Refit foam so seams and non-slip bottom line up; do not force a damp cover over foam.

Easy-wash pick: EHEYCIGA Orthopedic XL (44") — removable washable cover with waterproof liner under the foam.

Memory foam pick: PetFusion BetterLounge Orthopedic (XL) — solid foam with waterproof liner; wash the cover, protect the core.

Calming donut / faux-fur nests

  1. Shake outdoors — faux fur sheds loose fibers heavily on the first washes.
  2. Wash on gentle; use a mesh bag if your machine eats zipper pulls.
  3. Reshape the rim while damp; dry on low or air dry so the nest keeps loft.

Washable nest pick: Bedsure Calming Donut (30") — follow the listing for cover vs. whole-bed wash.

Crate and kennel mats

  1. Measure how the pad sat in the crate so it goes back the same way.
  2. Many thin pads wash whole; orthopedic crate beds often have removable covers — check yours.
  3. Dry fully before returning to a closed crate (damp pads grow odor fast).

Fully washable pad: KSIIA Washable Medium Crate Bed — machine-washable flat kennel pad.

Orthopedic crate cover: Sunheir Orthopedic Large Crate Bed — washable cover over egg-crate foam with waterproof protection.

Elevated cots

Hose or wipe the mesh; scrub with mild soap if needed; air dry. No washer/dryer for the frame. Check bolts and feet after cleaning.

Hose-clean pick: Coolaroo Original Elevated Dog Bed (Large) — outdoor-friendly mesh cot.

Aggressive chewers on armored cots: wipe/hose the sling and frame; see Best Dog Beds for Chewers.

Cooling gel mats

Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap. Do not puncture, freeze-crack, or machine-wash. Keep out of hot cars and direct sun. Details: Best Cooling Dog Beds.

Wipe-clean pick: The Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad (Large).

Accidents, odors, and waterproof liners

  • Act fast — blot urine; rinse the cover; use an enzyme pet cleaner on organic stains.
  • Trust the liner — if you bought waterproof protection, wipe the liner and confirm foam stayed dry.
  • Smell that will not leave the foam — replace the core (or the bed). Perfume sprays only mask decay.
  • Senior / puppy households — keep a spare cover; wash more often. See Best Dog Beds for Senior Dogs.

How often should you wash a dog bed?

  • Weekly: shake, vacuum, spot-clean high-traffic beds
  • Every 1–2 weeks: wash covers for muddy, drooly, or multi-dog homes
  • Monthly: minimum for a single indoor adult with light soil (increase with seasons)
  • Immediately: after diarrhea, urine, vomit, skunk, or swimming in dirty water

Rotate foam occasionally so one hip zone does not compress forever — longevity tips also live in Best Orthopedic Dog Beds.

Beds that make laundry easier

Prices are recent Amazon snapshots and change often. Links may earn a commission — see our advertising disclosure.

A simple laundry-day checklist

  1. Backup bed down for the dog.
  2. Shake → unzip → wipe liner/foam.
  3. Gentle wash, mild detergent, no softener.
  4. Dry cover completely; air-dry any damp foam.
  5. Reassemble dry-only; confirm non-slip base faces down.
  6. Replace beds that smell permanently, pancake, or shed foam dust.

Choosing washable gear up front saves this chore: How to Choose a Dog Bed. Full buying framework: The Complete Guide to Dog Beds.