Who shares their home with a perfect pooch or fabulous feline?
If you do, you’ll enjoy a LOT of pet positives!
Studies show owning a dog or cat makes us happier, reduces stress levels and even makes us less depressed. On top of that, they can help us get fit and ease feelings of loneliness.
What’s not to love?
Well potentially smelly, dirty, furry pet beds. We might not love those.
So we’re sharing the best way to clean pet bedding and blankets right here! But first…
… how often should pet beds be cleaned?
Pet bedding should ideally be washed once a week, just as often as we would wash our own bedding.
Why? Because dirty pet bedding means bacteria build up, as will unpleasant smells, dirt and any parasites or mites that could make an animal sick. And if your dog or cat suffers from skin sensitivity or allergy then you’ll want to be extra vigilant in your cleaning.
Cleaning your pet beds regularly can also protect the rest of your household from potential reactions to high levels of pet hair, dander and skin cells.
And let’s face it, our pets don't bathe as often as we do (lying down in muddy puddles doesn’t count!), so making sure their bedding stays clean is one way we can keep them smelling sweet.
5 steps to a clean pet bed.
1. fight the fur.
Start off by removing any loose fur and debris.
This will ensure your wash gives the best possible clean AND it will save you from a hairy washing machine.
You can either use a lint roller depending on the material of your pet bedding, or simply put the upholstery attachment on your vacuum and get to work (paying special attention to any crevices).
2. sniff test.
Noses at the ready… if your pet bed is a little smelly then step 2 will sort this out.
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda straight onto the pet bedding and leave in place for at least 30 mins. Bicarbonate of soda is a natural deodoriser that is safe to use around pets and will leave fabrics smelling fresh and clean.
3. tackle stains.
If there are any gnarly looking stains you may want to treat them first. Luckily our bleach-free stain gel is perfect for your furry friend’s bedding.
- Apply 2-3 pumps of stain gel to the dampened stain.
- Leave for 5 minutes.
- Continue to step 3.
4. into the wash.
If your pet bed has a removable cover then you can now take this off.
Check the care label on your pet bedding to ensure you know the recommended wash temperature. Cool or warm washes are usually best as very hot washes can damage fabrics but always make sure you are using low spin speed on your wash cycle. This will ensure you keep the shape of your bedding if the entire bed has to go into the machine.
You’ll want to use a pet-safe - good quality detergent too. Thankfully, smol laundry capsules are just that! They also come in both bio, non-bio or fragrance-free non-bio.
Bio detergent is great if you’re tackling heavy stains on your pet bedding, and our non-bio (scented or fragrance-free) is super popular with all pet owners and best of all - they each come with a FREE TRIAL if you’ve not yet tested them out!
5. all dry.
It’s important to thoroughly dry your pet bed to prevent mould or damp odours and ensure your dog or cat isn’t having to snuggle down into damp bedding!
When you can - try to air dry as much as possible to avoid shrinkage and save energy… and if this can be outside in the sunshine then so much the better. The sun’s UV rays are a natural disinfectant, and being outside in the fresh air leaves fabrics smelling just that little bit more lovely!
If you’ve not got the time to air dry then check your care label on the bedding before popping it into a tumble dryer or onto a heated airer.
Set the timer to short bursts on cooler temperatures and regularly check to ensure you are not drying more than is necessary.
and between washes…
It doesn’t hurt to give your dog or cat bed a quick vacuum at some point in between each wash. This will not only help to keep on top of any hair build-up, especially if your furry friend is a bit of a ‘shedder’, but will catch any unwanted parasites or mites that may have been brought into the home unknowingly.
And if you’re looking for a quick freshen up, hanging pet bedding outside in the fresh air and sunshine is a great way to remove odours and kill bacteria or viruses. Just make sure it’s not nap time or you’ll have to provide an alternative comfy spot for your 4-legged!
FREE TRIAL LAUNDRY CAPSULES
