How to Wash Dog Blankets for Bed? | Keep Them Fresh

Dog blankets for bed take a beating — mud, drool, fur, and that distinct “wet dog” smell. Washing them wrong can ruin the fabric or leave irritants behind. The good news? Most blankets handle a normal machine cycle just fine, as long as you follow the care tag and a few simple habits. Here’s the process that works, from pre-clean to dry.

Step 1: Read the Care Label Before Anything Else

The single most important step happens before the blanket touches water. Care labels spell out the maximum water temperature, dryer setting, and whether the item is even machine washable. Maytag’s guide is blunt: check that tag first, because fabric type controls everything that follows.

Most cotton, fleece, and polyester dog blankets are machine washable. Wool, canvas, nylon, and waterproof or specialty blankets often are not. A waterproof blanket, for instance, may need gentle washing or spot cleaning to keep its coating intact. If the label says hand wash or dry clean only, follow that instruction — forcing a machine wash can wreck the blanket.

Step 2: Remove Hair and Pre-Treat Stains

Loose fur clumps into the washer and traps dirt, so get it off before washing. Shake the blanket outside first, then go over it with a lint roller or a damp rubber glove. If you have a dryer handy, an air-only cycle (no heat) for 10–15 minutes loosens embedded hair — just clean the lint trap afterward, twice.

For muddy spots or bodily fluids, pre-treat before the wash. An enzyme stain remover breaks down the proteins in urine and drool far better than regular detergent. Apply it to the stain, let it sit for the time the product directs, then wash as usual.

Step 3: Wash With Pet-Safe Detergent and an Extra Rinse

Use a detergent free of dyes and heavy fragrances — regular laundry soap leaves residue that can irritate a dog’s skin. If the blanket’s insert or cover is heavily soiled, a second rinse cycle helps pull out all the soap and loosened grime.

One hard rule applies here: skip the fabric softener. The AKC notes that fabric softeners can irritate pets, and on waterproof or breathable blankets, the coating can break down and ruin the fabric’s function. If you want softness, a half-cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle does the job without the residue.

Drying and Aftercare: Low Heat or Air Only

How you dry depends entirely on the fabric. Most synthetic blankets handle low heat in the dryer, but check the care tag for its specific dryer setting. High heat shrinks cotton and can melt or warp synthetic fibers, so when in doubt, choose the lowest setting or skip the dryer entirely.

PetMD’s guidance for dog bedding is straightforward: air-dry when you can. Hang the blanket in a sunny spot if the fabric tolerates it — sunlight is a natural deodorizer — or indoors in a well-ventilated area. A few wool or specialty blankets should never see the dryer at all.

How Often Should You Wash Them?

Most sources land on every one to two weeks for dog bedding. If your dog spends serious time on the blanket, sleeps on it nightly, or has allergies or skin issues, weekly washes keep allergens and bacteria in check. A blanket used only occasionally can stretch to every two weeks without issue.

For blankets with removable covers, unzip and wash the cover separately from the padding or insert, as long as each piece’s care label allows it. This protects the inner filling from clumping and lets you wash the cover more frequently than the insert needs.

Common mistakes that shorten a blanket’s life: skipping the care label, using fabric softener, washing without removing hair first, overloading the washer so nothing gets clean, and drying on heat higher than the fabric allows. Avoid those five and your dog’s bedding stays fresh for the long haul. If you’re shopping for a replacement that’s built to survive repeated washes, see our roundup of the best dog blankets for bed — we tested which ones hold up.