Washing a pet bed without wrecking the fill

A washable cover is the single best feature a bed can have — and the fastest way to destroy it is to wash the whole bed. Separate the cover from the fill and treat them differently.

The cover

• Zip it off and shake it out outdoors first. Loose hair clogs the machine and re-deposits on the fabric.
• Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with a small amount of detergent. Hot water shrinks most covers and sets odour.
• Skip the fabric softener. It coats the fibres and reduces the cover’s ability to wick moisture.
• Tumble dry low, or air dry. High heat breaks down elastic and stitching.

The fill

Foam cores should never go in a washing machine. The agitation tears the cell structure, and a foam core that has been machine washed will not recover its shape. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, then let it air dry fully, away from direct sun.

Shredded fill

Loose fibre fill can be washed if it is in a closed liner, but it clumps. Spread it out and break up the clumps by hand while it dries, then re-fluff.

Frequency

Wash the cover every two to four weeks for a regularly-used bed, and immediately after any accident. A bed that smells of ammonia will be avoided by the animal that slept in it.