How to Wash a Dog Bed, Collar, and Pet Gear

If you have a dog in North Idaho, that dog is probably working. Trail hikes around Schweitzer, swims in Lake Pend Oreille, muddy romps through the woods — your dog’s gear takes a beating. And that smell? It builds up fast.

Washing pet gear isn’t complicated, but there are a few things that can go wrong if you rush it. Here’s a straightforward guide to getting your dog’s bed, collar, leash, and accessories clean without destroying them or leaving behind anything that might irritate your pet’s skin.

Dog Beds: The Big One

Most dog beds have a removable cover and an inner cushion. Check both for a care label before doing anything.

• Removable covers: Wash on warm with a pet-safe, fragrance-free detergent. Fragrance-free matters — dogs have sensitive noses and heavily scented detergents can cause them to reject the bed entirely.
• The inner cushion: This is where home washers fall short. A thick foam or polyfill insert needs a large-capacity front-loader to wash properly. Stuff it into a small machine and it won’t agitate correctly, won’t rinse clean, and can develop mold inside the foam if it doesn’t dry all the way through.
• Drying: Use a large dryer on medium heat. Check every 20–30 minutes and pull apart any clumped fill. It may take two full cycles to dry completely — and it has to be completely dry before putting it back together.

Collars and Leashes

Nylon and polyester collars and leashes can go in the wash, but they do best in a mesh laundry bag to prevent hardware from banging around and damaging the drum — or getting caught in the seal of a front-loader.

• Use cold water and a gentle cycle
• Mild detergent, fragrance-free if possible
• Air dry — heat can degrade nylon over time and weaken the webbing
• Leather collars should be wiped clean with a damp cloth and conditioned, not machine washed

Harnesses and Soft Gear

Padded harnesses, soft-sided carriers, and dog backpacks usually have plastic buckles and foam padding. Wash cold on gentle, in a mesh bag. Most can be machine dried on low, but check the label — some foam padding will compress permanently if exposed to high heat.

Blankets and Throws

Dog blankets are probably the most straightforward item on this list. Warm water, regular cycle, pet-safe detergent. The main issue is pet hair — it can clog residential washing machine drains over time. Running the blanket through a dryer for 10 minutes first (to loosen hair) before washing helps a lot. Wipe out the drum after.

Dealing With Pet Hair in the Machine

Pet hair is sticky and it accumulates fast. A few things that help:

• Pre-dry everything for 10 minutes before washing — the dryer loosens embedded hair better than the washer does
• Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to relax fabric fibers and release hair
• Always wipe down the drum and door seal after a pet-gear load
• Clean the lint trap after every dryer cycle

At a commercial laundromat, the high-capacity front-loaders and powerful dryers handle pet gear much better than most apartment machines. Bigger drum, stronger spin, better rinse — the gear comes out cleaner and the hair situation is more manageable.

How Often Should You Wash Pet Gear?

For most dogs in North Idaho:

• Dog bed covers: Every 2–4 weeks, or immediately after a muddy adventure
• Inner cushion: Every 1–3 months
• Collar and leash: Monthly, or when visibly dirty
• Blankets and throws: Every 2 weeks

Dogs don’t care that their bed smells — they actually prefer it that way. But bacteria, dander, and mold are real concerns, especially if you have kids in the house or anyone with allergies. Regular washing is worth it.

Have a particularly funky piece of gear and not sure if it’s washable? Give us a call or stop by. We’re at 477181 US-95 in Ponderay, right next to Sandpoint.

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