A pet bed is a great place for furry friends to snooze—but these cozy spots can get gross fast.
I’ve spent years cleaning up all kinds of pet messes created by my own cat and dog. And I’ve developed my own process for removing hairballs, bathroom accidents, and mystery stains from their bedding so it looks clean and comfortable again. Using a few essentials pet owners are likely to already own, it’s relatively easy to make a dirty pet hideaway blemish-free again.
What you need
- A vacuum cleaner: To remove pet hair and dirt, it’s best to use an upright with a hose attachment, like the SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium, or a handheld vac that’s excellent at sucking up matted mess like the Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum.
- Paper towels: Use these to clean up hairballs and other pet messes.
- Pet stain remover: The Nature’s Miracle lineup of products can clean up and eliminate odors from some of the toughest dog and cat messes.
- An old toothbrush and hydrogen peroxide or hand soap: Use these to remove dried-on or tough stains.
Optional (but recommended)
- A pet-hair remover: When it comes to cleaning a pet’s bedding, the ChomChom Pet Hair Remover is portable, reusable, and easier to maneuver than a vacuum cleaner.
- Washing machine: If the bedding will fit in the wash, save yourself the headache of cleaning it by hand, and toss it into a machine instead.
- Laundry detergent: Pets are sensitive to smells, so opt for Tide Ultra Stain Release Free, which is fragrance-free without compromising on cleaning power.
Remove the pet fur
Our pick
This bagged canister vacuum has many adjustment options and attachments that make picking up fur a breeze. It’s expensive, but built to last for the long haul.
Our pick
Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07
The best handheld vacuum for people with pets
With its motorized brush and extendable crevice tool, this handheld vac cleans up pet fur in a snap.
Before you wash your pet’s bed, remove any fur buildup, dirt, and other debris. Grab a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment, such as the SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium, or a handheld model with plenty of suction power, like the Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07.
Staff Favorite
This inexpensive handheld cleaner’s back-and-forth rolling generates an electrostatic charge that effectively clears even the most hair-matted upholstery. It holds up for years and doesn’t require refills.
If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, a handheld cleaner works great. And even if you do have a vacuum, daily upkeep with this roller will make cleaning that much easier by helping you avoid hair build-up. I’m a big fan of the ChomChom Pet Hair Remover between deep cleans. It never fails to wrangle the seemingly innumerable strands left behind by my domestic longhair cat, Tanzie.
After vacuuming and/or rolling, give your bed or cover a good shake to get rid of anything left behind (we recommend doing this outside).
Pretreat any stains
For pet beds with removable covers, unzip the cover from the stuffing. This will allow you to see how deep the stain penetrates, so you can pretreat it without leaving any filth behind. It’s best to wipe up any fresh messes with a paper towel prior to removing fur buildup. But for caked-on stains, you may find it easier to vacuum up the fur before treating the area. Pet stains should be thoroughly soaked in the cleaning solution for 20 minutes and blotted up with a paper towel.
I recommend pretreating pet urine, feces, blood, vomit, and other messes with Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Eliminator lineup for dog messes and cat messes. These are designed to penetrate stains and remove all traces of odor, including the marking pheromones pets release while relieving themselves. Saturate stubborn stains with Nature’s Miracle and let it sit for a few minutes. Then scrub the area with a toothbrush and let it dry overnight. If I’m really worried about the stain, I’ll saturate the blemish again before leaving it to dry. The bacterial enzymatic solution should break down and remove the smear and offending odor as it sits.
Wash and dry
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to washing the bed. If none are provided, you can probably safely toss the bed’s cover (or the entire bed if it’s small and doesn’t have a removable cover) in the washing machine on a cold cycle.Opt for a dye- and scent-free detergent, like the Tide Ultra Stain Release Free, since many pets are highly sensitive to smells. Run it on the spin cycle one more time to remove any moisture the bed’s batting may have trapped.
Finally, either air dry or tumble dry the bed on low heat to limit fabric shrinkage or batting bunching, and don’t use any dryer sheets.
Meet your guide
Kaitlyn Wells is a senior staff writer who advocates for greater work flexibility by showing you how to work smarter remotely without losing yourself. Previously, she covered pets and style for Wirecutter. She's never met a pet she didn’t like, although she can’t say the same thing about productivity apps. Her first picture book, A Family Looks Like Love, follows a pup who learns that love, rather than how you look, is what makes a family.
Further reading
How to Clean a Remote Control
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Remote controls are among the most-touched objects in many households, right up there with doorknobs and toilet handles. Here’s how to give them a good cleaning.
Ask Wirecutter: Should I Kick My Dog Out of My Bedroom at Night?
by Annemarie Conte
A couple has to negotiate whether or not to let their pooch sleep in bed with them.
How to Clean Crocs
by Ellen Airhart
Crocs tend to be fairly low maintenance but some stains are trickier than others. Here’s how to get an old pair looking like new.
The Best Dog Crate
by Kaitlyn Wells
We tested 17 dog crates with our own escape-artist pups and those from area rescues. And our longtime pick, the MidWest Ultima Pro, still came out on top.
