How to Wash an Orthopedic Dog Bed in 2026: Cover Care Guide
Wash the removable cover in cold water (under 86°F) on a gentle cycle, then air-dry it flat or tumble dry on low — never wash the foam insert itself. The foam base is the part owners ruin most often: it soaks up water, takes days to dry, and can grow mildew inside if it goes anywhere near a washing machine or dryer.
- Wash only the removable cover, cold water, gentle cycle — the foam insert never goes in a washer.
- Air-dry or tumble dry on low; high heat breaks down memory foam and shrinks fabric.
- Spot-clean the foam base with a damp cloth and mild soap instead of soaking it.
- Furmates beds like the Close2Me Pet Bed use covers built for this exact routine.
- Knowing how to wash an orthopedic dog bed properly adds years to the support layer.
Why this matters
An orthopedic dog bed only works if the foam stays intact — flatten it, soak it, or bake it in a hot dryer and you've turned a joint-support bed back into a regular cushion. For senior dogs and dogs managing joint pain, that support layer is the entire reason the bed was bought. Washing the cover wrong is the fastest way to shorten a bed's life before 2026 is even over.
How to wash an orthopedic dog bed cover
- Unzip and remove the cover from the foam insert completely — don't wash it while it's still zipped around the foam.
- Shake out loose hair and debris outside before it goes anywhere near the machine.
- Wash in cold water (under 86°F) on a gentle or delicate cycle, using a mild, unscented detergent.
- Skip fabric softener and bleach — both break down waterproof liners and elastic seams faster.
- Air-dry flat or tumble dry on low heat. High heat is what causes shrinkage and warped zippers.
- Re-zip the cover onto the foam only once it's fully dry — trapped moisture is how mildew starts.
| Step | Cover | Foam insert |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning method | Machine wash, cold | Spot clean only |
| Water/heat limit | Under 86°F, low dryer heat | Never submerge |
| Frequency | As needed, every few weeks | Wipe down between cover washes |
Machine-washable covers vs. hand-wash-only covers
Most orthopedic bed covers today are machine washable — check the care tag before the first wash, since fabric blends vary by manufacturer. Covers with a waterproof or moisture-barrier liner sometimes carry hand-wash-only instructions because the machine's agitation can crack that inner layer over time. If the tag says hand wash, treat it the same way: cold water, mild soap, no wringing, lay flat to dry.
Why washing frequency varies
How often you actually need to wash the cover depends on a handful of things, not a fixed schedule:
- Shedding level — heavy shedders push more hair and dander into the fabric between washes.
- Indoor/outdoor use — a bed near a doggy door collects dirt and moisture faster than a bedroom-only bed.
- Accidents or illness — a dog recovering from surgery or dealing with incontinence needs the cover washed far more often.
- Multi-pet households — beds shared by more than one animal pick up double the hair, oils, and odor.
- Season — muddy paws in wet months mean more frequent spot-cleaning between full washes.
- Allergies in the home — if anyone in the house has pet allergies, washing on a tighter schedule cuts down on dander buildup.
“If the foam insert ever goes fully into a washer or dryer, treat that support layer as compromised.”
Furmates beds are built around this same logic — a bedside bed only stays part of the daily routine if the cover is easy to strip off and throw in the wash. The Close2Me Pet Bed attaches directly to your bed frame and uses a removable cover so cleaning it doesn't mean disassembling anything. For dogs already dealing with joint issues, pairing that kind of easy-clean routine with a bed rated for arthritic dogs keeps the support consistent instead of guessing which beds tolerate regular washing.
How do you get pet odor out of an orthopedic dog bed cover?
Odor comes out with an extra rinse cycle and a half-cup of baking soda added to the wash instead of the detergent slot — skip scented products since strong fragrances can bother a dog's nose more than the odor itself. If the smell lingers after drying, the foam underneath is usually the actual source, not the cover, and needs a wipe-down with a damp cloth and mild soap.
Can you put an orthopedic dog bed in the dryer?
The cover can go in the dryer on low heat, but the foam insert should never go in a dryer at any temperature. High heat breaks down the support foam's structure permanently, which is the opposite of what an orthopedic bed is supposed to do.
How often should you wash a dog's orthopedic bed cover?
Wash it every couple of weeks under normal conditions, and more often for heavy shedders, multi-pet homes, or dogs recovering from illness or surgery. Spot-cleaning the foam base between full cover washes keeps odor and bacteria from building up in between.
FAQ
How do you wash an orthopedic dog bed cover?
Remove the cover from the foam and wash it in cold water under 86°F on a gentle cycle, then air-dry or tumble dry on low heat. The foam insert itself should never be machine washed or dried.
Can orthopedic dog bed covers go in the washing machine?
Most orthopedic dog bed covers are machine washable on a gentle, cold-water cycle, but check the care tag first since waterproof-lined covers sometimes require hand washing instead.
Why can't you wash the foam insert of an orthopedic dog bed?
Memory foam absorbs water and can take days to dry fully, which encourages mold and mildew and permanently softens the support layer. Spot-clean the foam with a damp cloth instead.
What temperature should you wash a dog bed cover at?
Wash the cover in cold water, under 86°F, to protect elastic seams and waterproof liners. Hot water speeds up shrinkage and weakens stitching over repeated washes.
How do you dry an orthopedic dog bed cover fast?
Tumble dry on low heat or lay the cover flat near airflow; avoid high heat settings entirely. A fully dried cover should go back onto the foam only once there's no dampness left in the seams.
Is it safe to use fabric softener on a dog bed cover?
No — fabric softener coats fibers and breaks down waterproof liners over time, which shortens the cover's life. A mild, unscented detergent is enough to keep the cover clean.
How do you clean an orthopedic dog bed between full washes?
Spot-clean spills and dirt with a damp cloth and mild soap, and vacuum loose hair off the cover daily if your dog sheds heavily. This stretches the time between full machine washes without letting odor or bacteria build up.
One last thing
The zipper is the part that fails first, not the fabric — a stuck or bent zipper is usually why owners stop taking the cover off to wash it, which means the whole bed goes unwashed for months. Check the zipper track for trapped hair every few washes and it'll outlast the fabric itself.