Your dog is not the only creature that likes his or her bed. Fleas, ticks and lice are most willing to jump in and share it with your pet. Unfortunately, these bugs are not the house guests that Rover might welcome.
One of the things that can minimize house cleaning is to provide your dog with his or her own bed. Most dogs constantly shed at least a minimum of hair, so offering your dog its own bed helps keep the loose fur contained to the area where the bed is located.
Many dog beds come with washable covers, but cleaning is a lot easier if you cover your dog's bed with some blankets, throws, folded sheets or towels. The size of your dog's bed determines which of these covers will work best. The advantage of using covers is that you can simply carry them outdoors and give them a good shake before introducing all of that hair to your washing machine. Frequent shaking of the covers can minimize the amount of doggie laundry you have to undertake.
Whenever there are signs of blood or urine stains present, it is time to wash the bedding. Bloodstains are a good indication that your dog is infested with fleas.
Cleaning techniques vary with different types of bedding. Simple laundering works well if your dog sleeps on a pile of blankets or large towels. After shaking to remove as much hair as possible, put the bedding into the washing machine with a mild detergent and hot water. This will help kill any insect eggs that are buried within the fabric.
Some beds are made from cedar wood chips and an outside cover. If your dog sleeps on this type of bed, remove the zippered cover frequently and launder in hot water and a mild detergent. It will also be necessary to replace the cedar chips every few months so that the natural repellants found in the cedar chips are active.
If you allow your dog to sleep on your furniture, it is a good idea to use blankets, towels or throw covers to help minimize the mess. However, you will still have to vacuum all of the cushions frequently. Be sure that you concentrate on the underside of the cushions because that is where you are most likely to find insects, flea eggs and larvae.
Whenever pets spend time indoors, there is a good chance that they may carry a tick or two in with them. Be sure to keep a watchful eye for ticks that may crawl over the furniture or carpeting.
It takes a little more effort to clean a bed made of foam, but your dog will be happy that you take the time to do the job right. Start by taking the fabric cover off of the bed. Wash it in cold water and mild laundry detergent to minimize shrinking. It is best to hang the laundered cover outdoors because machine drying can cause unwanted shrinkage.
While the washing machine is running, fill a tub (you can use your bathtub if you don't have a large laundry tub) about half way with warm water. Mix in a small scoop of laundry detergent. Use your hands to work the soapy water into the foam. Avoid using brushes because they will tear up the foam, thus reducing its life expectancy. Empty the tub when you are satisfied that the foam bedding is clean.
Next, refill the tub with clean water. Use your hands to work the clean water through the foam for a thorough rinse. Don't be afraid to squeeze the foam to remove soap. The rinsing process, which is complete when there are no more soap suds, can actually take longer than the washing process. Dry the foam outdoors in the sun.
