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The most useful thing to add to laundry for dog smell is an enzyme-based laundry detergent or laundry booster. The related guide, How to Wash a Comforter That a Dog Peed On?, covers the fabric and cleanup variables behind the related pet or odor problem. Enzymes help break down the body oils, saliva, urine residue, and other organic material that can make dog odor cling to blankets, sheets, towels, and washable pet beds.
You can also use oxygen bleach, baking soda, or white vinegar in some loads. Compare the best enzyme cleaners for bedding by labeled fabrics and directions. The right choice depends on the odor source and care label; never combine products unless their instructions permit it.
Best Laundry Additives for Dog Smell
Enzyme Laundry Detergent or Booster
An enzyme detergent is usually the best first choice for stubborn dog odor.
Enzymes are ingredients that break larger stains and odor-causing material into smaller pieces so the washing machine can rinse them away. They are especially helpful for:
- Dog blankets
- Bed sheets shared with a pet
- Washable crate mats
- Towels used after walks or baths
- Fabric covers from pet beds
- Laundry with saliva, urine, or muddy paw residue
Look for a laundry product that lists enzymes on the label or says it is made for odor, pet messes, or biological stains. The related guide, How to Get Pet Stains Out of a Comforter?, covers the fabric and cleanup variables behind the related pet or odor problem. Follow the amount listed on the product packaging. Adding far more detergent than recommended can make the problem worse because soap residue may stay trapped in the fabric.
Enzyme products often work best in cool or warm water. Very hot water may reduce the effectiveness of some enzymes, so check the current product directions.
Oxygen Bleach
Oxygen bleach can help freshen washable fabrics and lift odor-causing residue. It is different from chlorine bleach and is often suitable for more colors, but it is not safe for every item.
It may be useful for:
- Light-colored sheets
- Cotton blankets
- Washable dog towels
- Removable pet-bed covers
- Older bedding with a stale dog smell
Check both the fabric care label and the oxygen bleach label first. Some wool, silk, leather-trimmed, foam-filled, or specially treated fabrics should not be washed with oxygen bleach.
For a strong smell, the product directions may allow you to soak the item before washing. Do not guess at the soaking time or amount. Follow the label.
Baking Soda
Baking soda can help with mild odor and stale-smelling laundry. It is often used as a wash booster rather than as a replacement for detergent.
Add it according to your washing machine guidance. Some machines have limits on powders or require them to be placed directly in the drum rather than in the dispenser.
Baking soda works best when:
- The dog smell is mild
- Bedding smells stale after storage
- Towels need a general refresh
- You are washing durable cotton or synthetic fabrics
It may not remove strong urine, saliva, or body-oil odors on its own. For those smells, an enzyme detergent is usually more useful.
Do not combine baking soda and vinegar in the same part of the wash and expect a stronger cleaner. They react with each other and mostly cancel each other out.
White Vinegar
Plain white vinegar can sometimes help rinse away detergent residue and mild odors. It may be added to the fabric-softener compartment when the washer manufacturer allows it.
Use it carefully. Vinegar is acidic, and repeated heavy use may not be suitable for every washing machine, elastic fabric, waterproof layer, or rubber component. Check the washer manual and the garment care label.
Vinegar is most useful when:
- Bedding feels coated with detergent
- Towels have a slightly sour smell
- Fabric softener buildup is trapping odor
- Pet blankets need a light rinse refresh
Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. The combination can create dangerous fumes. Keep vinegar out of any load that contains chlorine bleach or an unknown bleach product.
Laundry Sanitizer
A laundry sanitizer may help with washable items when regular washing is not enough. Choose one specifically made for laundry, not a household surface cleaner.
Follow the label closely because these products may need to be added during a certain part of the cycle or left on the fabric for a stated amount of time. Check that the product is suitable for your fabric, washer type, household, and pet items.
A sanitizer should not replace detergent. Detergent still needs to remove dirt, oils, hair, and residue.
Which Additive Should You Choose?
| Laundry problem | Good first choice |
|---|---|
| General dog smell on blankets | Enzyme detergent |
| Urine or saliva smell | Enzyme detergent or enzyme booster |
| Stale cotton bedding | Baking soda or oxygen bleach |
| Detergent buildup trapping odor | White vinegar rinse, when allowed |
| Light-colored washable dog towels | Oxygen bleach, when care labels allow |
| Strong odor that remains after washing | Pretreat, soak if permitted, then rewash |
| Foam pet bed that cannot go in the washer | Wash only the removable cover and follow the bed maker’s cleaning directions |
Start with one suitable additive rather than mixing several products together. More ingredients do not always mean cleaner laundry. Some mixtures reduce cleaning performance, damage fabric, or create unsafe fumes.
How to Wash Dog-Smelling Bedding
1. Remove Loose Hair First
Dog hair can collect in the washing machine and stay stuck to damp fabric. Before washing, take the item outside and shake it well.
You can also use:
- A lint roller
- A rubber pet-hair brush
- A slightly damp rubber glove
- A vacuum with a fabric attachment
- A short no-heat dryer cycle, if the care label allows it
Clean the lint filter after using the dryer. Heavy pet hair may also collect around the washer door seal or drum.
2. Check the Care Label
Look for instructions about:
- Water temperature
- Bleach
- Soaking
- Machine drying
- High heat
- Dry cleaning
- Removable covers
- Washing foam or filling
A pet bed may look washable even when only the cover can go in the machine. Washing a thick foam insert can damage the foam or leave it damp inside.
3. Pretreat Smelly Areas
If one area smells stronger than the rest, pretreat it instead of pouring extra detergent into the whole load.
Apply an enzyme laundry pretreatment according to its instructions. Give it the listed contact time before washing, but do not allow it to dry on the fabric unless the label says that is safe.
For urine, blot fresh moisture before washing. Avoid rubbing it deeper into the fabric.
4. Do Not Overload the Washer
A comforter, dog blanket, or large pet-bed cover needs room to move. If the drum is packed tightly, water and detergent cannot reach every section.
An overloaded washer may leave:
- Hair on the fabric
- Detergent trapped in folds
- Dirty rinse water inside thick bedding
- Damp areas that develop a musty smell
Large items may need a bigger-capacity machine. Check your washer guidance rather than forcing bulky bedding into a small drum.
5. Use the Recommended Amount of Detergent
It is tempting to add extra detergent to a smelly load. That often leaves residue behind.
The most useful thing to add to laundry for dog smell is an enzyme-based laundry detergent or laundry booster; Remove dog stains from a bed by blotting promptly, matching the cleaner to the surface, treating odor at its source, rinsing carefully, and drying fully.
Soap buildup can trap dog oils and make sheets or blankets smell again as soon as they become warm or damp. Measure detergent based on the product instructions, washer type, load size, and soil level.
6. Choose a Suitable Water Temperature
Use the warmest water allowed by the care label. Warm water may help remove body oils, but hot water can shrink fabric, damage waterproof layers, fade colors, or affect some enzyme products.
Cool water is often a safer choice for:
- Waterproof pet-bed covers
- Dark bedding
- Delicate fabrics
- Items with elastic
- Products that specifically require cold washing
The product label should guide the decision.
7. Add an Extra Rinse When Needed
An extra rinse can help remove:
- Dog hair
- Detergent residue
- Odor booster residue
- Loose dirt
- Saliva or urine residue
It is especially helpful for thick blankets, quilted covers, and pet bedding with many layers.
8. Dry the Item Completely
Damp fabric can quickly develop a musty smell that may be mistaken for remaining dog odor.
Machine dry only when the care label permits it. Thick items may need to be rearranged during drying so folded areas do not stay wet. Air-dried bedding should be placed where air can move around both sides.
Before putting a pet-bed cover back over foam, make sure the cover is fully dry.
Why Dog Smell Sometimes Remains After Washing
The Washer Was Too Full
Large blankets can form a heavy ball in the washer. The outside gets cleaned while the inner folds stay dirty.
Wash fewer items at one time. A dog blanket may need its own load.
Too Much Detergent Was Used
Excess detergent can coat fibers and hold onto oils. The laundry may smell clean while wet but smell like the dog again after drying.
Run another wash or rinse using little or no additional detergent, depending on the fabric instructions.
The Item Was Left Damp
Wet laundry left in the washer can develop a sour smell. Move it to the dryer or drying rack soon after the cycle ends.
If it has already become musty, wash it again rather than covering the smell with fabric spray.
The Filling Did Not Get Clean
A pet bed may have a clean cover but a smelly foam or fiber insert. Odor can travel back through the cover.
Check the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning the insert. Do not soak foam unless its instructions specifically allow it. Thick foam can be difficult to rinse and dry fully.
Fabric Softener Is Trapping Odor
Liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets can leave a coating on fibers. This coating may reduce absorbency and hold onto body oils or pet smells.
Try washing without fabric softener. An extra rinse may help remove old buildup.
The Odor Source Is Still in the Room
Fresh laundry can quickly pick up odor again from:
- A dog bed
- Carpet
- Upholstery
- A crate mat
- Damp towels
- A favorite chair
- The dog’s collar or harness
- A laundry basket that needs cleaning
Washable bedding is only one part of the room. Clean the nearby washable items according to their labels and empty pet hair from the washer and dryer.
What Not to Add to Dog-Smelling Laundry
Do Not Mix Chlorine Bleach and Vinegar
This mixture can produce dangerous fumes. Never combine them in a washing machine, bucket, sink, or spray bottle.
Do Not Mix Chlorine Bleach and Ammonia
This can also create dangerous fumes. Some household cleaners contain ammonia, so do not add general cleaning products to laundry.
Do Not Use Household Surface Cleaner
A product made for floors, counters, bathrooms, or pet areas may not be safe for clothing or bedding. Use products labeled for laundry.
Do Not Pour in Essential Oils
Essential oils do not remove the material causing the odor. They may leave oily spots, irritate skin, affect pets, or create problems in a washer or dryer.
A clean load should smell neutral rather than strongly perfumed.
Do Not Use Too Much Fragrance Booster
Scent beads and strong fabric perfume may cover dog smell for a short time, but they do not remove trapped oils or urine residue. Fragrance can also build up on fabric.
Focus on washing away the odor source first.
Do Not Use High Heat Without Checking the Label
Heat can shrink bedding, damage waterproof backing, weaken elastic, or affect foam. It may also make some stains harder to remove if they have not been treated first.
Washing Dog Bedding Without Spreading Hair Everywhere
Pet laundry can leave hair in the washer, where it transfers to the next load. A simple routine helps.
Shake or vacuum the item before washing. Wash heavily hairy bedding separately from clothes, towels, and sheets. After the cycle, wipe hair from the door seal, drum, and filter areas that the washer manual says you can clean.
If you use a shared laundry room, remove visible hair from the machines when you are finished. Thick pet beds should only be placed in shared machines when the laundry rules allow them.
How Often Should Dog Blankets and Bedding Be Washed?
There is no single schedule for every home. Wash the bedding when it is visibly dirty, smells noticeable, or has been exposed to mud, saliva, urine, or wet fur.
More frequent washing may be useful when:
- The dog sleeps in the human bed
- The dog sheds heavily
- Bedding is used outdoors
- The dog often comes in wet
- A puppy has accidents
- The bed has a removable washable cover
- More than one pet shares the bedding
Keep a spare cover or blanket available. This makes laundry day easier because the dog still has a clean place to rest.
A Simple Beginner-Friendly Method
For most washable dog blankets and bed covers, start with this routine:
- Remove as much loose hair as possible.
- Check the care label.
- Pretreat strong-smelling areas with an enzyme laundry product.
- Wash with the recommended amount of enzyme detergent.
- Use warm water only if the label allows it.
- Add an extra rinse for thick or heavily soiled items.
- Dry the item fully before using it again.
If the smell remains, repeat the treatment rather than adding several chemicals at once. For light-colored, durable items, oxygen bleach may be the next step when both the fabric label and product directions allow it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add baking soda directly to the washing machine for dog smell?
Baking soda may help with mild dog odor and stale-smelling laundry. Check your washer manual to see where powder additives should go. Use detergent as well, since baking soda is not a full replacement for laundry detergent.
Is vinegar or baking soda better for dog smell?
They do different jobs. Baking soda can help freshen mild odors during the wash. Vinegar may help rinse away detergent or fabric-softener buildup when the washer and fabric instructions allow it. An enzyme detergent is usually better for strong organic odors such as saliva, urine, and body oils.
Can I use vinegar and laundry detergent together?
Some washers allow vinegar in the fabric-softener compartment so it is released during the rinse, not mixed directly with detergent. Check the washing machine instructions. Never use vinegar in a load containing chlorine bleach.
Why does my dog blanket still smell after washing?
The washer may have been overloaded, too much detergent may have been used, or the blanket may not have dried fully. Thick filling can also hold odor inside. Rewash the item with enough room to move and use an enzyme detergent according to the label.
Will fabric softener get rid of dog smell?
Fabric softener may cover the smell with fragrance, but it does not remove the main source of the odor. It can also leave a coating that traps oils. Detergent, proper rinsing, and complete drying are more important.
What should I use for dog urine smell in laundry?
Use an enzyme laundry detergent, booster, or pretreatment that is labeled for washable fabrics. Pretreat the affected area and follow the product directions. Do not mix multiple cleaners or use household surface cleaners in the washer.
Can I wash dog bedding with my regular sheets?
Lightly used dog blankets may be washed with similar fabrics when the care labels match. Heavily hairy, muddy, or urine-soiled pet bedding is better washed separately so hair and odor do not transfer to your sheets.
How do I stop dog bedding from smelling again quickly?
Wash away loose hair and body oils, avoid using too much detergent, rinse thoroughly, and dry the bedding completely. Clean the pet-bed insert, nearby rugs, collars, and other washable items according to their care instructions so odor does not transfer back to the clean cover.
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