A beautiful well-made wooden dog bed is a lovely addition to a home. Even the cleanest of dogs can pick up dirt, and articles from the outdoors and transfer them to your dog bed. In this blog we will discuss how to clean and care for a wooden dog bed.
Cleaning a wooden dog bed.
Cleaning a wooden dog bed is an easy process, use these steps for a thorough clean without damaging the wood. Keep the use of strong or harsh chemicals to an absolute minimum. Strong scents should also be avoided.
Step 1: Remove any cushions, bedding, blankets and toys from the bed. These may have accumulated strong pet smells in themselves and should be washed as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 2: Use a soft brush or cloth to brush off any dog hair, dirt and debris from the bed. Most wooden beds are slatted and this can make the whole affair much easier. A soft brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner can help. Be careful not to damage the finish of the wood with excess scrubbing.
Step 3: Use a bucket to mix warm water with a little mild dish detergent.
Step 4: Dip a clean cloth into the soapy water mix and wring it out well. We’re looking for a damp cloth at this point, we don’t want to introduce too much water to the wooden dog bed especially any joints.
Step 5: Wipe down every surface of the dog bed.
Step 6: Once step 5 is complete to your satisfaction, rinse out the cloth in fresh clean water and wipe down the surfaces to remove any soap residue.
Step 7: This step is quite important, use a dry cloth at this point and completely dry the bed removing any moisture.
Step 8: Replace all the cushions, toys and blankets. Your furry friend will leap back into this clean bed!
Caring for your wooden dog bed.
After cleaning and drying your wooden dog bed, you may want to carry out the following steps to care for your dog’s place of slumber, and keep it looking great!
- Apply a wax to all surfaces and buff off. I like to apply a natural bee wax mix to wood and spend a bit of time buffing this to a high sheen. This will keep it looking beautiful and provide a protective layer that will naturally repel moisture.
- Try to place your wooden dog bed out of direct sunlight. Sunlight dries out wood and will change its colour. Waxes do help with combating these effects of sunlight but still best to be avoided.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals in the cleaning process, this can affect the finish and colour of the wood. Bleach, or ammonia based products should be avoided for these reasons
- Moisture can, over time, can cause warping of the wood and movement of joints. Avoid placing your dog in a damp environment. The wax will combat this to some extent but still best to avoid.
In conclusion, cleaning and caring for your bed is straightforward and shouldn’t take too long. Following these simple steps will keep your dogs’ wooden bed in tip top condition for years. You may have guessed I am a great fan of waxes, especially beeswax, nature knows best.
