More pet owners are letting their furry friends sleep by their side. And if you’re one of those who sleep next to their pets, you’re probably aware of one glaring issue—fur. You could always ignore pet hair, but soon you will miss a good night’s rest. Unfortunately, you can’t just throw your bedding and comforters to the washing machine and call it a day. Cleaning bedding requires care and attention, especially if your pet sleeps on your bed.

How Often Should You Clean Your Bedding and Comforter?

Beds carry dead skin cells, bedbugs, dust mites, and even dirt. On top of that, pets bring hair, dirt, and dander to the bed. Sadly, dusting off pet hair can only do so much. While tedious, regularly cleaning your bedsheets will benefit you and your pet.

Medical experts recommended washing bedsheets every week. However, wash your bedsheets more often if you have asthma or are allergic to fur. For comforters, you should clean them every one to two months. With pets sleeping on the bed, you should wash your comforter every month. On top of that, you need to clean the duvets every two weeks.

You could always call your local laundry service to let the professionals do the hard work. But if you prefer to do it yourself, follow the guide below.

Steps to Clean Your Bedding and Comforter

Before you start washing your bedding and comforters, read the labels first. The label contains suggested washing instructions to preserve the fabric and the filler material. Most comforters and bedding recommend professional dry-cleaning services. But you can still wash it at home if you have a large washing machine. Here are the steps to thoroughly clean your bedding and comforter:

Step 1: Remove All Traces of Fur

You can’t just throw your laundry in the washer and expect the fur to wash away. Pet hair will cling to wet fabric, making it harder to remove during washing. Removing the fur before washing will make the cleaning process easy.

Here is what you’ll need:

  • Lint rollers or a roll of scotch tape
  • Portable vacuum
  • Large capacity dryer
  • Anti-static dryer sheets

Directions:

  1. Vacuum all visible fur. If you don’t have access to a vacuum cleaner, try giving the comforter a good shake outside.
  2. Use a dog hairbrush and lint roller at intervals to capture fur from your bedding. Alternatively, you can use Scotch tape if you don’t have a lint roller.
  3. Put the laundry in the dryer one at a time to prevent overloading.
  4. Add one to two anti-static dryer sheets.
  5. Set the dryer to a low-heat or no-heat setting for 10 minutes. This will loosen the fur to go to the lint trap.
  6. Take the laundry out of the dryer and give it a good shake to dust off the remaining pet hair. Once all visible fur is gone, you can proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Clean All the Stains

Pretreat stains before soaking the comforter and bedding in water. Pretreating stains breaks down dirt and grime, which will be carried away when washing.

To pretreat stains, apply a small amount of a mild stain remover on the affected area and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Afterward, use a brush to work on the stain remover. Once done, flip the comforter over and do the same steps on the other side.

Step 3: Wash the Bedding and Comforter

After removing the fur and spot-cleaning the stains, you are ready to wash your comforter. You need a large-capacity washing machine. Nearby wash and fold services can help if your washing machine isn’t designed for heavy loads. If you have the necessary equipment, here are the steps:

  1. Set your washer to delicate or gentle and select the cold-water setting.
  2. Add a gentle detergent. Be careful not to add too much. Detergent residue and suds can stick to the comforter’s filling.
  3. Load in your comforter or bedding one by one.
  4. After completing the wash cycle, remove the comforter from the washing machine. Give it a good shake and prepare it for drying.
  5. Set the dryer to low to medium heat. Avoid high heat, especially if you have a synthetic comforter. Down comforters need low heat to prevent damage.
  6. Every 20 to 30 minutes, pull the comforter out and fluff it. This helps redistribute the filler material.

These are the general steps for most comforters and bedding. Your process may be different depending on the fabric’s make. To guarantee a good clean, check your comforter’s label for instructions.

Save Time and Let the Professionals Do It for You

Washing your bedding and comforters will take a considerable chunk of your time. Removing fur alone takes a couple of hours, several lint rollers, and a massive toll on your dryer. Since you need to wash the comforter and bedding once or twice a month, you’ll spend days cleaning your bedroom.

Outsourcing your laundry to a professional provider of commercial laundry services will save you days of washing. The pros will clean your laundry while you go about your day. You won’t have to worry about getting your washing machine and dryer ruined by pet hair.

The Bottom Line

Taking care of your pet needs time and dedication, especially if you let them sleep by your side. You need to factor in the time and effort to clean your pets and the time it takes to wash your bedding. You need to wash your bedding more frequently because you sleep with your pet, and this can be a daunting task. Still, it is necessary to maintain a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, one quick search for “wash and fold services near me” can save you from the inconvenience of washing your bedding and comforters yourself.

 

Resources:

https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-let-pet-hair-ruin-your-washer-a1602461402/

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/how-to-wash-comforter/

https://www.marthastewart.com/7536879/cleaning-washing-machine

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-often-should-you-change-your-sheets#how-often