Does your dog love rolling in the mud or napping on your favorite blanket? We adore our furry friends, but they often leave behind stubborn odors, dander, and dirt on our bedding and clothes. While you might be tempted to toss their items in with your regular wash, the soaps you use for yourself could actually be harmful to your pet. Many human detergents contain harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, and dyes that can trigger itchy skin, rashes, or even allergic reactions in sensitive pups.
Choosing the right laundry detergent for dogs is a common headache for pet parents. You want something powerful enough to remove that “wet dog” smell, but gentle enough to keep your pet’s skin healthy and comfortable. With so many confusing labels and long ingredient lists, it is easy to feel overwhelmed while shopping. You deserve a solution that cleans effectively without putting your best friend at risk.
In this guide, we will break down exactly what you need to look for in a pet-safe laundry detergent. We will explore safe ingredients to prioritize, common toxins to avoid, and how to keep your pet’s gear fresh and allergen-free. By the time you finish reading, you will have the confidence to pick the perfect product for your home. Let’s dive into the best ways to keep your dog’s laundry clean, safe, and smelling great!
Top Laundry Detergent For Dogs Recommendations
- Concentrated Powder Detergent: ACTIVE Pet Detergent is a Powerful, High Efficiency Compatible Odor Destroyer & Stain Eliminating Detergent. Every Scoop has a Natural Cleaning Power to Handle any Mess, Stain, or Smell left behind by your pet.
- Suitable for all Pet Laundry: Including Pet Bed, Clothing, Leash, Harness, Blankets, Towels, Furniture Covers & More! ACTIVE is an All-in-One Laundry Detergent Compatible With All Fabric Types, Even Use on your own Clothing and Bedding that smells like your pet!
- Bio Based Enzyme Cleaner: ACTIVE Enzyme Laundry Detergent is Formulated to Target Pesky Stains and Odors, Including Pet Urine, Cat & Dog Pee, Vomit, Slobber, Dirt, Grime, Oils and Protein Stains. ACTIVE Enzymes even get rid of Wet Dog Odor, and others stubborn scents
- Natural & Fragrance Free: ACTIVE Pet Detergent is a Natural Laundry Stain Remover, Free of Harsh Chemicals and Gentle for Pets and Sensitive Skin. ACTIVE Actually Removes Odors rather than using scents to cover them up like some alternatives
- Best Value 64 Loads: Compare ACTIVE Dog Laundry Detergent to liquids that take up more space with less uses. Our Value Pack Comes in a Bulk 2 Lb bag so you can Keep Your Pet Laundry Taken Care Of!
- FEBREZE IN WASH PET ODOR ELIMINATOR: You will receive (1) 98 Fl Oz bottle of Febreze Maximum Strength In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator laundry detergent additive. Remove tough pet odors from fabrics and clothing in a single wash. Brought to you by Nehemiah Manufacturing.
- MAXIMUM STRENGTH LAUNDRY ODOR ELIMINATOR: This detergent additive removes even the toughest pet odors instead of just masking them. Ideal for removing odors from cat and dog beds, sofa covers, pet carriers, dog collars, pet urine and more!
- FOR BEST RESULTS: Pretreat hard-to-remove odors by placing the item in hot water, add 1 capful of Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator and soak. Continue with normal wash. For Light Odors use 1 capful. For Heavy, use 1 1/2 capfuls. For Extreme Odors, use up to 2 capfuls
- SAFE TO USE WITH LAUNDRY PRODUCTS: Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator is safe to use with laundry detergent pods, liquid laundry detergent, fabric softeners, and bleaches. Compatible with regular and high efficiency washing machines.
- SUBSCRIBE & SAVE: Never run out of Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator Laundry Additive when you add it to your subscriptions. Save with every purchase
- LAUNDRY BIO-ENZYMATIC FORMULA: Helps break down and destroy tough pet stains and odors, such as urine, feces, vomit, blood, grass and drool.
- GENTLE ON FABRICS: Perfect for use on clothing, pet beds and more—not for use on specialty fabrics, including washable silk, khaki, fluorescents, wool, suede and leathers.
- SAFE FOR PETS AND HOME: Formulated without phosphates, parabens, sulfates and bleach, this product is safe for use around pets and home, when used as directed.
- ODORCAPTURE 360 TECHNOLOGY: An odor neutralizing system from Nature’s Miracle, the brand you trust because it works!
- WORKS IN ALL MACHINES INCLUDING HE: Use in addition to your laundry detergent to help loosen and remove tough pet stains and odors.
- Get the dog off with DOGOFF! You’re probably thinking: Wow. Another laundry detergent option to choose from. But we’ve made the choice so simple, a dog could sniff out the awesomeness.
- Pet Safe - 100% safe for washing items such as towels, clothes, bedding, and more belonging to dogs, cats, and other pets.
- Naturally Derived, High-Powered Ingredients - Everything we use in our formulas is derived from nature. With super concentrated, biodegradable formulas, you can rest assured that you're using a product not only good for your doggo but also for the environment.
- Made by Grooming Supply Experts - We've been making products for the grooming industry for over 23 years, so we know a thing or two about high-quality pet products that perform. In fact, this professional-grade product was created with the grooming industry in mind!
- 1 oz = 128 loads! (Please note this product does not come with a scoop/cup)
- Eliminates pet odors and stains - LaundraPet enzymatic laundry detergent by Alpha Tech Pet is designed to remove animal pet odors and stains from pet poop and urine, and heavy soils from washable garments, leaving them soft and smelling fresh!
- Triple-action enzymatic power - Offering 3x cleaning efficacy, LaundraPet is a pet laundry detergent fortified with enzymatic technology that boosts cleaning power by 15%. It can be used in cold water, saving energy consumption.
- PETTERGENT - THE PET LAUNDRY DETERGENT: Your furbaby's favorite soft toy, dog blanket, pet bed, collars, clothes, and all other laundry items get dirty & smelly over time and need to be washed. PetTergent is the first and & only pet safe laundry detergent made specifically for pet smells, stains, and soils, & their microbiome so there's no need for additives, boosters, stain sticks, or sprays to use on top of your human detergent. Your furbaby has their own laundry, they need PetTergent.
- SPECIFIC TO PET STAINS: Human laundry detergent is formulated for human needs, like coffee, ketchup, & body odor, not formulated for "that dog smell", stains, soils, or pet odors from pet messes like crusty dog toys, cat urine, feces, blood, vomit, & that stubborn 'dog' smell that you just can't seem to get out. Human stains & odors are different than pet stains & odors, so the laundry detergent to handle these should be different too. PetTergent was formulated specifically as a pet detergent for pet laundry needs; cleaning, deodorizing, eliminating stains for fresh & clean laundry, while being safe for their skin & noses.
- PET ENZYME LAUNDRY DETERGENT: We were tired of turning over laundry labels and finding tons of chemicals, so we did something about it. Human laundry detergents often contain toxic ingredients like bleach, ammonia, & formaldehyde that can be passed to your furbaby by playing or snuggling. Instead, PetTergent, the dog laundry detergent, uses naturally-occurring enzyme blends as a pet stain remover, OdorArmor and SebumDestroyer as pet odor removers, and uses pet-safe & biodegradable surfactants to clean pet laundry.
- PET SAFE LAUNDRY DETERGENT: Pet skin is up to 10x thinner than our own skin, and their noses are up to 100,000x better than ours, meaning their needs are physically, biologically, and chemically different. Just because human laundry detergent works for us, doesn't mean it'll work for our pets. PetTergent is formulated not only to be specific to pet messes, but made with pet safe ingredients and vet-approved, pet-safe scents to not irritate pet skin or noses, and is safe to use on all laundry.
- GREENER PET LAUNDRY: You might've checked your own laundry detergent for how 'green' it is, how about your pets? PetTergent is made with 90%+ bio-based and biodegradable ingredients derived from nature, and all ingredients are approved by the EPA Safer Chemicals Ingredients list, and bottled in recyclable packaging. So we can protect our pets and keep their world beautiful. At Pet Parents, we continuously strive to improve pet products, and PetTergent is no different.
- Powerful Pet Stain and Odor Remover - best laundry booster for pet odors, remove dog smell from laundry, safe laundry additive for pets. Effectively removes pet stains and odors from bedding, clothing, washable pee pads, and more.
- Professional Strength - Skout's Honor Laundry Booster offers professional-grade cleaning power, providing deep cleaning to tackle even the toughest pet stains and odors. Non-toxic - No Added Fragrance
- Plant-Powered Cleaner - 3X concentrated formula breaks down odor molecules and lifts away stains, ensuring a clean and fresh environment. Enhances your regular detergent - simply add to each load (HE-washer compatible, up to 32 loads)
- Eco-Friendly and Cruelty-Free - Never tested on animals - Manufactured under the California Green Chemistry Initiative, making it safe for pets, family, and home when used as directed
- Paw Pledge - Together with their customers, Skout's Honor provides a day's worth of food to an animal in need, with every product sold (Buy a Bottle, Feed an Animal).
- Specially Formulated for Pet Owners: ACTIVE Pet Hair Remover Washing Machine Cleaner with Ultra-concentrated 5-in-1 Active Enzyme Blend powers away pet hair buildup, sludge, oil, soap, limescale, effectively reducing drain clogs and hair accumulation! Keep clothes Fresh & Clean without pet fur clinging
- Pro Washer Pet Odor Eliminator: ACTIVE Washing Machine Cleaner and Deodorizer gets to the root of bad odors, removing stinky gunk, odor-causing grime, debris from washer drum, drain, seal, valves. Effortlessly eliminate washing machine odor for good
- Suitable for All Washers: ACTIVE Washer Machine Cleaner Tablets are Safe for Septic Systems, HE, Front-Loading Washer, Top-loader, Front Load, Compatible with Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, GE, Speed Queen, Maytag, Amana
- Safe Choice for Pets & Household: Enzyme Washing Machine Cleaner uses Simple ingredients & natural enzymes that are tough on grime, but gentle on machines. Compare pet hair dissolver products with harsh chemicals that leave harmful residue and fragrances
- Best Value Washing Machine Enzyme Cleaner: Bulk 12 Month Supply in each 24-Tablet Pack. Use ACTIVE Washing Machine Cleaning Tablets monthly to Protect your washer, Extend its lifespan, Save over time. Compare Trusted Heavy Duty Washing Machine Cleaner to brands with less tabs and low quality formula
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Laundry Detergent for Dogs
Keeping your dog’s bedding, blankets, and toys clean is essential for their health. However, regular human laundry detergents often contain harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and dyes. These ingredients can cause skin irritation, itching, and allergic reactions in our furry friends. Choosing a specialized laundry detergent for dogs ensures your pet stays comfortable and clean.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for dog-safe laundry detergent, keep these features in mind:
- Hypoallergenic Formulas: Look for products labeled as hypoallergenic. These are tested to be gentle on sensitive skin.
- Fragrance-Free: Dogs have a sense of smell much stronger than ours. Avoid heavy perfumes that can overwhelm their noses.
- Plant-Based Ingredients: Natural, plant-derived cleaners are safer than harsh chemical surfactants.
- Deep Cleaning Power: You want a detergent that removes tough odors, mud, and pet dander effectively.
Important Materials and Ingredients
The best detergents focus on what they leave out. Always check the label for these “no-go” ingredients:
- Phthalates and Parabens: These can disrupt a dog’s natural hormone balance.
- Optical Brighteners: These chemicals stay on the fabric and can cause skin rashes.
- Artificial Dyes: These serve no cleaning purpose and are common skin irritants.
- Chlorine Bleach: This is toxic if ingested and harsh on sensitive skin.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality depends on how the detergent works with your washing machine and your dog’s needs. High-quality detergents are usually concentrated, meaning you use less per load. They also rinse away completely without leaving a residue behind. Low-quality detergents often leave a “waxy” film on blankets. This film traps dirt and bacteria, which defeats the purpose of washing the items at all.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you use the product. If your dog suffers from seasonal allergies, an unscented, rinse-free formula is best. If your dog loves rolling in the mud, look for a detergent that handles tough stains while staying gentle. Most users find that liquid detergents dissolve better in cold water, which is safer for many synthetic dog bed fabrics that might shrink in hot water.
10 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I just use my regular detergent for dog bedding?
A: It is risky. Regular detergents are often too harsh and can cause skin irritation for your dog.
Q: Is “scent-free” the same as “unscented”?
A: Not always. “Unscented” products may still use masking chemicals to hide odors. “Fragrance-free” is a safer, more reliable label.
Q: How often should I wash my dog’s bed?
A: Aim to wash bedding every two weeks. If your dog is a heavy shedder or spends a lot of time outside, wash it once a week.
Q: Will these detergents remove the “wet dog” smell?
A: Yes. High-quality pet detergents use enzymes that break down the proteins causing the odor rather than just masking them.
Q: Can I use fabric softener?
A: It is best to avoid fabric softener. It often contains perfumes and chemicals that can irritate a dog’s skin.
Q: Are these detergents safe for puppies?
A: Yes. Puppies have very sensitive skin, so using a gentle, plant-based detergent is actually better for them.
Q: Can I use these detergents for my own clothes?
A: Yes. These detergents are safe for humans, too, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Q: Should I use extra detergent for very dirty blankets?
A: No. Too much detergent is hard to rinse out and can leave a residue that irritates your dog’s skin.
Q: Do I need to use hot water?
A: Check the tag on the dog bed. If the material allows, hot water kills more bacteria, but check the detergent label to ensure it works well in hot cycles.
Q: What if my dog reacts to the new detergent?
A: If your dog starts scratching, stop using the detergent immediately. Rewash the bedding with plain water or a small amount of white vinegar to remove any remaining soap residue.