Laundry Day! How to Clean Your Dog’s Gear

Did you know dogs enjoy spring cleaning as much as humans? Well, okay. They don’t. In fact, they seem to like it when their winter jackets smell like dead fish and their leashes are coated in grime. And the harness buckle they chewed when they were bored during the polar vortex? No matter! They’ll just take themselves for a walk without their harness, thank you very much. 

Ahem. 

Setting aside what your dog thinks, a once-a-year gear tune-up is a smart idea. Here’s a quick guide to spring cleaning your dog’s daily-use items, making sure they’re clean, sturdy, and safe.  

Wash and store winter jackets. You can freshen up your dog’s Sub Woofer™ jacket by hanging it outside in the sunshine as often as needed. Machine wash it occasionally, including once before stowing it for the summer. Make sure to use the gentle cycle — and a tech wash, like Nikwax, is recommended. Allow it to air dry.

To clean Puff Doggy™ coats, hang them outside to flap around and freshen up. You can hand or machine wash them on the gentlest cycle with mild detergent. Do not use fabric softener and always let them line dry. You can treat them with Pertex-friendly products to restore water-resistance as required. 

Our stylish Stretch Fleece pullovers are perfect for the shoulder seasons — you might be taking them out of storage right now rather than putting them away. They’re durable and machine washable, so you can launder them as often as needed, then tumble dry on low. Bring on the spring mud puddles!

Freshen that harnesses. To spring clean the Go Dog Glo™ Harness, fasten the buckles and place the harness in a mesh laundry bag, then machine wash on cold on the gentlest cycle. Use a mild detergent and let it air dry. 

Launder leashes and collars. Everyday wear tends to get the dirtiest. You can machine wash leashes and collars in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle. (You can also hand wash.) Hang to dry. Washing often brightens the colors back up!

Check for rips, tears, and needed repairs. Look over all your gear and make sure buckles are working properly, clips are secure, and fabric is in good shape. 

Did your dog decide to snack on their gear? Don’t fear! We do damage repair. For a small fee ($10), you can send damaged leashes, collars, and other gear back to us and we’ll replace whatever your furry friend has chewed. (NOTE: We'll do everything we can to make the repair. If it looks unrepairable, it might be :)