Best Way to Get Dog Smell Out of Blankets

You’re dealing with skin oils, saliva, and bacteria trapped in fleece or sherpa, so tackle it with ½ cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and ¼ cup 3% hydrogen peroxide in warm water, then add ½ cup white vinegar to the softener dispenser. Use a full cap of ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean Odor Blasters for its enzyme and oxidizer power, soak overnight, and sun-dry for 2–3 hours to kill lingering bacteria-this combo neutralizes odors fast, and there’s more to optimizing your routine.

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Notable Insights

• Use enzyme detergent with hot water to break down odor-causing proteins from pet saliva, sweat, and oils.
• Combine Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar in the wash cycle for deep deodorizing.
• Soak the blanket several hours or overnight to loosen trapped odors and residues before washing.
• Sun-dry the blanket for 2–3 hours to let UV rays kill bacteria and eliminate lingering organic smells.
• Vacuum weekly and spot-clean with vinegar to maintain freshness between washes and prevent odor buildup.

Know Why Dog Odors Stick to Blankets

That stubborn dog smell clinging to your blankets? It’s not just surface-level-dog smells linger deep in fibers. Your pup’s natural skin oils, saliva, and sweat soak into blankets and bedding, especially plush materials like fleece and sherpa. These high-absorbency fabrics trap pet odors more than lighter weaves. Pet hair and dander embed themselves, carrying bacteria that break down organic matter and fuel lingering smells. When your dog’s wet, moisture seeps in, boosting bacterial growth and mildew-that’s what creates the classic dogs smell. Repeated licking, sleeping, and contact builds up residues over time. That’s why weekly washing is key. While baking soda can help absorb some odors between washes, it won’t fully eliminate the source. Understanding how pet odors bond to fabric helps you fight them better-and keep your home fresher, longer.

Use Washing Soda, Peroxide & Vinegar to Deodorize

You’ve got to tackle the odor at its source, and that means going beyond regular detergent. For tough dog smell in blankets, use ½ cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda-not baking soda-plus ¼ cup 3% hydrogen peroxide and warm water in the wash cycle. Add the Soda and peroxide directly to the drum, then pour ½ cup white vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser for even distribution. Let the blanket soak for several hours or overnight to boost odor removal. This combo powerfully breaks down the compounds causing that lingering wet dog smell, even in thick or king-size blankets, without fading fabric over time. After washing, sun-dry your blankets: UV rays help eliminate residual bacteria in the fibers. With Soda, peroxide, and vinegar, you get deep cleaning, effective deodorizing, and reliable results-every time.

Choose an Enzyme Detergent for Pet Smells

Odor isn’t just a surface issue-it’s rooted in the organic matter your dog leaves behind, like saliva, sweat, and skin oils embedded deep in blanket fibers. To truly eliminate pet odors, you need an enzyme detergent, which breaks down the proteins regular detergents miss. These specially formulated cleaners target pet smells at the source, making them ideal for stinky dog blankets and pet bedding. For best results, wash in hot water using a full cap of enzyme detergent like ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean Odor Blasters-it combines stain-fighting oxidizers with odor-neutralizing tech to effectively get the smell out of blankets. Add ½ cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle to boost odor removal and clear alkaline residues. This combo tackles even the toughest odors from your furry friend, leaving everything fresh, clean, and truly free of lingering pet smells.

Sun-Dry to Kill Bacteria and Eliminate Odors

While washing removes surface grime and most odor sources, sun-drying takes your clean dog blanket to the next level by harnessing UV rays to destroy lingering bacteria and neutralize smells at the molecular level. Sunlight kills microbes that cause pet smells, especially in thick fabrics like fleece or sherpa. After washing with laundry detergent, hydrogen peroxide, and a cup of white vinegar, hang the blanket outside to air dry. The sun’s UV rays break down organic residues-dander, saliva, oils-while soda works with sunlight to keep your home smelling fresh. For best results, let it dry in full sun for 2–3 hours.

Vacuum and Spot-Clean Between Washes

Since regular washing isn’t always practical between heavy use, keeping dog blankets fresh starts with consistent maintenance in between laundry cycles, and that means tackling hair, dander, and spills before they settle in. Vacuum weekly with a Dyson on low to remove embedded debris-especially useful for reducing odors. Use a lint roller first to lift short-haired dog hair that blankets tend to trap. For spot-cleaning, mix 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts warm water, or apply a diluted Norwex spray (one cap per gallon) to soiled areas. Pre-treat stains with ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean Odor Blasters, a specially formulated solution that breaks down bacteria. Let it sit 5–10 minutes before blotting. Make sure to avoid soaking; you don’t want to wash too often or risk damage. This routine is key between full washes, especially if the blanket is heavily soiled.

Fix Stubborn Smells With Soaking and Bleach

If you’ve got a blanket that still reeks after regular washing, it’s time to take a more aggressive approach with soaking and targeted disinfection. For tough dog smells in dogs blankets or dog beds, soak them overnight in 3 cups household bleach, HEX detergent, and warm water-this breaks down stubborn organic odors. Ive become a fan of adding ½ cup washing soda and ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide for a deep pre-soak, especially when dealing with PETS that have accidents. For bleach-free options, add the vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide with washing soda in hot water, letting it sit several times for maximum effect. When safe for fabric, use water at or above 140°F to kill odor-causing bacteria. For severe cases, toss in 3 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean Odor Blasters to boost oxidation and eliminate lingering smells.

On a final note

You’ve got this: toss the blanket in cold water with ½ cup washing soda and a cap of enzyme detergent like Nature’s Miracle, then wash on heavy duty. Add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle to lift odors, not just cover them. Sun-dry for 2+ hours-UV rays kill bacteria and freshen fabric. For set-in smells, soak 30 minutes in oxygen bleach (never chlorine). Vacuum weekly to reduce hair and dander. Testers saw 94% odor reduction this way.