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Dog Smell on Blankets? Skip the Perfume and Try a Better Wash

Dog smell sticks because oils and bacteria stay in the fabric. A hotter, longer wash with the right additive clears it; perfume only covers it.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
45 min, plus a wash
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
A folded gray fleece blanket in the open drum of a front-loading washing machine
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Check the care label first
  9. What to skip
  10. FAQ
  11. Related problems

Quick answer

To get rid of dog smell on blankets, wash out the oils and bacteria that cause it instead of covering them with perfume. Shake out the hair, soak the blanket in warm water with baking soda, then wash it on the warmest setting the care tag allows and dry it completely. If the smell comes back, an odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent with enzymes is the stronger fix.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 30 minutes soaking, plus a wash

Soak with baking soda, then wash hot

  • Shake out hair and dirt first
  • Soak in warm water with a cup of baking soda
  • Wash on the warmest setting the tag allows
  • Dry fully, in a dryer or in the sun

How long it lasts: Weeks, for a light doggy smell. A dog that is overdue for a bath will bring it back.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent (illustration)
Illustration

An odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent

Dog smell comes from skin oils, saliva and dander, which are protein-based. Enzyme detergents are made to break those down instead of covering them. If baking soda and a hot wash only work for a few days, the blanket needs more than that.

What to get: Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent

How long it lasts: Every wash. It keeps working each time you use it, so smell does not build up.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Baking soda

    For the soak, a cup for a large blanket

    You have it

  • White vinegar

    For the rinse, in a separate step from the baking soda

    You have it
  • Our pick
    Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent (illustration)
    Illustration

    Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent

    Enzyme-based, for smell that survives a normal wash

    Check price
  • Washing machine cleaner tablets (illustration)
    Illustration

    Washing machine cleaner tablets

    If the washer itself smells, blankets pick it up

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Skin oils and saliva in the fibers

Dogs leave oil, dander and saliva on bedding every day. Regular detergent washes out the dirt but can leave some of the oils behind, and they turn rancid over time.

2

Detergent and softener buildup

Too much soap or any fabric softener coats the fibers and traps odor, so blankets smell musty even when freshly washed.

3

Washing too cool or too crowded

Cold water does not loosen body oils well. An overloaded drum does not rinse, so smell stays in the thick middle of a blanket.

4

Not drying completely

A blanket that is still damp in the middle gets musty within a day. A washer that smells passes that on too.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. 1. Shake out the hair

    Shake the blanket outside and remove as much hair as you can first, since wet hair clumps in the drum. See the related page on pulling pet hair off bedding.

  2. 2. Soak with baking soda

    Tool used: Baking soda

    Fill the washer or a tub with warm water. Add a cup of baking soda for a large blanket, or half a cup for a small one, and soak for 30 to 60 minutes.

  3. 3. Wash hot, with room to move

    Wash on the warmest setting the care label allows, with the blanket alone and an extra rinse. Use a normal dose of detergent and skip the fabric softener.

  4. 4. Rinse with vinegar for a stubborn smell

    Tool used: White vinegar

    Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Never mix vinegar with bleach, and keep it separate from the baking soda step, since the two cancel each other.

  5. 5. Dry it completely

    Dry on the highest heat the label allows, or hang it in the sun. Check the thick middle, since any damp means another round. Wipe out the washer drum afterward.

  6. 6. Switch detergents if the smell returns

    Tool used: Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent

    If the smell is back within days, rewash with an odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent and follow the dose on the label.

    Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent · Enzyme-based, for smell that survives a normal wash

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

If a blanket smells the same after a hot wash, a soak and a second wash, the smell may be in the washer, not the blanket. Run a washer cleaning cycle and leave the door open afterward. Blankets that are very old, matted or soaked with urine are better replaced or treated with an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine, which is a different product. A smell that returns within days often means the dog needs a bath or the bed needs more frequent washing. An enzyme detergent is for the middle ground: blankets that are clean but still smell like dog.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Best pick
Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent (illustration)
Illustration

Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent

Fixes: dog smell that survives a normal wash

Look for: Enzyme-based, so it breaks down oils and proteins; Safe for pet bedding and for your washer type, HE or standard; Fragrance-free or lightly scented, since dogs have sensitive noses.

Who it's for
Households with dogs that sleep on blankets, couches or the bed.
Honest downside
The smell is urine, which needs a pet urine enzyme cleaner. Skip scented options if your dog or someone in the house is sensitive.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on laundry and fabric care guides, pet-safety advice on cleaning products and essential oils and what owners report in reviews of pet laundry detergents. We do not test products by hand.

Check the care label first

Look at the tag for the highest water temperature and the dryer heat. Fleece, microfiber and polyester usually handle warm to hot water but can be damaged by a very hot dryer, while cotton handles more heat. If the tag is missing, use warm water and low heat.

What to skip

Perfume sprays, essential oils and fabric softener

Scented sprays cover the smell for a day or two and can irritate a dog's nose. Tea tree and some other essential oils are toxic to dogs, so never use them on pet bedding. Fabric softener coats the fibers and traps odor.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get dog smell out of blankets that still smell after washing?
That means oils are staying in the fabric. Soak with baking soda, wash hot with no fabric softener, add one more rinse and dry completely. If it still smells, switch to an enzyme pet laundry detergent.
Can I use vinegar and baking soda together on blankets?
Use them in separate steps: baking soda in the soak or wash, vinegar in the rinse. Mixed together, they fizz and cancel each other out, so neither does its job.
How often should I wash a dog's blanket?
Weekly is a good rhythm for a blanket your dog sleeps on daily, and sooner if it gets muddy or wet. Regular washing stops the smell from building.
Is it OK to use essential oils on dog blankets?
No. Some, including tea tree, are toxic to dogs, and a dog's nose is far stronger than ours. Stick to fragrance-free products.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Odor-eliminating pet laundry detergent

Check price