We have just been told by Electrolux ( who own Zanussi ) that the warrantee on our Zanussi washer/dryer is invalid because we wash our dog bed covers in it - this is apparently not ' domestic ' use. So I was wondering how other dog owners wash their dog beds ? and what dog bed producers will think of this as most dog beds say ' washable' on them .

Interested in your thoughts !

must admit they go in the washing machine.....didnt know that ,but good point and what really constitutes domestic use

err last time I looked dogs were classed as DOMESTIC PETS.
not like you trying to wash huge muddy horse rugs in it or anything.
I'd have a word with tradings standards and see what they have to say about their little exclusion.

wash mine in washing machine- do bash them off outside to make sure not ridiculous amount of hair stuck on. think I'll be giving that brand of washing machine a miss and suspect if its known that make doesn't cover a dog blanket then they will lose rather a lot of custom as it says something about their machines

Been told by both Dyson Animal and Miele Cat & Dog (!!) vacuum cleaners that having more than 3 pets makes it commercial use so makes warranty invalid. They just seem to do all they can to not have to help out. So I ignore it all and carry on as normal. Since I started using Henry vacuum cleaners they never break (everything else lasted just 6 months) and washing machines tend to last about 3-4 years (have had Zanussi and Indesit) which isn't bad considering my stepson and mother in law live here, we have a washing rota and the machine is used several times every day, always. And yes, in it goes plenty of animal bedding, it must be something like 5 loads a week is just animal bedding.

1 I have Tuffies which only need hosing off, far more hygienic and hard wearing.
2 I use German Domestic Appliances.  Current AEG washing machine is 13 years old, current Miele Cat and Dog hoover same age.
3 If you want to make the best use out of your machine then use the bags for washing horse clothing in, it traps the hairs etc so that they do not clog up the pipes or waste.

wow-could do with one of those bags tohme,any idea where i might get one please?I have a friend who i know will be interested too!

http://www.rideaway.co.uk/horsewear-wash-bag-1/default.aspx

I have always washed all the dogs bedding in the washing machine and put t on a rinse cycle afterwards to get rid of the hair that I haven't been able to physically remove after.

I had the cheapest and now a mid range Bosch that is 3 11/ years old.

I gave the old Bosch about 10 years old at the time in working order though a bit chipped along the bottom (with the plastic bit missing) to my brother who still uses it.

I use the horse rug bag too.

I've always been worried because our Hotpoint doesn't seem to have any filters to clean ?? However, it is 8 years old and hasn't had a problem so far ........ :) We've only got the two dogs, but their actual beds get washed in the machine, but not too frequently :) Only the vet bed gets washed a lot :)

I always wash mine in the washing machine, but hubby does whinge about the amount of dog hair that comes off them!!!

Washing machine for me too. I do about 3 washes a week that are dog blankets/vetbed. and they go in the dryer too. Both are Zanusi and over ten years old so doing well. If we have a litter on the ground it's on every day at least once if not much more.. It has a good hair trap on it (The washing machine) and I have to empty it at least once a week. I also wash a lot of towels depending on the weather LOL.. So far the only break down was the door catch on the TD and OH ordered one direct and replaced it for pennies!
Hoover is a Dyson D70 and it works like a little trojan, that is about 5 years old now. I make sure I wash the filters out very regularly and it just keeps on sucking !!!
Aileen

we have a bosch & its fab - contantly on the go with vet bed/dirty towels etc

we have a bosch & its fab - contantly on the go with vet bed/dirty towels etc

horsewear wash-bag

Thanks for the link, I'm about to order one. I use the washing machine for my dog bed covers, vetbed etc and I find there's lots of loose hair left beind each time.

Our washing machine is Bosch, only two years old and the last one, a Candy, lasted for 20 years. At about the same time, the tumble dryer, a Creda, gave up the ghost but it had lasted for nearly 30 years!

I used to get through vacumn cleaners at a terrible rate but bought a Sebo cylinder one last time. That's over 10 years old now and still works really well. Mind you, we only have carpet upstairs now so maybe that helps!

not like you trying to wash huge muddy horse rugs in it or anything.

LOL!!  been there done that, if it fits in the washer (with a squeeze) it got washed... rugs, saddle clothes and girths LOL!

Also use the large horse bag for any blankets/towels now!!

Another convert to Tuffies too.

Reply received from our dog bed suppliers -- says it all !

Good Morning,

Thank you for your enquiry. Sorry to hear of your problems.

When we say that Danish Design pet bedding is washable, we generally
assume that a domestic machine will be used.
We have never heard of washing such products invalidating a warranty
before. Pets are part of the family and therefore domestic!!

The Fleece used in in our bedding is not made from fibres that damage
washing machines, and is found in other domestic products/bedding etc.

Hope this helps.

Some of my dogs sleep on old duvets so washing the covers and changing them regularly is no problem but I bought 3 Outhwaite waterproof beds and the interior cushions are too bulky to even go in my big whirlpool machine (I have tried but the stuffing was then lumpy). On a warm day I hung the cushions up by the hooks and jet washed them. They took ages to dry and still smelt doggy even after using diluted bio lquid, and the outer parts of the beds also have a whiff about them. Also hairs stick in the fabric and are impossible to remove.

I think it's ridiculous for the makers of these machines to suggest that their usage is limited, supposing you had 6-8 kids?

Washing machine here.  Though I do put the dogs duvet bed covers and the vet bed into a couple of old pillowcases that I no longer use, then seal the ends with an old elastic hairband or plastic tie to reduce the amount of hair deposited in the machine.

Washing machine here too but I have a Phillips american collection top loader. I use a horse bag for numnahs and anything too hairy but usually the dog bed covers go straight in and I've never had a problem - mind you the machine is well out of warranty now!

thanks tohme,just ordered one!

We have two washing machines, a Miele for the humans and Bosch for the dogs.  I hoover the bedding first then pop it in, reduces the hair dramatically, then put machine on rinse cycle, any stray hairs are easily collected from the bottom of the rubber seal.

In the washing machine in a doggie bag thing that keeps all the hair in - its orange and recommended on here. Yes its a horsewear bag, plus my machine is a 10 year old Dyson still going strong but if it breaks again I have to get a new one - sob.

Well I find that it's not the dogs things that daamge the machine but what the children tend to leave in their clothes!  At worst I have to clean out the filter after washing the dog beds.  However, a few months ago after washing the beds the washer wasn't emptying properly and was unable to open the filter.  Thinking that I was being rather clever I managed to force it off using some tools from the garage to find that nothing was blocking it.  When I went to put the filter back on it was leaking as I had damaged it by forcing it out!  Had a nice repair man who then told me that to replace the filter I would have to replace the motor (I think).  So he took it all apart and found a pound coin stuck in the machine, jammed behind the filter.  It cost about £100. to fix.  This week the filter won't come off to clean, lesson learnt I won't be doing anything to remove it!

Saw the link for these horse wear wash bags, got a jumbo size one from amazon, it arrived today...........FANTASTIC!!! no doglet hairs in the washing machine!!

`I have a Bosch large capacity washing machine, and the horsewear bags were just not large enough for my needs.  For many years I have washed all dog beds, blankets etc. etc.  in one of these

http://www.petsbydesign.co.uk/mcartfree/product.asp?typeid=1&catalogid=3&subcatalogid=&productid=45

They are zipped and allow no bits out into the machine.  I just make sure that I am outside when I turn the duvet covers inside out.  The accumulation of hair is unbelievable, and you can easily see why an average machine would be clogged pretty damn quick!  However, I do have lots and lots of dogs, and loads of dog beds and dog duvets to wash.  Using the duvet covers for washing means that I can get my largest turtle mat in - and I wouldn't want the mud from that swirling round my machine!  :-)

Bugger - I forgot to shop around for a larger horsewear wash bag wotsit but I've ordered the large one in the hopes it's OK for fleeces, I didn't think of my Turtle mats

...BUT, whilst I was there I got carried away and bought 3 dog coats!!  Just cos they were reduced, and it took ages for the dogs to dry after swimming last week, and they were staying at my mums, and the heating was off, and it was really cold

I can't imagine that's a scenario likely to reoccur too often so did I really need 3 coats?

..and have I confessed to my OH that I got swept into a buying spree promoted by CD.    Not again :)

Well... after reading this, I've ordered myself a proper horsewear wash bag from ebay :)  No more manky old pillow slips for me! 

So where do the dog hairs go? Stay stuck to the blankets or loose in the bag? And can you tumble dry them inside the bag?

I feel better after reading this:
Large size should be adequate. Two Large size bags is better for balancing the load in your washing machine than one XL bag, however XL is now available for large items.

But now I wish I'd ordered two!!

I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure :)

Here's another co offering the same thing but with more info:  says you can wash spin and tumble dry in the bag

Brilliant link dogs a babe, thanks!

> duvet covers

That's a good idea. You certainly learn a lot on this site - thanks!

>So where do the dog hairs go? Stay stuck to the blankets or loose in the bag?

Marianne - just my experience.  Depending on the material - some materials still have hair on them, but in big clogs that I pick off while they are hanging on the line (I don't do rotary, only old fashioned "proper" long washing line.)

Other materials, the hair just gets rolled off and I turn the duvet cover inside out once I get it in the garden.  The birds collect the felt like bits for nest material.  I can't reply about tumbling.  I'm so old fashioned that I think that clothes just don't smell right unless they've been out for a blow!  :-)

Sounds like I better get a bag!! :) Thanks. :) Although Jean -I'm the opposite, I HATE clothes that have been dried outside as I think they smell awful! (And no, it isn't because they smell of dog poo or anything, in case anyone had instant visions of a filthy garden! :) ) I never had a tumble drier when growing up but then I never had a garden either so was used to all clothes being hung indoors and they get so much softer from tumble driers. Mind you- costs a fortune in electricity! But with all of us (two separate households, effectively, with my MIL and adult step cuckoo son) here plus animals we do at very least 10 loads a week so being quick is a must.

When I first got 'the bag' I did use it for the dog beds, not because of bunging up the machine but to make sure that human clothes would be dog  hair free....it didnt work!

I didnt feel that the bulky vet beds and duvets got washed well enough all jammed into the bag so Ive swapped...

I now wash our clothes in the bag and the dog things in loose in the machine......problem solved.

It may not prolong the life of my machine but it certainly helps with the hairy clothes problem.