How Do You Wash A Dog Collar?

I’m from the camp of “clean dog, clean collar.” The girls get a fresh collars every time we bathe. But HOW do you wash a dog collar? For most nylon webbing or other fabric dog collars, it’s easier than you think! I toss them right in the washing machine.

CAN YOU WASH A DOG COLLAR IN THE WASHING MACHINE?

Yes, you can! If your dog wears a nylon or other fabric collar, you can save a lot of time by washing the dog collar in the washing machine, and allowing it to air dry (lay it flat, or hang it on a laundry rack).

But, will machine washing degrade the integrity of my dog’s collar? With a few precautions taken, it will not degrade the collar any more than it does your own clothes. And I’ll bet you’re not hand washing much of your own clothes. Nobody has time for that!

how do you wash a dog collar in the washing machine?

There are a few things I do to ensure tossing a dog collar in the washing machine is a success. Ideally, remove the tags from the collar. If you don’t have a Rubit Dog Tag Clip for your dog’s tags, go on and get yourself one. You can thank me later! A Rubit clip will allow you to easily clip/unclip your dog’s tags to/from a collar without fighting that little metal ring.

Before putting a collar into the washer, always clip it closed, and put it into a zippered, mesh laundry bag. This helps prevent the collar from twisting up and getting tangled with other items in the wash. This step is especially important if your washer has an agitator.

Add something else to the wash load, like towels. From my experience of trying to get a stain out of my own clothes, items in the wash tend to come out cleaner when there are other items against which to agitate. Additionally, dog collars have clips and D-rings that clang around in there. Adding the towels you just used when bathing your dog will provide some cushioning to reduce (not eliminate) any noise.

I wash my dog collars on the delicate laundry cycle with cold water, and unscented laundry detergent (I use Method Laundry Detergent Free + Clear, which I purchase from Target, but you can buy it in bulk on Amazon). Using a warm water wash, or the normal laundry cycle is also effective. However, I do not recommend using a heavily-soiled cycle setting, hot water, or hash detergents. Like your own clothes, this may result in fading or other issues.

Never put your dog’s collar in the dryer. Always lay the collar flat to dry, or hang it neatly on a laundry rack.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WASH MY DOG’S COLLAR?

How often you wash your dog’s collar is going to vary based on your dog’s lifestyle and activities. But if you are washing your dog, wash your dog’s collar too! You wouldn’t put the same worn clothes on after showering, would you?

I generally bathe the girls every 2-3 weeks, and I wash their dog collars in the washing machine each time I bathe them.

If your dog’s collar has gotten particularly stinky, you can pre-soak the collar with a few tablespoons of vinegar and baking soda, and use a soft, nylon brush to gently scrub the collar before putting it into the washer.

But, if you wash your dog’s collar regularly, this step is completely unnecessary! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…isn’t that how the saying goes? That is to say, if you wash your dog’s collar regularly, you’ll prevent it from becoming that stinky dog collar in the first place.

CAN YOU MACHINE WASH A DOG HARNESS or leash?

Like a collar, if your dog uses a harness, this item will need to be washed from time to time. I follow the same practices when washing Ruby’s Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness in the washing machine. Clip your clips, put the harness into a zippered, mesh laundry bag, add some towels and unscented laundry detergent, and choose a gentle cycle with cold water.

Although our leashes tend to stay pretty clean, I have washed our leashes in the washing machine as well. However, using a laundry bag for leashes is critical to prevent tangling! And if you are washing more than one leash in the washer, I recommend putting each leash in a separate laundry bag.

After washing, always allow your dog’s gear to thoroughly air dry.

How can i clean a leather dog collar?

Leather dog collars and leashes CANNOT go into the washing machine. The girls do not have any leather collars, but these are my go-to leather products for cleaning my sofa (which I don’t do often enough 😬), car interior, and my own bags and shoes. Always test a new product on the inside of the collar surface. However, these items should be safe to use when cleaning your dog’s leather collar or leash.

clean dog, clean collar

If you have all this free time to gingerly hand wash your dog’s nylon webbing or other fabric dog collar, props to you! But with three dogs, things to do, and places to go, this dog mom is taking the easy route. With a few common sense precautions, you can absolutely wash your dog’s collar in the washing machine!