Cleaning

General Hints

• Remove excess hair before washing. We like to start with a brush, and this blog post shows some that work well for fabric, furniture, and car upholstery. A  lint roller works well to finish the job.  
• It's OK to turn the Cat Ball® cat bed inside out.
• Don't use bleach, as this will affect the fabric color and foam behavior.
• Use cold water only, as this helps to preserve the colors in cotton fabrics, and will keep fabrics from over shrinking. 
  
  

Top Loading Washing Machine

If you have a top loader with an agitator please follow these instructions:

• Wash the Cat Ball® cat bed alone. Do not add anything else to this cycle, as additional items (like a heavy towel) can shove the Cat Ball into the agitator where it can get stuck and cause abrasion and tearing to the bed. The bed can get ruined.
• Use cold water.
• Never use bleach, as it will affect the look of the fabric and the performance of the foam.
  
  

Front Loading Washing Machine

• Wash with cold water and use high water extraction.
• Do not use bleach.
  
  

Drying

• Dry on air setting The fabrics will tighten up with the first wash (and more so with a hotter dryer), so if they are still loose then step up to the lowest heat setting the second time you wash. The point is to never overheat these cotton fabrics as that will cause too much shrinkage. 
  
  

Did Your Bed Arrive Slightly Wrinkled?

Use a spray bottle to slightly dampen the fabric. Dry on air for about 20-25 minutes. This works really well.

New Cat Canoe® - Sometimes they are wrinkled. Use a spray bottle to slightly dampen the fabric. Dry on air for about 20-25 minutes. Turning the Cat Canoe® inside out while in the dryer often makes the bed spread open a little more, this is actually how we prepare new beds for our photography sessions. Some cats prefer to use this bed inside out.