Getting a bandana for your dog is a good idea, considering the health benefits and aesthetic value that it provides. Bandanas help keep your dog warm during the cold weather, keep your dog fresh and cool during the hot season, have a calming effect on a nervous dog, make a scary looking dog appear friendlier, and provide the public with information on special dogs.
However, it is not enough to have an array of different colors, sizes, shapes, or prints of bandanas. You also have to take care of them.
Wearing the same set of bandanas for your dog without washing can cause irritation to the skin, accumulate germs when dirty – which can make your dog sick, and also accumulate fur – which your dog can accidentally choke on.
Dog bandanas can be easily ordered from online stores from a wide variety of fabrics. The most commonly used ones are either a 100% cotton or poly-cotton mix.
How To Wash Your Dog’s Bandana
Bandanas ordered from online pet stores often come with instructions on how to wash. They include the options of;
- Hand washing
- Cold machine washes using a gentle cycle.
- Wash with a non-biological liquid.
- Ironing with low heat
- Do not soak or bleach
- Do not tumble dry
- Do not use fabric softener
- Do not soak in warm water.
It specifies what procedures to follow, and it should be strictly adhered to so that the bandana or parts of it are not damaged during washing.
For example;
- A soft cotton bandana can easily tear if you do not wash using a gentle cycle.
- Ironing with medium or high heat can cause the fabric to get burnt. It is advisable to use a towel as protection when ironing the bandana.
- Bleaching can lead to the bandana losing its color, and soaking with other clothes might stain the color of the different fabrics.
- Soaking in hot water will cause the fabric to lose its original size and shrink, rendering it useless.
- Tumble drying when it is specified that you should not do so means that the fabric should, after washing, be dried on a line as it might fade, shrink, or even fray from the heat.
- It is not advised to use fabric softener for 100% cotton and polyester because the coating of fabric softeners builds up over time and makes it hard for detergents to get through and remove stains. It can also irritate the skin because they contain toxic ingredients.
Conclusion
Taking care of your dog’s bandana is easier than you think. All you have to do is follow the instructions that come with the bandana or the above instructions if yours is handmade from 100% cotton or poly-cotton mix.
Wash your dog's bandana as frequently as possible. Do not wait until you can see the dirt on the bandana before remembering to apply proper hygiene protocol. Remember that as much as you want the benefits of a bandana, you do not want to jeopardize the health of your four-legged friend.
