If you can’t wash it don’t buy it

This is the credo of Shoalhaven dry cleaner Vicki Lowbridge when asked about dog beds.

If you thought it was surprising that a dry cleaner should be so emphatic about a dog bed that is not recommended for dry cleaning and in favour of washing dog beds and bedding generally, so did we and the Poppy’s team continued the conversation with Vicki.

“Initially a client for microCloud luxury bedding needed advice: Vicki and her chum are old-fashioned gals who telephoned to discuss their bedding requirements – none of this new-fangled interweb for these two. They were taken aback to be personally greeted by one of the owners of the company. “As is the way of the non-digital environment, we struck up a conversation”, says Tony Blanch, Director.

Vicki picks up the story, “The microCloud quilt and mattress topper came across the counter at our dry-cleaning shop and we fell in love with it. That’s what prompted the call to Tony. The instructions were that you could cold or warm machine wash and importantly tumble dry, and I’m all in favour of that in any sort of bedding, particularly with dog bedding and water-based stains.

“We put the bedding in the machine, something that can’t be done with all bedding. If doggy has done number ones, number twos, vomit or just doggy smells that will be the fix. Pop the bedding in the machine wash on cold – you don’t even need a warm wash. While we use warm wash for everything, you can use your cold wash with your cold wash products or whatever you happen to have at home.

“Dry cleaning may be ideal for fats and oils but if there’s a big urine stain, machine wash and tumble dry gives best results.  

“We found these Poppy’s Pet Beds bounced back into shape after every wash. Compared with other Pet Beds that sadly lose their shape, the Poppy’s Pet Beds stayed in perfect shape – fluffed up good as new. The fibre-fill inside did not move, you didn’t have to shake like billyo to get the fibre-fill up one end like you do when you are shaking in a quilt or a quilt cover.

“Together with the brilliant bounce-back and easy wash, we found the best was that Poppy’s Pet Bed comes with a couple of covers, so if doggy does number one in the middle of the night, is sick or vomits you have a spare cover ready to put on. Dogs love that as much as owners.

“The big selling point for me is that a wet-from-the-machine-wash bed can go straight into the tumble dryer. Most other brands of Pet Bed cannot be machine washed and tumble dried.

“I have found no other brand which is both washable and tumble dryable. The Poppy’s Pet Bed can be put in the dryer, but the dryer doesn’t necessarily have to be hot. We do 40 degrees and our dryers are like a hot wind, they are not like the old-fashioned dryers that just heat water and basically boil away dirt. The customer can have their dog beds back the same day. They can have their own bedding back too if they need it, although most say they do not and they are rarely in a hurry. It’s a different story when it comes to their dog’s bed though and customers say, ‘Can we please have it back the same day as our dog won’t sleep anywhere else or otherwise, she’ll be on our bed then she’s up and down, up and down all night’.  

“At Shoalhaven we do seem to have a lot of customers with anxious dogs, so if puppy is anxious and needs that same smell back or is used the same feel of its bed then the quick turnaround is excellent.”