Skip to Content

Drying Leashes and Harnesses

Drying Leashes and Harnesses

As a member of the Etsy affiliate program and an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wet leashes are just apart of life with dogs when you live in a wet climate. Living in an apartment, you would drive the neighbours nuts if you had leashes clanging around in the dryer several times a day. Luckily, our dryer solution can help.

* * *

Here in Vancouver, on the verge of Spring, there is a lot of rain.

A woof load of rain. So much rain. Rain that I have to walk in and rain that they dogs have to walk in. Even with rain jackets for everyone, things get wet. I find that the thick weave of quality leashes and harnesses seems to get wet and stay wet for hours and hours. I can’t count the number of times I’ve hung up the leashes and come back at our next walk to find them still wet, cold and clammy.

No one wants to go for a walk when the leash feels like a limp fish. Back in the day, I used to have 75 bazillion leashes. I had a leash fetish. I wanted to own ALL THE LEASHES, but after we moved to the apartment, I felt like too many leashes was well, too many. We didn’t have the space and really, did we need them? Still, by the time the rainy season rolled around, I was heartily regretting my decision to donate all but our favourite. They kept getting wet and I hated it.

I had to start putting them in the dryer, but the noise was driving me NUTS.

DSC03239

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Holy woof, you guys. I’m pretty sure my neighbours must have thought I was the worst. The absolute worst. The sound was incredibly obnoxious. I tried hanging the metal loop out side the dryer then slamming the door shut with just the leash inside, but then it made this ridiculously annoying whipping sound as it snapped against the paddles in the dryer. Ugh. There had to be a better way.

A sneaker bag was my saviour.

how to dry leashes and harnesses

Did you even know these were a thing? They’re laundry bags specifically made to let you put runners in the dryer without banging them around. I figured if it worked for runners, why couldn’t it work for my dog gear? I tried it and I was delighted to find that it works.

Dryer bags are super affordable too. You can buy one less than $10 or if you’re all sorts of impatient and can’t even wait for two day shipping (like I am), you can make one with supplies from your local dollar store for even less. (The DIY bonus is that you can pick fun ribbon. I’m loving these acid green stripes I chose

Here’s what you need:

  • A Mesh Laundry Bag
  • Ribbon (make sure you buy a fabric ribbon, not a plastic one)
  • Velcro Stripping
  • Needle & thread

Measure height of your dryer door and cut 4 pieces of ribbon to that length.

Sew one piece of ribbon to each corner of your laundry bag.

Fit to your dryer door and trim excess ribbon, if needed (Make sure you leave a couple inches overlap)

Sew your velcro pieces onto the ribbon ends and secure over your dryer door.

That’s it!

I like to hook the leashes over the edge of the zipper and hook them in place to limit any movement and then I just tuck the leash tails inside. I toss the towel I used to dry of puppy feet in the dryer (I only wash it every few walks, or I would be doing a load of dog towels everyday!), along with the leashes in about 15 minutes, it’s all dry enough to use again.

If this rain thinks it’s going to beat me, it’s wrong.

What’s your best tip for keeping pet gear dry?

 

 

 

 

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tenacious Little Terrier

Saturday 22nd of February 2014

I hear good things about biothane leashes. Might be worth looking into.

KolchakPuggle

Sunday 23rd of February 2014

You are inspired! I had never heard of them, but you're right. They look ideal! Thanks TLT!

Jodi

Thursday 6th of February 2014

That is a totally awesome idea!! What I can't stand is because I use a long leash, lots of times it drags and gets full of sand, then I have to rinse it but like you the dryer clang, clang drove me nuts! I'm definitely working on this one!

Maggie

Tuesday 4th of February 2014

That is an AWESOME idea! Because I'm currently living in the most ridiculous situation of my entire life... my fear would be that the squirrel who lives behind our dryer would chew through the Velcro strip. Hmm...

KolchakPuggle

Tuesday 4th of February 2014

Oh Gawds...you have squirrel issues? Have you tried the rodent plug ins that emit the no sounds beeps?? They DO NOT make the dogs crazy and they helped us clear my squirrel problem.

Also, WTF Newt? You had ONE JOB.

jealoushe

Tuesday 4th of February 2014

Great idea!! This will also work for horsey stuff...love it

KolchakPuggle

Sunday 23rd of February 2014

You put horse laundry in your dryer?! I <3 you. I could nver bring myself, but I'm lucky to live in a "horsey" town and there was a laundromat where ALL they do is horse laundry!

Tori Mistick

Tuesday 4th of February 2014

What a good idea! I tried putting our collars and leashes in a mesh bag in the dryer and they still banged pretty loud, I never would have thought of the straps! Luckily, it's ridiculously freezing here in Pittsburgh, so no rain for us, just more snow and ice!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.