Pet-safe cleaning products
Cleaning can be tiring, and keeping your house clean can be challenging, especially if you have pets.
Did you know some commonly used cleaning products have harmful chemicals that are toxic to your pets?
Even if your pet is well-behaved, they still cannot resist licking the floors or going in trash bags to find food. They also spend a lot of time licking their paws, laying on floors, and cleaning themselves, so they are bound to pick up or ingest whatever they find. Therefore, you must be careful with what cleaning products you use in your homes if you have pets.
We do not want anything to happen to our furry friend, do we?
Fortunately, there are alternatives you can use to keep a clean house without it harming your pets.
What cleaning products are safe for pets?
Keeping a clean home requires many cleaning products, from floor and carpet cleaners to sink scrubs and all-purpose cleaning products.
Many of these have toxic ingredients for our pets to ingest, inhale or absorb through their skin while moving about and licking their paws.
There are a few everyday household cleaning products that have dangerous or even life-threatening ingredients in them.
Even products labeled “natural” are not always a safe bet. Including essential oils, which may irritate airways and even exacerbate asthma.
Do not let your pets eat anything you wouldn’t eat.
Be very careful when reading the labels to ensure no harmful ingredients are in the products you use in your home.
Most pet owners do not realize how harmful and toxic the cleaning products used in their homes are to their pets. All owners need to know this before they use cleaning products in their homes.
Making sure you are using pet-friendly cleaning products is so important.
What cleaning products are not safe?
Many unsafe cleaning products for your pets are easily recognized because most disinfecting cleaners are not pet-safe.
These cleaners have alcohol, Formaldehyde, bleach, and other harsh chemicals that can damage your pets.
Instead, you can choose products that are naturally made and do not have harsh chemicals in them.
Floor cleaner
Even if you get all the residues off the floor, the vapor will still be lingering and is very dangerous to your dog.
Bathroom cleaners
The temptation your pet may have to drink out of the toilet bowl is something all of our pets will have, so this is why you need to be extra careful.
All-purpose cleaners
All-purpose cleaners are not pet-safe because it has harsh fragrances that may irritate your dog’s nose.
Drain openers
You would think dangerous drain-opening products are harmless to pets as you place them down the drain, but they give off hazardous fumes long after being used.
Glass cleaners
Some glass cleaners contain glycol ethers, which have been associated with anemia, lung damage, and kidney failure.
Laundry detergent
Using too much laundry detergent will leave a residue on your clothing, pet blankets, and throws and can be harmful to pets that chew on their beds.
Ingredients to stay away from
Ammonia
What is it used for in cleaning?
It is a key ingredient in oven cleaners and other products that remove grease from glass and stainless steel surfaces.
Why is it toxic?
Ammonia contributes to asthma and burns to the mucous membranes.
Mixing ammonia and bleach produces toxic fumes, which can be deadly to small animals.
Chlorine
What is it used for in cleaning?
Chlorine is mainly used to disinfect non-porous surfaces and can be found in toilet bowl cleaners, and automatic dish detergents. It is also the main chemical used to treat water commercially and in residential homes to keep pool water fresh.
Why is it toxic?
Chlorine bleach can cause dizziness, vomiting, and laryngeal edema (swelling in the throat).
Avoid this ingredient at all costs, and be careful with letting your dog swim in pools actively being chlorinated.
Glycol ethers
What is it used for in cleaning?
This substance can be found in various household products, including glass cleaners and carpet spot removers.
Why is it toxic?
Glycol ethers have been shown to cause anemia and lung and kidney damage in humans and animals.
Formaldehyde
WHAT IS IT USED FOR IN CLEANING?
Found in many soaps and even pet shampoos.
Why is it toxic?
Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that can contribute to asthma.
DIY pet-safe cleaners
ODOUR ABSORBER, DOG DEODORIZER, AND SCRUB: BAKING SODA
A baking soda scrub to help keep your countertops, stained sinks, and pet bowls clean, use this simple mixture to get rid of stuck-on food or grime.
Mix baking soda with an equal amount of warm water and salt, and it will become a thick paste. Use a sponge or cloth and scrub the inside and outside of the dish or bowl using a circular motion until clean, then rinse off with warm water.
It is an all-natural and easy deodorizer used in homes and on pets. To freshen up your carpets or rugs, lightly sprinkle them with baking soda, let it settle for 15-30 minutes, and then vacuum up.
To freshen up your dog, take a handful of baking soda or two, depending on your dog’s size, and rub it into your dog’s coat.
All-purpose floor cleaner: VINEGAR AND WATER
Use vinegar and water instead of chemical floor cleaner if you have wooden floors, ceramic floors, linoleum, or vinyl. This is a pet-safe floor cleaner.
Combine one cup of vinegar and one liter of water and mop your floors. You do not have to rinse, but if you want shiny floors, mop again after it dries with club soda. This inexpensive and easy solution removes dirt and grime without harsh chemicals. It can also be used to clean your dog’s plastic or rubber toys, grooming tools, and other non-porous surfaces that might need a little freshening up. This can be kept in a bottle for more use after. Pet-safe floor cleaner is essential as your pets walk over the floors and lay on them daily.
Glass surfaces and window cleaner: LEMON JUICE AND WATER
Lemon juice and water are used for glass surfaces and window cleaners. These are pet-friendly cleaning products. Add five tablespoons of lemon juice to two liters of water. Wipe the surface clean with a lint-free cloth or an old cotton t-shirt.
Aromatic clean laundry: lemon essential oils
If your pet loves to nap on a favorite blanket, pillow, sweater, bed sheet, or pet bed, it is a good idea to use a green laundry detergent or research how to make pet-safe laundry detergents at home.
If you want your clothes to smell fresh, it is a good idea to swap the chemical dryer sheets with a few drops of lemon essential oils added to one of your garments or an old towel tossed in.
Paint fumes: vinegar
Painting and decorating can leave harsh fumes and odors from the paint and can also affect your pet’s health.
Whether a small project or a big project, you should have a bowl of vinegar scattered around the room to absorb the strong smell of paint. You can replace the vinegar and leave it out several days after finishing the painting.
kitchen and bathroom grease: baking soda, lemon juice, liquid soap, and tea tree oil
For general home cleaning, use baking soda and wipe with a moist cloth or sponge. If you want to get rid of grease and grime, add salt and repeat the process.
If you want to disinfect a surface, mix two cups of water with three tablespoons of liquid soap and twenty-five drops of tea tree oil with natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Urine, vomit, and severe animal stains: hydrogen peroxide, liquid soap, and baking soda
This mixture is particularly beneficial for treating urine stains as it helps break down the uric crystals.
When mixed with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide creates a powerful and natural deodorizing carpet cleaner. Start by blotting the stain with a paper towel, then sprinkle baking soda over it. Then you will combine 0.5 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap, and then slowly pour the solution over the stain. Using a clean rag or scrub brush, scrub the area, let it sit for ten minutes, and then vacuum the area. Use this as a carpet stain remover and pet stain remover.
Toilet cleaner: orange drink or vinegar and water
If your pet is fond of drinking from the toilet bowl, you must avoid using toxic chemicals. Instead, try to add an orange drink or clean it with orange peel oil. Next, pour 0.25 cups into the toilet bowl, swish it around, and then let it sit for an hour. The citric acid will help remove hard water stains, and pets usually avoid the scent.
An alternative is to use equal parts of vinegar and water solution to clean toilet bowls.
Ingredients of pet-safe cleaning products
- Baking soda
- Vinegar and water
- Orange drink or orange peel oil
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Liquid soap
- Lemon juice
- Lemon essential oils
These ingredients are all used to make pet-safe cleaners; you should add these to your cleaning routine instead of using harsh chemicals.
These ingredients are suitable for removing stains, pet stains, grime, dirt, tough stains, and stubborn stains, used to clean floors, get rid of tough messes, and many more.
Always make sure you use cleaning products for pets and make sure they are chlorine-free, non-toxic, odor free, and all-around safe for your pets.
Ways to minimize the risk
Always keep products out of the pet’s reach. For example, keep your cleaning stuff in a cupboard under the sink or a cabinet up high; you can even use a child-proof lock if your pet has mastered how to open cupboard doors.
Keep your pet away from the room you are cleaning. Then, keep them away from that room for a few hours after cleaning.
Allow cleaning products to dry before you let your pet back in the room.
Air out the space and open the windows if you can.
