Key Points
- Many products you would think to use for spring cleaning aren’t safe for pets and could make them sick.
- Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, phenols, and formaldehyde.
- Keep fragrances to a minimum, and look for enzymatic cleaners for safe scents and a powerful pet-stain cleaner.
It’s that time of year again – spring cleaning time! Whether you’re doing a deep clean or just freshening up the house after winter, we know cleaning can be daunting. Pets make for a happy home, but they often come with an inevitable mess, which can be a challenge when it comes to keeping a house clean. When you do gather up the energy and time to clean, everyone online has a different opinion about the best pet-safe products. So if you ever find yourself wondering, when did cleaning become so complicated? You’re definitely not alone.
There are so many recommendations for disinfectants, floor cleaners, stain removers, and eco-friendly cleaning products out there. It can be daunting to choose your set of household cleaning products. We’ve done the research to make it simple for your Spring reset. Here is everything you need to know about making your spring clean pet-friendly.
Everyday Cleaning Products Can Be Dangerous for Pets
Like human children, pets can get into just about everything. Their feet are always on the ground, and they inevitably end up in their mouths. They lick up crumbs from the floor or get into the laundry and chew on things they shouldn’t. Sound familiar? Dogs and cats are in constant contact with the cleaning products we use every day to keep our house sparkling clean and smelling fresh. However, many of these products are not designed with pets in mind. Common harmful ingredients in cleaning products are:
- Bleach
- Ammonia
- Phenols
- Formaldehyde
These harsh chemicals can be found in the most popular cleaning products from brands like Lysol, Mr. Clean, Pine Sol, and more. When pets consume or are exposed to them, they can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, vomiting, and other scary things. In most cases, though, the concentration of the chemicals is usually low if used as directed and won’t cause any immediate harm.
If you want to be extra safe, most vets agree that you should avoid these chemicals when picking our your cleaning products.
Going Eco-Friendly Isn’t Always a Guarantee
A lot of products use words like “eco-friendly,” “green,” or “non-toxic,” but that doesn’t always mean they are safe for pets. What makes a cleaning product pet-safe? You want to look for products without fragrances, alcohol, or harsh surfactants, which are substances that reduce the surface tension of liquids. Look for certifications from well-known and trusted sources like the EPA Safer Choice and see if the product has a badge like Cruelty-Free or plant-based.
No fragrances? We all want our house to smell like a field of fresh-cut flowers or lavender sky, but essential oils and other ingredients that are used to make products smell good can actually irritate the lungs of your cat or dog. This doesn’t mean you can’t find pet-safe cleaners that smell delicious. There are a variety of enzymatic and multi-surface cleaning products that smell amazing and are safe for pets.
Pro-tip: Say no to essential oils. Different from candles, the smell is often overpowering, and there are more essential oils that are toxic to dogs than ones that are not.
Pet-Safe Cleaning Products You Should Have
Pet Safe Floor Cleaners
Pets lay, play, and walk on our floors and carpets –– so make sure they aren’t picking up anything toxic when they do. It’s always good to double-check the ingredient list on things like carpet cleaners, carpet freshener, floor cleaners, or floor soaps.
We like Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner, Eco-Me Floor Cleaner, and Rocco & Roxie Carpet Cleaner for floors and carpets because they are well-tested and highly rated pet-safe cleaners with some safe scent options.
Pet Safe Detergents
Whether you are washing their beds, their toys, or maybe your socks (which they eventually steal), making sure you use pet-safe detergents is very important. All of these things will end up in their mouth, and your pet may end up ingesting some of the detergent in the process.
We like Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent and Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent for this job because they aren’t just safe for your pet –– they are also good for sensitive skin and allergies.
Pet-Friendly Disinfectants
Cleaning, when you think about it, is really just a war on germs. If you are trying to keep your family (fur or otherwise) healthy this spring, there are many pet-safe disinfectants that will get rid of bacteria. We recommend looking for a well-rounded multi-surface cleaner so you can use it all over the house.
We like Force of Nature Disinfectant & Cleaner and CleanSmart Daily Surface Cleaner for this job. These no-fuss cleaners are both powerful, and you won’t have to worry about unnecessary dyes or fragrance.
Pet Safe Cleaning Wipes
Our pets are our babies, and they can be just as sensitive, too. For a general safe cleaning wipe, we recommend the Babyganics All-Purpose Wipes. Not all baby products are safe for pets, so we recommend always reading the ingredient list, but these are a solid choice.
Pet Odor & Mess Cleaners
The best pet cleaning products are the ones you know will work –– especially on strong odors. Why do they like to pee right where you just cleaned? We can’t answer that, but we can give you our recommendations on cleaners that will kick the stink and mess out the door.
We like Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator and Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator for cleaning up pet messes. Both are great enzymatic cleaners, which means they use enzymes that feed on things like ammonia in urine to get rid of them. Rocco & Roxie also works well as a litter box cleaner. We should note that to some, the Angry Orange product can have a strong orange smell.
DIY Alternatives
There are dozens of people turning to DIY cleaning solutions, armed with vinegar or baking soda and good vibes, but is it safe for your pets? While these cleaning solutions might be cost-effective and simple to make, they can be dangerous for your animals if not properly mixed. We recommend paying close attention to the instructions and doing your research before brewing your own products. That said, the following products can be good alternatives to brand-name labels:
- baking soda
- lemon juice
- vinegar
- hydrogen peroxide
All of these ingredients can be poisonous to pets if consumed, though, so make sure to keep them away when you are cleaning and always store your cleaning products out of their reach.
Pet Stuff Cleaning Schedule
Just thinking about all of the spring cleaning you are going to accomplish now with these pet-friendly products makes us very excited for you! In addition to spring cleaning your human stuff, you might be wondering what to do about your pet’s belongings. Pet beds, litter boxes, collars, and toys pick up strong odors and can be a breeding ground for bacteria, yeast, and mold. They tend to be –– and often remain –– wet, so make sure to clean them regularly. Here’s a handy pet clean-up schedule to help you keep track of all of it.
When it’s time to clean up for your pet:
- Food Bowls: 1 per use or 1x per day (every use for wet foods)
- Dog and Cat Beds: 1x per 2-3 weeks
- Pet Toys and Deep Clean Litter Box: 1x per month
The EPA recommends cleaning your pet’s bed as often as every 2-3 weeks (washing and drying in hot water) to lower the risk and spread of fleas and ticks. Spring is the time when these creepy-crawlies start to be active, so it’s a good practice to have in place.
The CDC says to limit the bad bacteria that can build up and make you or your pet sick, so always try to keep your food and water bowls disinfected with a pet-safe cleaning solution.
For pet beds, try to find ones with removable covers so that you can wash them in the washing machine. You can also put most fabric toys in the washing machine. For rubber toys, put them on the top shelf of the dishwasher, along with pet bowls.
You’ve got this, we believe in you, and happy spring cleaning! No matter the season, if you notice your pets seem unwell or aren’t acting like themselves, it’s best to take them to your local vet for a checkup. Every pet deserves the best care possible, which is why Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans cover up to 90% of eligible vet bills when your pet gets hurt or sick. While you can’t always monitor your pet –– or their interesting snack habits –– getting pet insurance is a great way to help financially prepare you for the everyday mishaps and messes that come along with the greatest job of all.
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