Household cleaning chores are a part of life. If you have pets, you must be extra careful about the cleaning products you use. You want a product that is effective for cleaning and disinfecting, but also safe for your pets.

Why? Just about any household product can be dangerous to pets, even if it is labeled “safe” or “natural”. Some pet-safe DIY household cleaners can be harmful as well. Knowing what to look for when buying or making household cleaners will help you avoid accidentally causing harm to your pets. With any cleaner, it is best to keep your pet away from it and contact your veterinarian if they ingest any product or get it on their paws.

Household Cleaning Products and Ingredients That Are Safe for Pets

Cleaning products and ingredients that are pet friendly include:

• Baking soda. This natural product can be used as a cleaner, stain remover, and odor absorber. It’s generally combined with water to make a paste.
• Vinegar. This non-toxic cleaning agent can be used solo or combined with baking soda and lemon for a more robust clean.
• Enzymatic cleaners. These cleaners contain enzymes (proteases, amylases, and lipases) that break down or dissolve organic waste, stains, or odor quickly and effectively. They’re essential for cleaning dog and cat urine.
• Accelerated hydrogen peroxide. There are pet-safe disinfectants that are non-toxic. Some contain accelerated hydrogen peroxide (a patented form that is more stable than traditional hydrogen peroxide) and other ingredients, such as surfactants, making them effective cleaning and disinfecting products¹.

Cleaning Product Ingredients That Are Not Safe for Pets

When buying household pet-safe cleaners for your home, it’s important to always read the ingredients and know what ingredients are toxic or hazardous to pets. Remember, any chemical, whether manufactured or natural, can potentially be toxic and others may cause irritation to pets if they get it on them. When in doubt, play it safe and look it up and call your veterinarian with any questions or concerns.

How to Safely Use Cleaning Products With Pets

• Lock and load. Always be sure that you secure and tighten the lid. If the bottle falls over, nothing can leak out. Be sure to keep your household cleaners stored in a safe place your pets cannot access, such as a locked cupboard or on an elevated shelf in a closet. A child safe storage area can also work well for pets. Pets will surprise you – they may chew on the bottle or magically find a way to remove the lid. A small puncture from a tooth can cause the product to leak out, and your pet may try to sample it.
• Beware of odor. Be sure the cleaner doesn’t have a powerful smell, regardless of the ingredients. Strong-smelling cleaners can cause problems for pets with respiratory issues like asthma, even if they never directly encounter the product. Cats and dogs sense of smell is more sensitive than humans, so strong odors can irritate them.
• Be neat and tidy. Immediately clean up any product spills. Thoroughly rinse any mops, buckets, and rags. Throw away cleaning wipes in a garbage can that can be securely closed as soon as you finish them.
• Watch out for cleaning wipes. Cleaning wipes are a double hazard. Not only can they contain ingredients that may harm your pet, but they can also be a choking hazard as well as cause an intestinal obstruction if swallowed.
• Buyer beware. Just because it says pet-safe or natural doesn’t mean it’s truly pet-safe or poses no risk to pets. It’s important to always read the ingredients and their concentration to determine if it’s a pet-safe cleaning product. Even a product that is safe to ingest can cause irritation to pets. Note that cleaning products labeled safe for use around infants or children are not automatically safe around pets.

• Follow directions. Read and follow dilution and usage instructions. Improper dilution can turn a safe product into a harmful product.

• Give it space. Try to keep your pets out of the area you’re cleaning. This will lessen the likelihood that they’ll get into the cleaner or be impacted by the smell, whether you’re waiting for it to dry or it gets spilled. When cleaning, ensure the area is well-ventilated to prevent respiratory issues. Even if you can’t smell anything, your pets might.
• Plan ahead. Accidents happen. Each pet is unique, and even safe products can cause issues if a pet inhales, drinks, licks, or gets them on their skin, paws, or nose. Always keep your veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital phone number handy. Additional important numbers to have accessible are the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) and Pet Poison Hotline (855-764-7661).

Remember, even though these natural products are safe, they can sometimes still cause gastrointestinal upset and oral irritation if your pet consumes them. So, use proper safety measures to keep your furry family member feeling good.