10 Pet Friendly Cleaning Products You Must Have
Being a pet owner requires us to ensure we are doing the best we can when it comes to our pets. Be it their health, safety or happiness. There are things we need to do to care for them in the best possible way! That said, house cleaning is one task that really needs our full attention.
When we have pets, it is only natural that there will be many days of cleaning ahead. Accidents, paw prints, hair and blankets to be washed are a few items. One thing that tends to be overlooked during the cleaning mode is the use of those harsh chemicals to clean and kill germs. We need to ensure the products being used are pet friendly.
Household cleaners are still a top source of toxins to dogs and cats, according the Pet Poison Helpline.
Exposure, access and the simple need to clean our homes can explain why we need to consider pet friendly household cleaning products to keep pets safe.
Here Are 10 Best Pet Friendly Cleaning Brands You Must Have:
Best Stain And Odor Eliminators Safe for Pets
Angry Orange
This is a true odor eliminator, known for being the toughest out there. With it’s citrus smell, this product is derived from the oils of the orange peel. It can be used in the home, for litter boxes, or even pet odor in the yard.
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Best Pet Friendly Carpet Cleaners
Clean+Green Carpet Cleaner Natural Stain and Odor Remover
This green cleaning company has a ton of cleaning supplies for the entire home. Bathroom cleaners, laundry soaps and more. This carpet cleaner works great to illiminate odors and urin from carpets, beds, rugs, sofas, pet beds, etc.
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Best Pet Safe Shampoo
Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo
I love Nature’s Miracle products. This particular one is an odor neutralizer and deodorizer for tough pet coats. It will smooth and hydrate your pet’s skin without irritating it. The smell is plesant too – Honey Sage Scent.
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Best Pet Friendly Multi Purpose Cleaner
Puracy Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate
“The Best All Purpose Cleaner” – The New York Times. Developed and tested by PhDs, this product effectively cleans up all kinds of messes and can be used on all surfaces.
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Method All-Purpose Natural Surface Cleaner, Pink Grapefruit
Method is 100% cruelty-free. They are Leaping Bunny Certified and their mission is to make the world a cleaner, greener and more colorful place. Their Pink Grapefruit is one of my favorites. It removes dirt and grime easily and makes your space smell amazingly good.
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Best Pet Friendly Bathroom Cleaner
Green Works Compostable & Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes.
“Shockingly Powerful” is their tagline. When this product first came out there were many people who felt a Clorox Company based product could no way on earth be pet friendly. But the Green Line is proving itself. Backed by consumer scientists and the Sierra Club this is a great non toxic cleaner.
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Meyers’ Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner
Meyere’s Clean Day is cruelty free and easily removes stuck on dirt. You can use on non-porous surfaces around the house.
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Best Outdoor Odor Eliminator
Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator for Pets
This product is ideal for artificial grass, dog runs, yards and patios. It will quickly remove the smell left behind from urine and poo. It has a power enzyme that eliminates odors at the source rather than just covering them up with freshener.
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Best Pet Friendly Laundry Detergent
Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear Unscented
This product is hypallergenic and made for sensitive skin. It works really well with tough stains and is free of any scents and dies. It’s also 96% made with plan-based ingredients. Seventh Generation is a green cleaning company and has a ton if cleaning supplies for the entire home. Bathroom cleaners, laundry soaps and more. They use essential oils regulated by the EPA.
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Better Life Natural Dryer Sheets
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Not All Cleaning Products Are Safe For Pets
Most household cleaners are NOT completely safe for pets. Our pets are even more exposed to the harmful toxins in cleaners than we are.
- Paws and bodies touch the floors, sinks and counters that we clean with these chemicals.
- Pets lick their paws, which means they are ingesting the chemicals.
- They even breathe the chemicals in, which is just as harsh on their little lungs.
- Even trace amounts can be toxic to your pets.
It’s important to make yourself aware of the chemicals listed on the bottles and ensure you’re using the most pet friendly cleansers.
Dangerous Chemicals in Household Cleaners
The cleaners that you are most apt to use on a regular basis include chemicals that can be deemed the most dangerous. Most common household cleaners pose the most danger to your pets.
Examples of dangerous chemicals in household cleaners:
- Acidic Cleaners: Rust removers, toilet bowl cleaners, lime removers, drain cleaners.
- Cancer Causing Cleansers: Ammonia, formaldehyde, and glycol ethers have all been linked to cancer and organ failure.
Steering clear of all chemicals is your safest bet when it comes to keeping your fur babies health and happy.
Signs and Symptoms of Pet Poisoning
Household cleaners are chemicals and can poison our pets. If symptoms present themselves, seek immediate medical care for your pet. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- Nosebleeds
- Inflammation of the skin or paws
- Difficulty Breathing
- Shallow breathing
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Decrease in Appetite
- Blood in Stool
- Lethargy
- Bruising
- Diarrhea
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Inability to urinate
DIY Pet Friendly Household Cleaners
The Safest Household Cleaners are the ones you make yourself! It may sound like this will be overwhelming and expensive, but I promise you this – it’s really not. How powerful would it be to know that you are using all natural safe ingredients in cleaners that you make yourself.
Why not? The only true natural cleaning products are the ones you make at home. You can completely remove toxin exposure or at least to begin with, reduce, the use of harsh chemicals that you are exposing your pets and family to. Using natural cleaners that you have made at home will save you money! It’s true. By buying a few necessary ingredients in bulk, you will find yourself spending less money. Finally, these products are also good for the environment. If you’re not thinking globally, now is a good time to start.
Buy these key ingredients to make your DIY cleaning products
- Baking soda
- Castile soap
- Lemons
- Table salt
- Tea tree oil
- Vinegar
- Water
Here are a few easy “recipes” to get you started:
- All Purpose Floor Cleaner – 1 cup vinegar and 1 liter of water
- Window Cleaner – 5 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 liters of water
- Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaner – 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons liquid soap, 25 drops of tea tree oil
- Grease Cleaner – Sprinkle baking soda with salt and wipe with a wet cloth or sponge
- Absorbing Paint Fumes – Small bowls of vinegar around the room
- Urine, Vomit, Poop Stains – Sprinkle baking soda, then combine 1/2 c 3% peroxide and 1 teaspoon dishwash soap
DIY Books for Pet Friendly Household Cleaning Products
There are some great DIY books on the market that specifically address natural household cleaning products. Grab one or a few to get some “recipes”. It really is quite simple to make your own pet friendly household cleaners.
- The Complete Guide to Eco-Friendly House Cleaning Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply (Back-To-Basics) by Anne Kocsis
- The Organically Clean Home: 150 Everyday Organic Cleaning Products you Can make Yourself the Natural Chemical Free Way by Becky Rapinchuk
- The Naturally Clean Home: 150 Super Easy Herbal Formulas for Green Cleaning by Karen Seigel Maier
- The Naturally Clean Home, 3rd Edition: 150 Nontoxic Recipes for Cleaning and Disinfecting with Essential Oils by Karen Siegel Maier
Now more than ever, it’s easy to find information at your fingertips. Well informed people such as you are sharing their well-earned knowledge with the world. Blogs, websites and social media accounts are out there for the sole purpose of encouraging a chemical free life. Use the internet and social media to your advantage. Without ever even buying a book, you can get your hands on the simplest, pet friendly DIY cleaning products.
In this blog we shared with you exactly why you may want to consider looking into pet friendly household cleaners. We also showed you how very simple (and inexpensive) it is to make your own! Hopefully you are encouraged or nudged in the right direction. With your new armed knowledge, you can easily a few simple changes could save your pet’s life. Here’s to happy cleaning and healthier, happier pets around the home. When will you get started?
