Household pets can be a wonderful thing. They give us love and companionship when we need it most. They give us something to nurture, care for, and find fulfillment in. They were there for us during the hazy days of lockdown, helping us hold on to our sense of routine.
And so, to repay our furry friends, we have to make some adjustments to our lifestyles, in order to ensure their comfort and safety. Some of those things are obvious, like “Don’t leave chocolate out unattended” or “Don't have lit candles where fluffy tails can find them.”
However, what you may not realize is just how many cleaning products around your house can have harmful effects on your pets. The cleaning products you use for your counters, windows, and even to take care of the stains your pets themselves make may contain harmful ingredients that are dangerous — or even deadly — to your animals.
Thankfully, there are a number of brands available that cater to pet owners' homes, ensuring that every spot in your space is a safe place for snuggles, belly rubs, and plenty of treats.
Let’s get specific about what we mean when we say “harmful ingredients.” As House Beautiful notes, standard household cleaning products can often contain ingredients like ammonia, which can cause irritation to your pet's skin on contact, as well as burning in the nose, throat, and stomach if ingested. Other dangerous ingredients include bleach, benzalkonium chloride, and phthalates (sometimes listed as “fragrance”). Take a look at the ingredients on the cleaning products you use to see if they contain any of the above.
Another key thing to remember is that it’s not just a matter of, say, “Well, if I keep the bottles locked away, they can’t ingest it, so it’s fine.” If your animals have a habit of licking certain surfaces — especially floors or tables — then they could be ingesting some of those cleaning agents. Even this isn’t the case, they could pick up traces of it with their paws, which can cause it to make contact with their eyes or tongue.
Your best bet really is investing in pet-friendly cleaning supplies. Luckily for you, here are the best ones.
Having pets means your glass surfaces, especially windows, need a lot of cleaning. After all, those can be a cat’s favorite spot to lounge, as well as a dog’s prime “bark at everything that passes by” location. That means, even if they’re not the type to lick the glass (which means even more frequent cleanings are needed), they’re getting up close and personal with your windows in a way that means inhaling whatever you’ve sprayed on the surface.
Aunt Fannie's uses a nontoxic, vinegar-based cleaning solution that has no chemical smell to break down residue like soap scum, and it leaves a streak-free surface after wiping.
When accidents happen on the carpet, your first instinct might be to go for a strong disinfectant like bleach. The problem is that this not only harms the fibers in your carpets and rugs, but it can also harm your animals when they pick up residues by walking over or laying on top of the spot after it's been cleaned.
We don't often consider how the products on our floors end up getting into the mouths (and onto the skin) of our pets. Every time they groom themselves or lick their paws after having walked around, they're ingesting trace chemicals that can be toxic in the long run.
This floor cleaner uses plant-based enzymes to break down spills, messes, and stuck-on gunk without leaving behind a tacky residue.
Strong disinfectants like bleach — or even heavily scented detergents — shouldn't be used on a pet's furniture, blankets, or bedding, as the residue can easily transfer to their skin and cause irritation.
Go for a natural, unscented detergent like this one that's still strong enough to fight stains and odors without all those extra additives. It's four times as concentrated, which means it'll last longer and produce less waste, too.
This is one of our all-time favorite all-purpose surface cleaners. This small bottle holds a concentrated solution that can be mixed with water to create a full gallon's worth of cleaner, so you'll be reducing plastic and waste by using it.
Does your dog drink from the toilet bowl all the time? It's probably best to skip the bleach and harsh cleaners if that's the case. Seventh Generation's toilet cleaner is powerful and effective, but still gentle enough that the residue won't affect your pet.
Litter boxes and kennels can be the most odorous areas of a pet owner's home — for obvious reasons. But it's equally obvious that those are the areas that need the most care when it comes to choosing a cleaning product that's safe for your pets.
Angry Orange is a powerful citrus-based odor remover derived from orange peels. You simply combine 4 tablespoons of this concentrate with water in a spray bottle and get to work — expelling foul odors from not just the aforementioned pet areas, but even tile, furniture, and trash cans.
If all else fails (or if you don't have time to order a special cleaning solution), there's always baking soda! Sprinkle it on for an easy, nontoxic way to remove odors from carpets, mattresses, and fabrics.
Michael NataleCommerce EditorMichael Natale is the commerce editor for Best Products, covering a wide range of topics like gift guides, kitchen appliances, lifestyle products, and more.
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