If you have concerns about our environment or your pet’s health and well-being, then these natural cleaning tips for pet owners from Simply Self Storage are a must-read…
Cleaning Products That Are Harmful to Pets
Products like toilet bowl cleaners, floor cleaners, counter cleaners, air fresheners and fabric softeners can be especially harmful to pets as they are most likely to come into contact with these areas.
Some ingredients that are especially toxic to your pet include:
- Ammonia: This is often used in degreasers for ovens, glass and stainless steel. When mixed with bleach, ammonia creates a poisonous gas that can cause respiratory damage, throat burns and can even be fatal! Common brands include Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner, Windex Multi-Surface Cleaner and Mr. Clean.
- Chlorine: Chlorine is commonly used in disinfectants and toilet bowl cleaners. Exposure can damage pets’ skin, eyes or other membranes. Common brands include Clorox Clean-Up with Bleach and Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets.
- Glycol ethers: Found in glass cleaners, spot removers and carpet cleaners, this chemical has been linked to anemia, lung damage and kidney damage in pets. Common brands include Lysol Disinfectant Foam, Tilex Soap Scum Remover and Spot Shot Professional Carpet Stain Remover.
- Quaternary ammonium compounds: This ingredient can be found in dryer sheets and household cleaners and can cause caustic burns, convulsions, low blood pressure and can even be fatal if ingested. Common brands include Gain Dryer Sheets, Pine-Sol Cleaner and Antibacterial and Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner.
If your pet has come into contact with any of the above items, it’s important to know what to look for. Signs of toxicity include blistering, raw skin, hair loss, rashes, pawing at the mouth or eyes, lack of appetite, fever or lethargy.
If your pet looks like they may be having a reaction to these products take them to the vet immediately!
Dog owner’s guide for a clean and odour-free home
Clean Paws: Can pets and a clean home ever go together
Cleaning up toileting accidents
Natural Cleaning Tips for Pets
Luckily, there are some safe alternatives to the above toxic products. Here are some harmless, natural alternatives to using toxic chemicals to clean your house.
For Spills and Accidents:
- Club Soda: Scrub the area with club soda quickly and let it dry.
- Baking Soda: Sprinkle a spill on the carpet with baking soda and let it sit for about an hour before vacuuming.
- Vinegar and water: After cleaning a rug or hard surface, deodorize the area with a 1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 cups water solution.
- Salt, White Vinegar and Borax: For heavier carpet stains, mix 2 tablespoons of salt, ½ cup of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of borax until the salt and the borax dissolve. Soak an old rag in the mixture and use it to rub out the stain. After the solution dries you can vacuum up any leftover residue.
- White Vinegar, Lemon Juice and Water: For soiled hard floors, combine 1/2 cup of white vinegar with a 1/4 of cup lemon juice and half of a bucket full of hot water to create a non-toxic floor cleaner.
