- Our pets are part of our family and just like every other member, they can make a mess. What are the best and safest cleaning products to use around pets?
- We have reviewed and chosen the best pet-safe laundry detergent, wipes, floor cleaner, carpet shampoo, and insect control.
Throughout my life, there have been dogs, cats, ducks, bunnies, fish, and turtles that each played a special part in our family's history. As nature took its course, I found myself without pets for a period. Then, just a year ago, I walked into our county animal shelter and one little face captured my heart. She came home with me that day and it has been a year of fun, love, laughter, and quite a few messes to clean up.
Since she is a small dog and spends most of her time inside, I started to think about the toxicity level of the cleaners I was using. It occurred to me that when she licked her paws or ate something that dropped on the floor, she was ingesting some of the floor cleaners.
Just as some chemicals are toxic to humans, many chemicals regularly found in household cleaners are toxic to pets. Chlorine, ammonia, isopropyl alcohol, formaldehyde, and phenols are quite dangerous if ingested by animals. Many aerosol cleaners and air fresheners are toxic to a bird's respiratory system. A smaller animal's respiratory rate is faster than humans and they can suffer more toxic exposure. Indoor pollution, much of which is caused by household cleaners, can put pets at risk for liver and kidney damage, anemia, and cancer.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center answers hundreds of thousands of calls about the possible exposure of pets to poisonous substances. Of these calls, 10 percent are due to household products and 15 percent to insecticide exposure. Almost all pet poisonings nationwide are accidental poisonings in our homes.
Just as young children don't understand the dangers of some products, neither do animals. Even if they don't ingest the chemicals, pets can suffer burns to the skin and eye damage. The first line of defense is to keep all cleaners in closed cabinets or on high shelves. If you have an animal that chooses to drink from the toilet bowl, do not use a continual cleaning product and keep the lid closed at all times. Dispose of empty cleaning containers promptly and properly.
It is pretty simple to keep a clean home without using harsh chemicals. I've searched out the least toxic cleaners that still do a good job for areas of your home that most affect your pets. I've been reading ingredient labels and testing floor cleaners, carpet shampoos, laundry detergents, wipes, and insecticides for many years as a home economist for companies and publications. I'm always looking for the most effective, easiest to use, safest, and the best value in products for myself and others, including my dog.
Here are the best cleaning products to use around pets:
- The best pet-safe detergent for laundry: Tide Purclean Unscented
- The best pet-safe cleaning wipes: Clorox Anywhere Wipes
- The best pet-safe cleaner for floors: Method Squirt + Mop
- The best pet-safe carpet shampoo: Nature's Miracle Advanced Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampoo
- The best pet-safe insect control: Zevo Ant, Roach & Spider Spray
Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.
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