Pet Friendly Household Cleaning

Cleaning the House with These Pet Safety Tips Helps Make Your Household Safe and Fresh for Everyone

Keeping the house clean with pets running amuck after playing at the dog park is a constant battle between muddy paw prints, clean floors, and pet safety. Trying to keep a dog from digging up the backyard then not lounge on the furniture is a precarious task. Another thing to keep in mind is a pet’s health which is always concerning when using harsh chemicals to clean the house.

 

We at Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique think that one of the best ways to keep a house clean is to keep the dog clean. A dirty dog on the furniture is never fun. That is why we, “Play Dirty. Live Clean.”

 

Apart from taking advantage of the Unlimited Monthly membership to get your pets bathed and groomed at your convenience, pet parents work hard to keep their house clean with pets tracking in outside debris.

 

We know a lot of pet parents are keeping extra tidy for the holidays to welcome guests and family into a hospitable home. This pet safety article will help keep pet owners informed on what common household chemicals are dangerous to animals and pet-friendly substitutes to use when cleaning.

Common Household Cleaner Chemicals that are Dangerous

Household cleaners often contain unsafe cleaning chemicals that are not designed with pets in mind. Even after drying, these chemicals can enter a dog’s body through residual concentration.

 

Dogs and cats are close to the ground and often lounge on the carpets and floors that are treated with dangerous chemicals.

 

Pets accidentally ingest chemicals after licking paws or fur that comes into contact with recently cleaned surfaces, and can also inhale cleaners that have soaked into carpets. Remember, dogs and cats are on all fours.This makes your pet extra prone to inhaling toxic chemicals without you even realizing it. Antifreeze actually tastes good to dogs and is devastatingly harmful.

Animal toxicity happens often and is easily avoided.

 

The best pet safety practices are to either buy household cleaners that are pet-safe, or to use all natural and non-harmful cleaning solutions.

 

Toxic Chemicals

  • Bleach
  • Potassium Acetate, Calcium Magnesium Acetate, Carbonyl Diamide  (De-icers)
  • Alkali (Drain Openers/Dish Detergent/Toilet Bowl Cleanser)
  • Forms of Acid (Cleaners/ Batteries/ Sanitizers)
  • Perchloroethylene (Dry-Cleaning Solution)
  • Phthalates (Air Fresheners/Wall Plug-Ins/Pesticides/Perfume)
  • Chlorine (Pool Chemicals)
  • Alcohols (Glass Cleaner/Antifreeze/Aerosols)
  • Phenols (Air Fresheners)
  • Formaldehyde (Glass Cleaner)

 

Read ingredient lists carefully. In might be necessary to solely purchase cleaning products that are pet-friendly. This will not only help with pet safety but also with small children.

 

When you are cleaning, it is always a good idea to block your pets access to the area you’re cleaning. Once surfaces are dry, then it is okay to let your pet back into the cleaned area.

All Natural Cleaners Substitutes

Trust your instincts.

 

There are many active toxic chemicals in cleaning products, but you don’t need to throw out the entire kitchen and bathroom cabinet. Pet parents should be careful to check cleaning formula ingredients to ensure there are no overtly harmful chemicals present. Look for labels that boast “eco-friendliness,”non-toxic,” or “pet safe.”

 

Chemicals used in this kind of products are generally less astringent than other dangerous chemicals. But there are all natural and antimicrobial household cleaners that you probably already have in your cabinets.

 

Baking Soda

 

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and makes a water soluble odor absorbent cleaner.

  • Odor Absorbent: Sprinkle generously on the carpet, let sit overnight, then vacuum. The length of time you let the baking soda sit depends on the strength of the odor.
  • Mild Abrasive: Mix baking soda with equal parts hot water and table salt that makes a great pet-friendly abrasive scrub.
  • Foaming Cleanser: Dilute baking soda with hot water and add a tablespoon of lemon juice for scent. It is great for the bathroom and kitchen.
  • Laundry Deodorizer: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda in with each load in addition, or in place of fabric softener.

 

White Vinegar

 

Vinegar has many uses because if it’s acidity, and makes a pet-safe antimicrobial that helps eliminate foodborne pathogens. The acidic liquid can also break down mineral deposits making it useful as a glass cleaner. White vinegar is the best option for cleaning.

  • All-Purpose Cleaner: Dilute 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of water, and add lemon juice for scent. You can place into a spray bottle or simply dab cleaner with a washcloth or paper towel.
  • Window Cleaner: Mix one cup of white vinegar with one cup of warm water. Spray liberally and wipe.
  • Carpet Stain Remover: Combine 1/2 cup of white vinegar with two tablespoons of salt until salt dissolves. Soak the stained area with the solution and scrub thoroughly.  

 

  • Laundry Stain Remover: The same ratio can be used with clothing. Use 1/2 cup of white vinegar with two tablespoons of dissolved salt which can be used on clothes. The acidity levels of white vinegar are not harmful with even on delicate clothing.

 

Mineral Oil

 

An effective furniture polish that is pet-safe is food grade mineral oil. Since it is labeled as food-grade, it is safe for ingestion by pets and humans.

 

Mix lemon juice with mineral oil and polish furniture until preferred luster is restored and wipe until the furniture is no longer greasy to the touch.

 

Borax

 

Borax, which is commonly referred to as sodium borate is a great additive for natural carpet stain cleaners.

 

Take 1/2 cup of white vinegar, two tablespoons of salt, and two tablespoons of borax and scrub stain vigorously. The same solution can be used with laundry.

Symptoms of Dog Poisoning

Dogs are curious and intelligent creatures that can and will get into things they are not supposed to. As a responsible pet parent concerned with your pet’s safety it is imperative to take as many precautions as possible to assure your dog or cats protection.

 

So much investment and effort goes into pet safety and switching to pet-friendly cleaning products is just one more way to keep your pet’s well-being optimal for a happy and long-living animal.

 

We at Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique strongly encourage this.

 

However, accidents do happen.

 

It is important to know the signs of a possible pet poisoning just in case your animal accidentally ingests a  harmful chemical.

 

Pet Safety Symptoms:

  • Irregular Heart Beats
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Seizures
  • Blood in Stool
  • Kidney Failure Resulting in Infrequent or Ceased Urination
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Bruising
  • Nosebleeds

 

The pet poison helpline is open 24/7 365 and the number is 855-213-6680.

 

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