Dog-Safe Cleaning 101
Not All Cleaners are Made the Same!
As dog owners, many of us know, not all cleaning products are made equally, and many of them can be toxic to our furry friends. Having a pup means consistently cleaning up hair, messes, dirt and debris from outside, potty accidents, along with your regular household cleaning routine.
Many dog owners continue to hunt for the most effective, yet safe, cleaning products and tools available on the market. This article is designed to help guide your buying and cleaning decisions in order to get a sparkling clean house while keeping your pets safe and healthy.
Ingredients to Avoid
& Their Side Effects
Unfortunately, many mainstream household cleaners have a laundry list of ingredients that are unsafe for your dogs to come in contact with. While it is a good idea to keep your pets out of the way while you’re using cleaners to avoid direct contact, it is hard to completely avoid all contact when your pup’s paws are walking on the floor, or when your dog licks and sniffs things that we may not always notice.
Even some cleaners that claim to be pet-safe or are made for cleaning up pet messes can be toxic to your pup, which is why learning what the ingredients in your cleaners are is so important. It is always best to keep things on the safe side and use cleaners that are non-toxic for our furry friends.
If your pet comes in contact with a toxic cleaner and/or has the symptoms presented below, it is pertinent that you bring your dog to seek veterinary treatment and advice. Some of the symptoms and side effects of coming in contact with these toxic and harmful ingredients/cleaners can include:
When Ingested: When Inhaled:
Sneezing
Coughing
Watery eyes
Trouble breathing
Increased rate of breathing
Open-mouth breathing (in cats)
Bluish-colored gums
Drooling or pawing at the mouth
Vomiting
Not eating
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Lethargy
Disorientation
Seizures
Coma
When in Contact with Skin:
Redness and irritation
Sores or blisters
Rash
Chemical burns
Toxic cleaning ingredients
Ammonia: Ammonia is one of the most common cleaning ingredients in the world, which makes it difficult when we are looking for pet-safe cleaners because it is found in so many popular products.
It typically comes in the form of “ammonium hydroxide” and has the ability to cause damage to the eyes, nose, and skin, as well as cause extreme stomach upset. Some of the most common products with this ingredient includes:
Glass cleaners (like Windex)
Appliance/Oven Cleaners
Pet Stain Removers (such as Resolve Instant Eraser)
Floor Polishes & Carpet Cleaners
Multisurface Cleaners
Bleach & Chlorine: Bleach and Chlorine are identical in chemical composition; the only difference is the concentration/strength. The concentration of bleach tends to be around 3%-6%, while the concentration of chlorine tends to be around 10%-12%.
Regardless of their concentrations, they are both highly toxic to dogs. In the ingredients list in cleaning products they will likely be labeled as “sodium hypochlorite.” Contact with this chemical can result in symptoms like burning eyes, nose, throat, and mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, pneumonia, and even death.
If you suspect your pet has ingested bleach, you should immediately contact the poison control center as well as your veterinary office. Some of the most common products with this ingredient includes:
Bleach
All-purpose Cleaners
Laundry Detergent
Stain Remover
Pool Chemicals
Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is most commonly known as an embalming agent, but it as actually also a common ingredient in many household cleaners. It is used mainly as a low-cost preservative option as well as an antibacterial agent.
The National Cancer Institute recognizes formaldehyde as a carcinogen. It also has the ability to depress a dog’s respiratory system and nerve response, as well as irritate the skin and eyes. Formaldehyde is many times labelled as: formalin, formic aldehyde, methanal, methylene, and quaternium-15. The most common products with this ingredient includes:
General Purpose Cleaners
Furniture and Upholstery Cleaners
Rug and Carpet Cleaners
Bathroom Cleaner (such as Comet)
Laundry Detergent (such as Woolite)
Glycol Ethers: Glycol Ethers are some of the most pervasive ingredients in the world that happen to exist in a multitude of common cleaning products, as well as other daily consumables such as skincare and cosmetics.
Animal studies have shown that contact with this chemical can result in nerve, liver, and digestive system damage, as well as reproductive and developmental deficiencies. Similar to Ammonia, this ingredient can often times be found in supposed “green” and “natural” cleaning products; thus it is important that we never trust the label off of one glance, turn and learn your ingredients. This ingredient is commonly found in:
Detergents/Liquid Soaps
Glass Cleaner
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Spot Remover
Phenol: Phenol is an ingredient commonly used as a disinfectant and antiseptic, however it has the ability to be extremely toxic to pets. Exposure to this ingredient can cause neurological conditions, respiratory distress, liver failure, and even death. When in contact with skin it is highly corrosive leading to the destruction of protein cells which creates lesions as the chemical penetrates and burns the skin.
Cleaning products that are labeled with “sol” are those that contain this toxic chemical. In ingredients lists it may be labeled as: butylated hydroxytoluene, benzenol, carbolic acid, phenolic acid, Bakelite, and alkylphenols. This ingredient is commonly found in:
Pinesol & Other Multisurface Cleaners
Soaps
Disinfectants (such as Lysol)
Laundry Detergent (such as Woolite)
Isopropyl Alcohol/Rubbing Alcohol: It may be surprising since rubbing alcohol is used in many scenarios for first aid and disinfecting wounds, but it can also be harmful to dogs due to its high concentration. In a veterinary hospital, professionals may use alcohol to sanitize areas of the skin, but it is done with caution and under professional supervision.
It is not something that one should use at home on your pet, and it is important to be careful when using it in the household. If ingested by pets, isopropyl alcohol can cause vomiting, disorientation, incoordination, and in severe cases, collapse, respiratory depression and seizures. If it comes in contact with the skin or wounds it can cause skin damage and delay wound healing. It can be found in:
Windex Electronic Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Disinfecting Sprays (such as Lysol)
Hydrogen Peroxide: Along with rubbing alcohol, it may surprise people that hydrogen peroxide could be harmful to pets due to its regularity in hospital and cleaning settings. However, it has the ability to cause skin irritation and rashes when exposed to the skin.
When ingested it may cause inflammation and bleeding in the esophagus and stomach. In a veterinary setting it is sometimes used at 3% concentration to induce vomiting in an emergency (i.e. your pup ate some chocolate) but should never be done at home (unless permitted by veterinary professionals). Some products containing hydrogen peroxide are:
Some Lysol products
Some Clorox products
Zep Disinfectant
Simple Green Cleaners
Your Pup was Exposed? What Now?
If the case arises that your dog (or any pet) has been exposed to any of these harmful ingredients the first thing you should do is call the Poison Control helpline (844) 492-9842 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control helpline (888) 426-4435. These helplines are there to guide you in the right direction of how to help yourself or your pup and make sure that they will be okay. They can give you helpful advice as to how to manage and prevent poisoning from these harmful ingredients and could possibly save you a trip to the Veterinary Emergency.
However, if your dog is showing serious symptoms of poisoning as described above, it is best to take your dog the the Emergency Veterinary clinic or their regular Veterinary office if they have same-day availability. Your dog’s size and tolerance for these ingredients varies amongst all dogs so it is important to act fast to prevent any long-term damage.
In order to prevent this from happening, always keep all household cleaners (toxic or non-toxic) in out-of-reach areas in your home. If your pup is particularly curious and interested in snooping around, it may be best to lock up and “child-proof” the areas in which you keep your household cleaning supplies.
Always air on the side of caution when using cleaning products and make sure your pets are away while you are cleaning, even breathing in the air in close proximity to these cleaners while in use can be harmful.
Be safe and keep them outside, in their crate/playpin, or in a separate room while you are cleaning. While cleaning, it is also recommended to keep any windows and doors open to air out any fumes from the cleaning products.
Pet-Safe Cleaning Products
Now that we have gone over what products are toxic and harmful for your pets, let’s take a look at some products that are not only effective cleaners, but also safe and non-toxic.
Common Household Cleaning Agents
Distilled Vinegar: Distilled Vinegar has been used for centuries as an all-natural and non-toxic way to clean and disinfect the household. It is truly multipurpose in its use; it can be used diluted as a floor cleaner, carpet cleaner, window cleaner, and multipurpose cleaner for counters and surfaces.
In its undiluted state it has more powerful disinfecting properties that can be used as a laundry booster, spot cleaner, and a general disinfectant. As an added bonus, vinegar is amazing at neutralizing odors which makes it great for use in fabrics, soaking cloth/fabric dog toys, cleaning up potty accidents in the house, or anything that may have an odor.
It is also a known anti-fungal helping combat mold spores in your bathroom, tub/shower, sink, washing machine, dishwasher, and refrigerator.
Baking Soda: Another all-natural and toxic common household ingredient that can be used for cleaning is baking soda. The granule texture is great to use as a polish in your sink, tub, countertops, or anywhere that could use the extra abrasion of a scrub.
It is also a great grease fighter to use on your stove top, microwave, oven, or anywhere that grease may accumulate. Mixed with vinegar, it can be used as an effective anti-clog agent in your sink and drains.
Dish Soap: Dish soap (such as Dawn Platinum) can be safely used as a concentrated soap or diluted as a general cleanser around the home. It can also be used as an effective flea-bath soap for your pup in a pinch.
Diluted with water and/or vinegar you can use it as a multipurpose spray, as a stain fighter (particularly good for grease stains in fabrics), as well as floor cleaner.
Non-toxic products
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Purpose Cleaner: This cleaner is effective at cleansing and disinfecting while be formulated without the harmful ingredients described above. As an added bonus, it is also made without any synthetic dyes or fragrances making it ideal to use around a home that contains many pets and children.
It effectively kills 99.9% of bacteria without causing concern for poisoning. Use it on any hard surfaces in your home such as the countertop, floors, bath tub/shower, or anywhere that needs a quick disinfecting.
BioKleen Natural All-Purpose Super Concentrated Cleaner: While not a disinfectant, this highly concentrated cleaner is excellent at cleaning up a multitude of messes as well as freshening up your home with an all-natural grapefruit scent. Like the seventh generation product, it is free from any harmful ingredients as well as artificial dyes and fragrance.
It is 3x concentrated making it a long-lasting cleaning item in your household. You can dilute it with water in a spray bottle to use as a general cleaner, or use it in its concentrated form for hard-to-clean messes.
Nature’s Miracle Odor Control Stain Remover Spray & Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampoo: These stain removers and carpet shampoos uses natural enzymes to lift and remove stains while neutralizing odors that may come from accidents and spills. These product is effective while also being free of the harmful ingredients stated above.
Use it on carpets, sofas, rugs, or any fabrics that are prone to staining. The stain and odor control spray is great for spot treating areas while the deep cleaning carpet shampoo is great for an all-over deep clean.
Aunt Fannies Vinegar Wash: This concentrated floor cleaner uses the power of vinegar to effectively clean, disinfect, and shine hard surfaces like hardwood, tile, linoleum, sealed stone, and even concrete.
This pet-safe formula is powerfully effective at cleaning hard surfaces breaking down dirt, grime, and grease, leaving a fresh lavender scent, while being free of any toxic and harmful ingredients.
Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry Detergent: This plant based laundry detergent is gentle yet effective at cleaning your clothes, linens, as well as any pet beds, pillows, and fabric toys. It comes in a scented formula (natural essential oils) as well as a fragrance free formula for those who have particularly sensitive skin or noses.
It’s tough on stains, grime, and dirt, while being gentle enough to not irritate your pups (or you and your family’s) skin. It works great with most all washing machines (HE approved) and is made without any harmful ingredients including artificial dyes, brighteners, or fragrances.
Mrs.Meyers Multisurface Everyday Cleaners: This crowd favorite multisurface spray is a great general-use cleanser that you can use in a multitude of ways. It works great in the kitchen, on countertops, in the bathroom, for dusting, as well as for stuck on messes.
It comes in a plethora of all-natural scents that leave your home smelling light and fresh while also being nontoxic to your family and pets. This award winning formula has become a staple in many homes and might soon be your go-to as well.
Method (Dog House) Mint Glass Cleaner: Another popular and effective product is the Method Dog House Mint Glass Cleaner; it is specially formulated for use in pet-friendly homes and is made without any harmful and toxic ingredients.
It leaves glass and mirrors shining and streak-free while giving you peace of mind that its ingredients are safe for your home. It is also great for dusting as it picks up and shines grimy and dusty surfaces leaving a fresh, clean, and sparkling finish.
Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Odor Eliminator: This all-natural and minimal ingredient spray is great as a room and fabric spray, leaving your home smelling fresh and clean while also being pet and child safe.
Its minimal ingredient list is free from any harmful and toxic ingredients as well as any artificial fragrances or dyes. Mist it in the air for an all over freshness in your home, or on fabrics and furniture to freshen them up.
Click on Photos Below for Links to Products:
Conclusion
There are a multitude of safe and non-toxic products on the market for you to purchase. The essential part of choosing the products and cleaners you use in your home with pets is looking into the ingredients lists on the back of the label. Even products that claim to be “green” or “eco-friendly” can many times still contain ingredients that could be harmful to your pets, or even to your family.
It is always best practice to do your own research on the products that you are looking to buy, as well as the ingredients they contain. Products that are marketed toward pet owners often times are already formulated without any harmful ingredients, however it is still best to check the ingredient labels just in case.
If in doubt, you can always use home remedies for cleaning as stated above, things like vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and dish soap. You’ll be surprised at how well these simple ingredients can clean and freshen your home; while also being very cost effective. Regardless of your budget and cleaning preferences, there are many products that could suit your cleaning needs.
The key is being a smart consumer and understanding the ingredients and products you bring into your home. We hope this article was informative and helped you learn about some products you may love to start implementing in your cleaning routines.
Written by: Jessica L Hays
DTA Social Media & Community Outreach Associate/Dog Walker
References
Bibaud, Remy. “5 Common Cleaning Chemicals That Are Toxic to Dogs - by Richard Cross.” Pet Perennials, 18 Feb. 2020, petperennials.com/blogs/news/5-common-cleaning-chemicals-that-are-toxic-to-dogs-by-richard-cross#:~:text=This%20chemical%20can%20cause%20damage,have%20pets%20in%20your%20home.
BluePearl Pet Hospital. “These Common Household Cleaners Can Actually Harm Your Pet.” BluePearl Pet Hospital, 2 Oct. 2023, bluepearlvet.com/pet-blog/these-common-household-cleaners-can-actually-harm-your-pet/#:~:text=Isopropyl%20Alcohol%20(or%20rubbing%20alcohol,home%20on%20a%20pet’s%20skin.
Buis, LeeAnna. “Cleaning Products That Are Safe for Pets.” Preventive Vet, Preventive Vet, 1 Dec. 2023, www.preventivevet.com/pets/pet-safe-home-cleaning-products#google_vignette.
Higgs, DVM, Veronica. “Common Cleaning Products That Can Harm Your Pets.” PetMD, 7 Feb. 2024, www.petmd.com/poisoning/cleaning-products-that-harm-pets.
Kellogg, Cecily. “10 Pet Safe Cleaners for the Tidy Pet Parent.” Figo Insurance, 2 Mar. 2023, figopetinsurance.com/blog/10-pet-safe-cleaners-tidy-pet-parent.
ProVetLogic Disease Bulleton. “Phenol Toxicity in Pets.” ProVetLogic Disease Bulleton, provetlogic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ProVetLogic-Hot-Zone-Bulletin_Phenol-Toxicity-in-Pets.pdf. Accessed 4 July 2024.