Several household cleaning products can be dangerous to pets. Most chemical cleaners are toxic if ingested, and the fumes of some are toxic to animals' respiratory systems. Read labeling carefully before using any cleaning product around a pet. Consider using common household items such as baking soda and vinegar as alternatives to harsh chemicals.
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
Instructions
Investigate chemical safety. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has deemed some cleaning chemicals safe for use around pets as long as the instructions on the label are strictly followed.
Baking soda is a must-have for toxin-free cleaning. Use baking soda and hot water to clean and disinfect pet dishes. The Environmental Protection Agency is so confident in the safety of baking soda as a cleaning product that the EPA recommends using it to clean baby bottles.
Use the abrasive power of baking soda as an alternative to powders containing chlorine. Unfortunately, dogs often drink from toilets so clean toilet bowls with baking soda and vinegar. One the solution is flushed away, the toilet bowl will be clean and free from cleaning chemical residue that may harm pets.
Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean glass and floors. The ratio should be 1/4 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon hot water. For glass, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray liberally on windows and other glass surfaces. Wipe the area dry with newspaper or paper towel. Using newspaper is cheap, and it's a good way to recycle old papers into cleaning rags.
For floors simply fill a medium sized cleaning bucket with the solution and mop as usual.
Dilute chemicals properly. Use bleach for its cleaning and disinfecting power, but be certain it is diluted. Safe dilution consists of one part bleach to 32 parts water.
Chemicals listed as safe in the ASPCA report are: propylene glycol n-propyl ether and isopropyl alcohol (as less than 4 percent of a cleaning product).