Imagine this: after you finish removing a stubborn stain, you relax, feeling like you’ve done a good job. And the first thing your pet does is to get a closer look at what happened, so they stick their nose right into the stain remover. Situations like this are the problem!
You can't imagine anything scarier than him getting into trouble, right? But cleaning your home can actually have a negative impact on your pet's health. That's why in our article we'll show you what to pay attention to when cleaning, so that you can do everything right: so that your happy, healthy four-legged friend can live in a clean home!
You could be poisoning your pet without even knowing it.
Many dog and cat owners also make sure to clean their homes regularly because a pet brings along some extra dirt and hair. But have you ever thought that you might actually be harming it? Four-legged friends have a much more sophisticated sense of smell, and their skin (hair) is in direct contact with surfaces.
Strong cleaning agents can damage your cat's paws when they walk on the floor, but they can also lick them off while grooming themselves. Cats are most at risk from this, as they groom themselves regularly, but as a dog owner, you've probably seen your little friend licking their paws a lot.
Not to mention that while searching for treats, your cat may lick up toxic substances from the floor or even find an entire cleaning product package in its curiosity. So the number one rule is to keep traditional cleaning products well locked up and in a safe place.
How do you know there's something wrong?
Signs of poisoning can include vomiting, poor coordination, and diarrhea. It can also manifest itself in less noticeable symptoms, such as lethargy or stomach pain - although your pet can't tell you when something is wrong, as a loving owner you will definitely recognize that something is wrong.
But it doesn't necessarily mean poisoning, your pet can be allergic to certain ingredients just like you. You can usually tell by signs like sneezing, patches of hair falling out, red spots on their body, or frequent licking of their paws.
If you notice any of the above signs in your pet, take him to the vet immediately! But the goal is always prevention, so let's move on to this:
How can you protect your pet when cleaning?
For the health of your pet, do everything you can to minimize risk factors. Here are some tips on how to do this, from conscious shopping to specific precautions.
Look at the ingredients!
We've written before about how many toxic substances are in traditional cleaning products, which can also endanger your health. In the case of your little pet, the risk is even greater, since you can't explain to him not to go near it because it's toxic - and also because his lungs are smaller and his metabolism works differently. If you see any of the following on the label of a cleaning product, don't buy it: bleach, ammonia, chlorine, isopropyl alcohol, phenol, formaldehyde.
Your pet has no business there.
“If your phone rings while you’re cleaning and you run to answer it, your dog or cat may start playing with the mop water, lick it or knock it over. When you’re cleaning, just focus on cleaning!” advises Dr. Barbara Hodges, president of the HSVMA veterinary association.
If you use traditional cleaning products, it's best if your four-legged friend is not in the room during the process. This is relatively easy to do when cleaning the bathroom, for example, but you should also pay attention to his favorite areas. Find something to do in another room in the meantime and close the door on him! But that alone is not enough, as the chemicals in traditional cleaning products remain in the air. Also, make sure to ventilate the room thoroughly before letting him back in.
Wait until all surfaces are dry!
Keep in mind that your paws are much closer to the cleaned surfaces than you are. Don't let them in the room until everything is completely dry. But this doesn't just apply to the floor cleaner, as the coffee table, TV cabinet, and lower shelves may be right at their nose level. It's worth wiping these down with lukewarm water after cleaning. In fact, from the quote above, you can immediately see why a chemical-free mop is a better choice.
And with that, we come to our most useful tip:
Switch to natural cleaning products!
“It's best to use the cleanest, greenest solutions possible when cleaning at home,” says Dr. Blutinger, a veterinarian at the American BluePearl veterinary clinic.
Eco-friendly cleaning products are just as effective as traditional versions, but they are chemical-free, making them safe for your pet to use. So you're better off buying natural, pet-friendly products available in stores. They're sure to contain ingredients that won't cause problems for your four-legged friends.
Such ingredients include the universal miracle cures, citric acid and acetic acid. You can use them as general surface cleaners, disinfectants, degreasers, window cleaners – so you can clean every corner of your home without endangering your paws’ health with chemicals. In our last article, we gave you some great tips on how to use natural cleaning products. If you missed it, catch up quickly: here are the big guns of spring cleaning.
CYCLE's innovative products are all pet-friendly cleaning products, so you can use them safely and effectively for safe cleaning.
