Spring Clean Safely with Our Pet-Friendly Cleaning Tips

There’s no doubt that pets, as wonderful as they are, contribute significantly to the amount of dirt, debris, and, of course, fur that accumulates in our homes. Keeping a house clean when you are a pet owner is a daily challenge, and to make matters worse, many commercial cleaning products can be hazardous to our pets, not to mention the human members of the household.

The health of our patients and their families is our top priority at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital, and we want to help our clients make the best choices for their beloved pets. We’ve put together a list of our favorite pet-friendly cleaning tips that are sure to put a sparkle in your home, stay within your budget, and keep the two- and four-legged members of your family safe.

Why the Need for Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products?

Many common household cleaners contain ingredients that are highly toxic to pets and humans, such as alcohol, ammonia, petroleum-based chemicals, organic solvents, chlorine, and phenols (which are particularly dangerous for cats). Pets can come into contact with commercial cleaning products in a variety of ways, and it only takes a little bit to do some serious damage.

There are a variety of safe, biodegradable, nontoxic cleaning products on the market today, many of which can be found at most major grocery stores. Another option is to make your own cleaners using nontoxic products, such as distilled white vinegar, baking soda, salt, and borax.

The following ideas for pet safe cleaning are simple, effective, and budget-friendly. In fact, you probably have most of them in your cupboards already!

• Floors – Distilled white vinegar diluted with warm water makes an excellent, pet-friendly cleaner for hard floors.
• Bathrooms and kitchens – ½ cup of vinegar combined with a gallon of water makes a wonderful, nontoxic all-purpose cleaner. Simply pour into a spray bottle and use to cut through grease and grime. This mixture can also be used to clean and sanitize pet toys.
• Carpets – Pet stains on the carpet can be a big nuisance, but instead of a toxic commercial cleaner, try a mixture of salt and white vinegar rubbed into the stain, let dry, then vacuum. For tougher stains, add borax into your mixture and use it to rub out the stain.
• Litter boxes –Use white vinegar diluted with water to clean the litter box, add a layer of baking soda before replacing the litter to absorb odor.
• Feeding bowls – Combine equal parts baking soda, salt, and warm water to make a safe, simple, and mildly abrasive paste perfect for scrubbing the scale from stainless steel, ceramic, or plastic food and water bowls.

If your pet has ingested or come into contact with a poisonous substance, time is of the essence. Please call us or the ASPCA’s pet poison hotline without delay.