Every pet lover asks similar questions when cleaning the house, such as, “Are green cleaning products really safe for pets?”
As responsible fur-parents, we should know that our pets clean themselves with their mouths. Meaning, that harmful cleaning chemicals used on the floor or other areas can come in contact with their mouth and body.
Keeping them away from toxic substances should still be your top priority when cleaning. Today, we’ll walk you through more about green cleaning products and what is the safest to use for your home.
What Are Considered Green Cleaning Products?
Green cleaning products are natural solutions used to clean our homes. They are safe for you and your pet’s health and the environment. These products usually have plant-based and/or natural ingredients and use eco-friendly biodegradable packages.
This can be household products like vinegar, baking soda, lemon, or even microfiber cloths.
Moreover, you can also opt for manufactured green cleaning products that don’t contain artificial colors/fragrances, chlorine, and phosphate.
If you’re still seeking a “yes or no” answer to “Are green cleaning products really safe for pets?” read on.
Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe for Pets in Homes?
Yes, green cleaning products are safe for pets at home. Whenever you feel confused about what cleaning products to use, think about which triggers your sense of smell the most. Does it trigger your allergies or not?
Can the smell make your kids cover their noses when they find you cleaning the living room? Does your dog sneeze most of the time when you mop or spray the floor? If you answer “yes” to all this, it’s time to change your cleaning solutions to green ones.
Think about this, any cleaning products that irritate your sense of smell will do the same to your pets. Why is that? Pets, especially dogs, can smell 40 times greater than humans. Hence, harmful cleaning chemicals can easily damage your pet’s safety and health, so the best solution is to go green.
How Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe for Pets?
When you use green cleaning products, they don’t impact your health like traditional cleaning solutions do. You can move around your home safely with your family or pets without inhaling a strong chemical smell.
Young kids and furbabies are more prone to harm due to these chemicals. That is why using environmentally friendly cleaning products is a good idea.
The reason? Pets and children are more likely found on the ground or in a direct range of areas that need cleaning. This is particularly true if your pets or children like consuming goodies off the ground or from direct surfaces, like tables.
Green cleaning saves you money since most product ingredients are just a kitchen away. Simple ingredients such as rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and vinegar are just a few. You can make all-purpose cleaners with these items.
Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe for Dogs?
Yes, your dogs are safe as long as the cleaning products have plant-based or non-toxic ingredients. There are tons of lists of natural cleaning ingredients you can find online. Write them down first before you go to the supermarket.
When it comes to getting rid of pet smells and stains from carpets and furniture, some of these natural compounds may be useful. This is especially true for vinegar and dog urine.
Read our article – Does Vinegar Clean Dog Pee? to learn how to use vinegar to clean dog urine.
Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe for Cats?
As much as we love and care for dogs, our cat’s safety is also a priority. Unfortunately, not all green cleaning products are safe around your cats.
Cleaners that have citrus and peppermint oils can make cats sick. This is also true for tea tree oil. Although these oils are natural, they can still affect the health of cats.
If your cat has accidents, learn how to clean it with vinegar when you read our post – Does Vinegar Get Rid of Cat Urine Smell?
Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe to Use Around Birds?
Yes, using white vinegar and baking soda to clean your home while birds are around is safe. However, not all green cleaning products are safe around them since birds have sensitive respiratory systems.
On a side note, the majority of a bird’s life is spent in a cage; thus keeping it clean is essential. When a bird is in its enclosure, it will eat and defecate after.
If the cage is not cleaned often, it will become a place where germs and bacteria can grow and spread. Buy cleaning products for birds at an exotic pet shop. This way, you can ask for the safest cleaning product they have, and keep your bird safe.
Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe to Use Around Parrots?
Yes, green cleaning products are safe around your parrots. White vinegar, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar are all safe. White vinegar is one of the most recommended cleaning agents to use. Using vinegar to kill germs is natural, so dilute it when using it around your parrot.
Everything else sold as food, like malt vinegar, is not safe for birds. We are only referring to pure white vinegar at this point.
If you don’t like white vinegar, you might want to try raw apple cider vinegar (ACV). Another alternative is to use grapefruit seed extract or grapefruit essential oil. It can also kill germs.
Like all house birds, a parrot’s cage needs to be cleaned often to keep it healthy.
What Cleaning Products Are Pet Safe?
Natural Cleaning Products
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- White vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
Safer Choice Certified
- Krud Kutter
- Odoban Earth Choice cleaning products
- Great Value Pro Strength Carpet Cleaner
- Bona PowerPlus Wood Surface Deep Cleaner
- Quick Shine Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Biobased Certified
- Mrs. Meyer’s
- Rug Doctor
- Grove Collaborative
- Seventh Generation
- ECOS
- Ecover
To learn more about government-issued green and eco-friendly labels and certifications, read our article – What Everyone Needs To Know About Green Cleaning
Conclusion
After reading this post, we hope you have the answer to – Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe for Pets? Remember, when buying cleaning products, read the label and look for green and eco-friendly certifications.Or you can use everyday household products like vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, etc., to clean your house.
Many cleaning products you buy at the store contain harsh chemicals that could be bad for you, your kids, your pets, and the environment. Eco-friendly products will make your home healthier. Therefore, it makes the earth more liveable each day.
Before you go, I have another natural green cleaning product to recommend that I have mentioned in the past that is pet-safe. It is called Miracle II Soap, and you can check out my review of it here. You can also watch the short video below of me using it to clean up a mess my cat left.
