What better way to celebrate Pet Appreciation Week this past week than by diving into how we can best protect our furry friends from potentially harmful cleaning products commonly used in our homes. It’s all fun and games until Fido gets into the cleaning cabinet, right?
Did you know our pets are often in closer contact with these chemicals than we are? They walk on freshly cleaned floors, lie on recently scrubbed surfaces, and sometimes even take a forbidden sip from the toilet bowl – all things we (hopefully!) avoid doing ourselves.
According to the Humane Society, our cleaning products can be particularly hazardous to cats, who are naturally more vulnerable due to their smaller size, limited ability to process toxins, and their habit of frequent grooming. Plus, let’s be honest, cats are little explorers, constantly discovering (or creating) hidey-holes and investigating spaces we never even knew existed.
Navigating the world of cleaning products can be tricky. The lack of regulations means that companies aren’t required to disclose every ingredient, which can leave us in the dark about what we’re really bringing into our homes.
This episode dives into common ingredients to look out for, where they’re found, and why they could be harmful to our pets, such as ammonia, chlorine bleach, phenols, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and fragrances, just to name a few! And don’t forget about those essential oils you love to diffuse, some of them can be toxic to your pets!
But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. I’ve got solutions! If you’re not up for a DIY cleaning adventure, there are pet-friendly cleaning products out there that work great. We mentioned some of our favorites like Vermont Soap’s Liquid Castile Soap and All-Purpose Cleaner, and Aunt Fanny’s Window Cleaner and Wood Floor Cleaner, but our absolute superstar was electrolyzed water. It’s an incredibly effective, all-around cleaner and disinfectant that’s safe for the whole family (pets included).
However, if you want to try the DIY route, I’ve got you covered there, too! I’ll walk you through some easy recipes for homemade window cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, floor cleaner, and all-purpose cleaner. These are super quick to whip up and you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry (and like I mentioned in the podcast – I can’t cook and I’m not the most domestic person, but I can make a window cleaner in 15 seconds flat!).
So that’s a wrap for this week’s episode. We hope it’s been a helpful guide to keeping your home clean and your furry friends safe. After all, every day should be Pet Appreciation Day – it sure seems to be in our house!
Other links mentioned in this episode:
Force of Nature electrolyzed water (look for the coupon code at the top of the website)
Membership: Slightly Greener Living