Pet Safe Cleaning Products: How to Clean Safely Around Dogs and Cats

If you share your home with a dog or cat, it is natural to wonder whether the cleaning and laundry products you use are safe around pets.

Pets spend far more time close to floors, bedding and freshly cleaned surfaces than we do. Dogs and cats may walk across a cleaned floor and then lick their paws, while cats groom themselves extensively.

Choosing pet safe cleaning products therefore means more than looking for a reassuring label. It means understanding what is in a product, reducing unnecessary exposure and using household cleaners sensibly.

At Greenscents, our products are designed for use in family homes, including homes with pets. However, no household cleaning product should be swallowed, licked directly or applied to an animal.

For homes with dogs, cats or particularly sensitive pets, our Nonscents fragrance-free range is the simplest place to start.

Are Greenscents cleaning products safe for pets?

Greenscents cleaning and laundry products can be used in homes with pets when they are used according to the directions.

As with all household cleaners, we recommend:

• keeping pets away while you clean
• allowing floors and surfaces to dry completely
• storing products securely
• cleaning up spills immediately
• never applying household cleaning products directly to an animal

For customers specifically looking for pet friendly cleaning products, we usually recommend choosing fragrance-free products wherever practical.

Our Nonscents Collection contains no added fragrance or essential oils, making it particularly suitable for households wishing to minimise fragrance exposure.

Why household cleaning products can affect dogs and cats

Pets interact with the home differently from humans. Dogs and cats walk directly on floors and surfaces that may have recently been cleaned, then groom themselves or lick their paws.

Cats, in particular, can be more sensitive to certain substances because their bodies process some compounds differently.

Exposure to household cleaning products can occur through:

• licking a product or residue
• walking across a wet floor and grooming afterwards
• direct contact with skin, paws or fur
• inhaling concentrated sprays or vapours
• drinking from mop buckets or toilets containing cleaning products

The risk depends on the ingredient, concentration, amount involved and the individual animal.

Which cleaning products should pet owners be careful with?

Some household cleaning products can be harmful to pets if swallowed, inhaled or brought into direct contact with the skin.

Bleach

Concentrated bleach can irritate the mouth, digestive system, skin and eyes. Pets should always be kept away while bleach is being used, and toilets containing cleaning products should remain closed.

Strong disinfectants and cleaners

Some oven cleaners, drain cleaners, toilet cleaners and concentrated disinfectants contain ingredients that may cause irritation or poisoning if a pet comes into contact with them.

Laundry detergents and capsules

Laundry products should always be stored securely. Concentrated laundry capsules are particularly important to keep out of reach because biting into one can release a large quantity of detergent.

Dishwasher detergents

Dishwasher powder, liquid, tablets, rinse aid and dishwasher salt should also be kept away from pets. Clean up any spills promptly and do not allow animals access to an open dishwasher detergent compartment.

Air fresheners and strongly fragranced products

Dogs and cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans. Strong fragrances, aerosols and continuous room scenting can therefore create unnecessary exposure, particularly for sensitive animals.

Are essential oils safe for dogs and cats?

Essential oils are natural, but natural does not automatically mean harmless to animals.

Essential oils are highly concentrated botanical substances. Veterinary organisations advise particular care around cats because they can be sensitive to a number of essential oils.

For this reason, Greenscents does not recommend applying neat essential oils directly to pets or adding them directly to pet bedding.

Our fragranced household products contain carefully formulated, diluted amounts of essential oils rather than neat oils. However, if you have a cat, a very sensitive pet or simply want to minimise fragrance exposure, our Nonscents fragrance-free range is the better option.

When using fragranced cleaning products around pets:

• keep animals away while cleaning
• ventilate the room
• allow surfaces to dry completely
• never spray close to your pet
• store products safely after use

Why fragrance-free cleaning can be a good choice for pet homes

For many households, the simplest way to reduce unnecessary exposure is to choose fragrance-free products.

Greenscents Nonscents products contain no added fragrance or essential oils.

We recommend Nonscents particularly for homes with:

• cats
• puppies or kittens
• pets with sensitive skin
• animals that frequently lick their paws
• owners wishing to reduce household fragrance

Cleaning does not need to leave a strong perfume behind to be effective.

What is the best pet safe laundry detergent?

Pet bedding, blankets, towels and washable soft toys are in close contact with your animal for long periods. For this reason, we recommend choosing a simple, fragrance-free laundry product.

Our Nonscents Laundry Liquid is our first choice for washing pet bedding because it contains no added fragrance.

When washing pet bedding:

1. Follow the fabric care instructions.
2. Use the recommended amount of laundry liquid.
3. Avoid overdosing detergent.
4. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Allow bedding to dry completely before returning it to your pet.

If your pet develops persistent itching, redness, paw licking or skin irritation, speak to your vet rather than assuming laundry detergent is necessarily the cause.

How to clean your home safely when you have pets

A few simple habits can significantly reduce your pet's exposure to cleaning products.

Keep pets away while cleaning

Do not allow dogs or cats to walk across freshly cleaned wet floors. Keep them in another room until the area is dry.

Let surfaces dry completely

Once a cleaning product has been used correctly and the surface has dried, the opportunity for a pet to pick up wet cleaning solution on its paws or coat is reduced.

Ventilate the room

Open windows where practical, particularly when using sprays or fragranced products.

Keep products securely stored

Even natural, organic or low-tox household products should be kept out of reach of pets.

Never leave cleaning water unattended

Do not leave mop buckets or diluted cleaning solutions somewhere a dog or cat could drink from them.

Keep toilet lids closed

Pets should not be allowed to drink from toilets, particularly after toilet-cleaning products have been used.

Never use household cleaners directly on pets

Household cleaning products are not pet shampoos or veterinary products. They should never be applied directly to fur, paws or skin.

What makes Greenscents suitable for pet households?

We believe transparency is particularly important when products are used in homes with children and animals.

Greenscents has produced certified organic household cleaning and laundry products in the UK since 2012. We disclose our ingredients so customers can see what they are bringing into their homes.

Our products are independently certified by the Soil Association, and our Nonscents Collection offers cleaning and laundry products without added fragrance or essential oils.

But we do not believe any household cleaner should be described as safe to eat, drink or apply directly to an animal. Pet-friendly cleaning depends both on formulation and on how a product is used.

What should I do if my pet licks or swallows a cleaning product?

If your dog or cat swallows a cleaning product, has a significant spill on its coat or skin, or develops symptoms after exposure, contact your vet promptly.

Keep the product packaging nearby so you can tell your vet exactly which ingredients were involved.

Do not deliberately make your pet vomit unless a veterinary professional tells you to do so.

Choosing cleaning products for a pet-friendly home

If you want to reduce unnecessary chemical and fragrance exposure in a home with pets, keep things simple:

• choose products with fully disclosed ingredients
• use household cleaners only as directed
• keep pets away while cleaning
• allow floors and surfaces to dry
• store cleaning products securely
• choose fragrance-free products wherever practical

For Greenscents customers looking for pet safe cleaning and laundry products, our Nonscents Collection is the best place to start.

Further reading and UK pet-safety advice

For more detailed veterinary guidance on cleaning products and household hazards around pets, these UK organisations provide useful independent advice:

• PDSA – How to keep your pets safe from toxic cleaning products: practical advice on using and storing household cleaners safely around pets.
• Cats Protection – Keeping your cat safe at home: includes guidance on cleaning products, laundry detergents and fragranced products around cats.
• Cats Protection – Cats and essential oils: explains why concentrated essential oils require extra care in homes with cats.
• Blue Cross – Preventing poisoning and household accidents: veterinary guidance including keeping pets away from freshly cleaned surfaces until completely dry.
• Animal PoisonLine – Cleaning products: UK specialist poison advice covering household cleaners, detergents and accidental exposure.