Is it Safe to Use Chemicals to Clean Your Dog’s Stuff?

There’s a lot of chatter out there about what’s “safe” and what’s “toxic.” Your dog probably puts a lot of pretty gross stuff in her mouth…how bad could cleaning products actually be? As it turns out, there are many chemicals in our everyday cleaning supplies that simply aren’t safe for dogs. Dogs are likely to ingest a lot more of these chemicals than we do simply because they use their mouths like we use our hands. Dogs also spend a lot of time near ground level where many of these common products are used.

Chemicals That are Unsafe for Dogs

You could probably guess that ammonia isn’t great for dogs, but which common ingredients found in household chemicals are actually best kept away from your pet’s things? In general, vets recommend you don’t use any cleaning product with the following chemicals to clean your dog’s toys, food station, or bed:

• Chlorine: Can cause dizziness, asthma, laryngeal edema. Commonly found in swimming pools, toilet bowl cleaners, and some disinfectants.
• Glycol Ethers: Linked to kidney damage, lung damage, and anemia. Found in glass cleaners, spot removers, and some carpet cleaners.
• Formaldehyde: Can cause cancer and/or asthma. Commonly found in soaps and even in certain pet shampoos.

In general, you want to keep your dog away from anything you wouldn’t want to breathe in yourself. And think about the parts of your home that you clean that aren’t necessarily relegated to the dog. If your dog drinks out of the toilet bowl, for example, you’ll need to be careful about what you use to clean the toilet. Likewise, the floor and windows are parts of your home you should clean with care to ensure your dog doesn’t ingest a lot of harmful toxins.

How Can You Safely Clean Your Dog’s Things?

Good question! There are a number of great non-toxic cleaning agents out there designed specifically for pets. Look for products that are EPA-registered and contain natural ingredients like essential oils. You can also safely make cleaning supplies yourself at home. Baking soda, white vinegar, borax, and mineral oils are all useful for cleaning, and they won’t harm your pet. Just be mindful: If you give your dog’s toys a rub-down with vinegar he probably won’t want to touch them until you rinse them with water!

Keeping Your Dog Safe

Are you worried about chemicals and your dog? Don’t be. We all come into contact with thousands of chemicals each day…just be aware of what’s in your household cleaning products and don’t put your dog at any unnecessary risk. In general, if you would feel safe using it around a baby, you can use it around your dog. When in doubt, go the natural route. What’s most important is that you’re cleaning your dog’s things regularly to keep potentially harmful bacteria from making themselves at home.