Dogs walk on our floors, lick our furniture and sleep on our bedding, so the cleaning products we use matter more for them than for us. Here’s how to keep a home with a dog clean using fewer, safer products, and which common ingredients to keep away from pets.
Ingredients to be careful with
- Essential oils. Tea tree oil can poison dogs and cats, even in small amounts on the skin. Concentrated eucalyptus, pine, citrus and other essential oils can also cause problems. Be careful with “natural” sprays and diffusers, and never apply essential oils to your pet.
- Phenols (found in some older-style disinfectants, often ones that turn milky in water) are particularly toxic to cats.
- Bleach and ammonia. Diluted bleach is an effective disinfectant, but let surfaces dry completely and air the room before pets come back. Never mix bleach with ammonia or acids, which releases toxic gas.
- Floor and carpet residues. Dogs lick their paws, so rinse floors after using strong cleaners, and keep pets off until they are dry.
Keep all cleaning products closed and out of reach. If your dog swallows a cleaning product, call your vet or an animal emergency centre straight away, and take the product label with you.
A simple, low-waste cleaning kit
- Hot water and a microfibre cloth remove most everyday dirt from hard floors and surfaces with no chemicals at all.
- Mild, fragrance-free dishwashing liquid in warm water handles greasy marks, food bowls and nose prints on glass.
- White vinegar, diluted about half and half with water, cuts through grime on hard surfaces. Don’t use it on natural stone.
- Bicarbonate of soda sprinkled on carpets and dog beds, left for 15 minutes and vacuumed up, absorbs odours.
- A refillable spray bottle saves buying a new plastic bottle each time.
Cleaning up urine and accidents: use an enzyme cleaner
Ordinary cleaners remove the stain you can see but often leave enough smell for your dog to come back to the same spot. Enzyme-based cleaners break down the proteins in urine, faeces and vomit, which is why vets and trainers recommend them for toilet training. Blot up as much as you can first, soak the area with the enzyme cleaner, and let it work for the time on the label before blotting dry. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners on accidents; they smell similar to urine and can encourage remarking.
Washing dog beds and toys
Wash removable bed covers and blankets weekly in warm water with a fragrance-free detergent, and dry them fully in the sun or dryer. Sunlight is a free way to freshen bedding. Fabric toys can go in the washing machine; rubber toys and food bowls can be washed in hot, soapy water or the dishwasher. When choosing a new bed, a removable, machine-washable cover makes all of this easier; we compare options in our guide to orthopaedic dog beds.
Choosing greener products
If you buy commercial cleaners, look for:
- a recognised ecolabel such as Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), rather than vague words like “eco” or “natural”;
- fragrance-free formulas, which are gentler on sensitive noses and skin;
- concentrates and refills, which cut packaging;
- clear ingredient lists, so you can check for the ingredients above.
“Pet-safe” on a label isn’t a regulated term. It’s still worth reading the ingredients and following the directions, especially about drying times.