Housekeeping House Cleaning Products and Tools Pet-Safe Household Cleaning Products That Won't Harm Your Furry Friend Protect your pet and get your house clean with these effective pet-safe cleaners. By Alicia Chilton Updated on February 10, 2023 Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Family pets bring oodles of joy to our homes, but they also tend to bring messes in the form of hair, dander, slobber, and the occasional potty accident. Whether you're cleaning up pet messes or just conducting routine cleaning, if there's a pooch, feline, or another animal friend in your house, it's important to select pet-safe cleaners that will protect your four-legged friend while you scrub away messes. "Calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) related to cleaning materials have increased 65% in the last year," says Tina Wismer, DVM, senior director, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. So how do you avoid a frantic call to a poison control center or your vet? We've rounded up the best pet-safe cleaners for polishing your home, plus what to look for on labels and ingredients to avoid. BHG / Lecia Landis Choosing the Best Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products Read the labels of any cleaning sprays, wipes, or powders and follow all of the manufacturer's instructions for use. Ingredients that can be hazardous to pets include: AmmoniaBleachChlorineFormaldehydeHydrogen peroxideIsopropyl alcoholPhenolsPhthalates These ingredients might not always be avoidable and some might even have cleaning benefits. For example, bleach is a powerful disinfectant that removes harmful germs. So you can proceed with using them, just using caution. "Cleaning your pet's cage or toys with a properly-diluted bleach solution, followed by a thorough rinsing and airing out, is not expected to cause harm," says Wismer. "If the odor of bleach seems overwhelming, open windows and use fans to air the room." Adjust Your Cleaning Routine You can avoid a lot of dangers by storing cleaning products out of your pet's reach and blocking them from entering the area where you are cleaning. "Try to keep your pet away from your cleaning process until you're finished to avoid any mishaps with swallowing or chewing cleaning products and to keep your routine uninterrupted," says Lauren Bowen, former director of franchise operations at Two Maids & A Mop. "For example, when wiping floors or low countertops, don't allow your pet back in the room until the surface has completely dried, or wipe it dry." DIY Pet-Safe Cleaners While ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar are lauded for their non-dangerous properties, they are not without hazards. "Never assume that something 'natural' means it is safe for pets," says Wismer. Vinegar is acidic and ingesting concentrated or undiluted vinegar can cause vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, and pain in pets. Similarly, baking soda and peroxide can cause severe vomiting. Essential oils can also be irritating or harmful. Approach these ingredients with the same precautions as store-bought cleaners and keep pets away as you clean, let surfaces dry before readmitting the pet to the area, or rinse and wipe away cleaning solutions. Consult with the Pros Your vet is a great resource and can help answer any questions you might have about pet-safe cleaning. "Ask your vet, pet-sitter, or doggy daycare which products they use to clean their facilities, as these will certainly be pet-safe and heavy-duty options that you could purchase yourself," says Bowen. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been exposed to something harmful, contact your veterinarian or call APCC's hotline at 888-426-4435 immediately. Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products When selecting cleaning products, read the label, check the ingredients, and look for brands that mention being pet-safe. Our Top Picks Puracy Disinfectant Spray at Amazon Jump to Review Pet-Safe Floor Cleaner: Aunt Fannie Vinegar Wash Floor Cleaner at Amazon Jump to Review Pet-Safe Carpet Cleaner: Nature's Miracle Carpet Shampoo at Amazon Jump to Review Pet-Safe Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Bono Hardwood 64oz Floor Cleaner at Amazon Jump to Review Pet-Safe Cage Cleaner: Nature's Miracle Cage Cleaner at Amazon Jump to Review Pet-Safe Multi-Purpose Cleaner: ECOS Parsley All Purpose Cleaner at Amazon Jump to Review Puracy Disinfectant Spray Puracy Disinfectant Spray. Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Puracy.com Hydrogen peroxide in this disinfecting surface cleaner kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. The unscented cleaner can be used on multiple surfaces, including plastic, glass, metal, appliances, furniture, and more. Price at time of publish: $7 Pet-Safe Floor Cleaner Aunt Fannie Vinegar Wash Floor Cleaner Aunt Fannie Cleaner Vinegar Wash. Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Grove.co This floor cleaner from pet-friendly brand Aunt Fannie's doesn't require any rinsing, which makes cleaning floors super simple. It's formulated for use on tile, linoleum, sealed hardwood, sealed stone, concrete, and other types of flooring. Price at time of publish: $12 Pet-Safe Carpet Cleaner Nature's Miracle Carpet Shampoo 4.3 Nature's Miracle Carpet Shampoo. Amazon View On Amazon View On Dog.com View On Horse.com This pet-friendly carpet cleaner is enzyme-based, making it effective on tough-to-remove odors. The solution also removes pet allergens and can be used with a carpet-cleaning machine. Price at time of publish: $15 Pet-Safe Hardwood Floor Cleaner Bono Hardwood 64oz Floor Cleaner Bono Hardwood 64oz Floor Cleaner Refill. Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Formulated for use on unwaxed, un-oiled, polyurethane-finished wood floors, this spray-and-mop cleaner is easy to use and dries quickly. It meets U.S. EPA product standards and is Safer Choice Certified, which means it contains ingredients that are safer for people, pets, and the planet. Price at time of publish: $11 Pet-Safe Cage Cleaner Nature's Miracle Cage Cleaner 24 oz, Small Animal Formula Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On PETCO For smaller critters, pick up a specially-formulated cage cleaner. This spray is an enzyme-based cleaner and eliminates odors without leaving behind a strong scent that can be irritating to small animals. For feathered friends, use a cleaner formulated for bird cages like Nature's Miracle Bird Cage Cleaner. Price at time of publish: $8 Pet-Safe Multi-Purpose Cleaner ECOS Parsley All Purpose Cleaner ECOS Parsley All Purpose Cleaner. Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Home Depot Everyone needs a trusty all-purpose cleaner that can tackle common dirt and grime and work across surfaces. In a house with pets, add "pet-friendly" to that list of criteria. Enter this Safer Choice-Certified spray. Plus, it's better for the environment, too, as it is carbon- and water-neutral, and produced in zero-waste facilities that use 100% renewable energy. Price at time of publish: $19 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. "Pet Poisons: Be Mindful of these Household Products and Cleaning Agents." ASPCA, 2020