Indoor air pollutants are up to five times higher than outdoors, and the chemicals in cleaning products are a big culprit. Removing the chemicals from your home by switching to natural cleaning products can reduce your homes air pollution, which can only be good news for both the health of you and your family, but also your pets. All pets love to lay on the floor and roll around, cats are known to walk over your kitchen countertops and dogs may even have a drink from your toilet bowl. This means that everything you use to clean your home has the potential to harm your pet, which is why it’s essential to use safe, pet-friendly cleaners.

Natural ingredients can be toxic to pets

Cleaning products that claim to be made with 100% natural ingredients are, in general, better for the health of both humans and pets, as well as the planet. But there are plenty of natural ingredients that can still be harmful to pets, so you need to make sure products are pet-friendly, as well as natural and eco-friendly. Essential oils are commonly used in homemade cleaning products for their scent and cleaning properties, but they are a highly concentrated volatile oil, which means they can cause irritation or harm to humans and pets if misused. In particular, tea tree oil should be kept away from cats.

Homemade natural and safe cleaning products 

The majority of homemade cleaning products can be made using a combination of distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and water, all of which are natural and perfectly safe for your pets. Keeping floors clean is a common chore for parents as young children spend a lot of time playing on the floor and pets will walk around and then lick their paws. Baking soda alone can be sprinkled on to carpets to remove stains, odors or just for a freshen up. Leave it to sit for a few hours and then vacuum it up. For a simple all-purpose cleaner, mix together ½ cup of vinegar with one cup of filtered water, two tablespoons of lemon juice and two tablespoons of natural and pet-safe washing up liquid. Alternatively, you can buy products if you don’t have time to make them yourself. A regular supply of eco-friendly and pet-friendly cleaning products from ThriftyCrates will ensure your home is always spotless.

Using plants for air freshener

Air fresheners contain loads of chemicals and some even pollute the air more instead of doing any good, so when you’re trying to remove or cover up pet smells, it’s best to avoid these. Plants are a great way to purify your home’s air, as well as adding a decorative touch. Some plants are harmful to pets, such as lilies and aloe vera, but there are plenty to pick from that are safe for pets. For example, money trees, spider plants, Areca palms and Boston ferns are all good options for cleaning the air and removing odors while keeping pets safe. Just be sure to keep them out of reach of children who could easily knock them over.

Cleaning your home with non-toxic, natural and pet-friendly products helps to improve the air quality in your home, which not only benefits your beloved pets but also your whole family.

Contribution by freelance writer Sally Preston