Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products and Pets: How to Choose and Use Them Safely

No cleaning product is risk-free around pets, and that includes eco-friendly ones. The safer approach is to avoid the ingredients vets and animal charities warn about, dilute exactly as the label says, keep pets away until surfaces are rinsed and dry, and shut products away. Cats need extra care, especially with essential oils and disinfectants.

Why are pets more exposed to cleaning products than people?

Pets live at floor level, walk across freshly cleaned surfaces barefoot, and many lick their paws and fur. The RSPCA warns that many household cleaners contain chemicals that are toxic to pets if swallowed or if they get on the skin, and that bleach, polishes, disinfectants and some essential oils can cause anything from irritation to serious illness (RSPCA).

Cats are most at risk from residue. The Veterinary Poisons Information Service, the UK's animal poison centre, says most of the household disinfectant cases it sees involve cats, probably because of their grooming habits, although dogs can be affected too (VPIS).

Which ingredients and products should pet owners be careful with?

Read the ingredients and warnings on the back, not the claims on the front. These are the ones UK vets and animal charities flag.

• Disinfectants with benzalkonium chloride or DDAC. International Cat Care, a veterinary cat charity, says many household disinfectants, antibacterial products including wipes, and patio cleaners contain these chemicals, which can make cats ill after they walk on or lick treated surfaces (International Cat Care).
• Disinfectants that turn cloudy in water. Blue Cross lists coal and tar-based products, including disinfectants that go cloudy when mixed with water, among common poisons for cats (Blue Cross).
• Bleach and laundry detergents. Cats Protection lists both among household cleaners likely to be unsafe for cats (Cats Protection). PDSA describes a cat that suffered severe throat burns after drinking bleach from a toilet (PDSA).
• Essential oils. Cats Protection says essential oils can be toxic to cats through skin contact, swallowing or breathing them in, and names cinnamon, citrus, clove, eucalyptus, lavender, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree, wintergreen and ylang ylang (Cats Protection).
• Non-stick coatings, if you keep birds. The RSPCA warns that non-stick pans can give off fumes that are toxic to birds, and advises against non-stick coated appliances in homes with birds, including the self-cleaning feature on some ovens (RSPCA).

Does "eco-friendly" or "natural" mean safe for pets?

Not automatically. Eco labels are about the environment, such as how a product breaks down or how it is packaged, not about what it does to a cat that licks it. Many "natural" sprays are scented with essential oils, the very ingredients in the list above. Cats Protection also advises against cleaning with products that contain essential oils, because cats rub against cleaned surfaces and pick the oil up on their fur.

Simple ingredients can be gentler. PDSA suggests bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and lemon juice as household staples that clean well and are kinder to the environment and to pets. They still need the same habits as any cleaner: dilute, rinse, and keep pets off wet floors. Our natural cleaning ingredients guide explains what each one can and cannot do.

Look for a full ingredient list, no added fragrance or essential oils, and clear dilution instructions. Everyday jobs rarely need a disinfectant: Animal PoisonLine, the pet owners' service of the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, suggests steam cleaning or ordinary detergents such as washing-up liquid as safer alternatives (Animal PoisonLine).

How do you clean safely when you have pets?

1. Move pets out first. PDSA advises keeping pets out of the room while you mop or wipe surfaces, and letting them back in only once everything has dried. Cats Protection suggests closing the door when you use strong cleaners in sinks or toilets.
2. Dilute exactly as directed. International Cat Care advises diluting disinfectants according to the manufacturer's instructions. A stronger mix leaves more residue for paws to pick up.
3. Rinse. PDSA recommends wiping the area with clean water afterwards to remove any excess product.
4. Wait until it is dry and aired. The RSPCA advises keeping pets away from freshly cleaned surfaces until they have dried and aired out.
5. Close the toilet lid after using bleach or toilet cleaner, and never leave a bucket of mop water where a dog can drink from it.
6. Check the machines. Cats Protection advises keeping washing machine and tumble dryer doors closed and checking for your cat before switching them on.

How should you clean pet bowls, beds, litter trays and hutches?

• Bowls. Wash in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and keep a separate sponge for them.
• Beds and blankets. Cats Protection suggests avoiding strong, heavily scented detergents on your cat's bedding. Rinse well, and dry fully before the bed goes back.
• Litter trays. The RSPCA suggests spot-cleaning every day and replacing the litter at least once a week, with products that are safe for cats, and notes that strong-scented products may put a cat off its tray (RSPCA). For accidents elsewhere, it suggests washing the area with a solution of biological or enzymatic washing liquid or powder; test it on a hidden patch first. Our carpet care guide covers lifting a fresh stain.
• Rabbit hutches. Blue Cross advises removing all soiled bedding, spraying a pet-safe disinfectant from a pet shop everywhere including the bars, washing it all down thoroughly with warm water, and leaving the hutch to air until completely dry (Blue Cross).

How should you store cleaning products in a home with pets?

• Cats Protection advises storing all cleaners well away from your cat, whether or not they are toxic.
• If your dog or cat has learned to open cupboard doors, PDSA suggests a childproof lock.
• Keep products in their original, labelled containers, so you and your vet know exactly what is inside. The HSE gives the same advice for workplaces, to prevent any confusion about contents (HSE).
• Reseal packs of wipes and laundry products after each use, and never leave sprays or open bottles on the floor while you take a break.

What should you do if your pet is exposed to a cleaning product?

Call your vet straight away, even if your pet seems fine. The RSPCA's advice is never to watch and wait, and International Cat Care notes that signs of disinfectant poisoning can take several hours to appear.

• Signs to watch for. PDSA lists ulcers or sore skin on the paws or in the mouth, vomiting, more coughing than usual, collapse, low energy, trouble eating, and drooling or foaming at the mouth.
• Product on the coat or paws. International Cat Care advises washing it off with water and calling your veterinary team immediately.
• No home remedies. Cats Protection warns against trying to make your cat sick or treating symptoms yourself (Cats Protection).
• Take the label. Bring the bottle, or a photo of its label, so the vet knows exactly what was involved.

Can a professional cleaner work around your pets?

Yes, if you tell them what you need. With SW Clean London's regular home cleaning, the cleaner uses your own products and equipment unless you choose to add ours, so you decide what is used in your home, and eco-friendly products are available on request. Leave a note in your client account about where your pets will be, which doors to keep closed and which products to use.

Frequently asked questions

Is vinegar safe to use around dogs and cats?

Diluted white vinegar is one of the gentler options, and PDSA lists it among household staples that are kinder to pets. That does not make it harmless. Keep pets out while you clean, rinse with clean water, and let floors dry first. Never combine vinegar with bleach: the UK Health Security Agency says bleach mixed with acidic products produces chlorine gas (UKHSA).

Are reed diffusers and plug-in oil diffusers safe for cats?

Cats Protection advises caution. It recommends avoiding nebulising and ultrasonic essential oil diffusers altogether in homes with cats. For reed and plug-in diffusers, it suggests keeping your cat out of the room they are in, then ventilating the room well before letting your cat back in. Choosing fragrance-free products for the home is the simplest way round it.

Can I still use bleach if I have pets?

Many owners do, with care. Blue Cross says most diluted cleaning products are fine for cats if the directions on the label are followed properly, but advises keeping them out of the way. Dilute bleach exactly as directed, keep pets out of the room, rinse the surface, close the toilet lid, and let floors dry before pets come back.

Want a cleaner who works with your products and your pets? See how our regular home cleaning service works, or book a home cleaner online.