Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe Around Cleaning Products
We’re all washing our hands (for 20 seconds to the song of our choice) and cleaning our homes more than ever before to protect ourselves against COVID-19. With all this scrubbing and disinfecting going on, we need to make sure the common household products we’re using don’t accidentally harm our pets.
Pets have an incredibly strong sense of smell—and that can lead to serious problems when cleaning products are around.
“Many are scented so that people think they smell pleasant, but that scent could lead to pets ingesting the products,”
says Dr. Katy Nelson, FurPetVo’s resident veterinarian and an associate veterinarian at the Belle Haven Animal Medical Centre in Alexandria, Virginia.
The most severe cases of toxicity occur when pets ingest cleaning products—but even if they don’t directly ingest them, exposure can still cause harm. For example, pets may inhale dangerous aerosol cleaners or pick up chemical residue on their paws and then lick it off. As Dr. Nelson explains, this can irritate their paws, tongue, and gastrointestinal tract.
We still need to thoroughly disinfect high-touch surfaces in our homes—but by planning ahead for pet safety, we can prevent many avoidable risks. Follow these practical tips to keep your pets safe around cleaning products during the pandemic—and long after.
Ingredients to Watch Out For
The CDC recommends routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces—like doorknobs, light switches, and electronics—with household cleaners first, followed by EPA-registered disinfectants. The challenge? Many of the most effective germ-killing products contain ingredients that aren’t safe for pets, according to Dr. Nelson.
You can still use these products—but you’ll need to be extra cautious with formulas containing:
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Bleach (specifically chlorine-based)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Chemical compounds with “phenol” in the name
- Ammonia
- Glycol ethers (found in some paints, solvents, and cleaning products)
- Formaldehyde
How to Safely Clean with Pets Around
Having a pet doesn’t mean you need to skip effective disinfection—it means taking smart, proactive steps to protect them.
“This is no time to scale back on cleaning, and we need to use the most effective products,”
Dr. Nelson reminds us. “But if we have pets in the house, we also need to take extra care to do this in the safest way.”
She recommends these key precautions:
- Keep pets out of the room while you’re cleaning
- Ensure the area is well ventilated
- Never leave cleaning products unattended
- Wait until all surfaces are completely dry before allowing your pet back into the space
How to Properly Store Your Cleaning Supplies
Even when you’re not actively cleaning, household cleaners and disinfectants pose a risk to curious pets.
“Store your cleaning products in an area that is safe from tampering by children and pets,”
Dr. Nelson advises.
If storing supplies under the sink, use a childproof lock to secure cabinet doors. A safer, preferred option is to store them outside the main living area—such as on a high shelf in the garage or inside a locked storage shed.
If you suspect your pet has been poisoned by a cleaner or disinfectant, contact animal poison control immediately. You can reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (fees may apply). Dr. Nelson emphasizes: “Keep the cleaner on hand so you can tell the toxicologist exactly which chemicals your pet was exposed to.”
The pandemic has reshaped how—and why—we clean. But the habits we build now to protect our pets will serve us well long after COVID-19. With awareness, simple adjustments, and trusted guidance from FurPetVo (furpetvo.com), keeping your home clean and your pets safe is absolutely within reach.
