15 Dangerous Home Cleaners For Dogs

Keeping your home clean is essential, as is keeping your dog safe. Some common cleaning products may be doing more harm than good. Everyday items like floor cleaners and air fresheners can quietly pose health risks to your dog. Want to make sure you’re using the right products? Here’s what you need to avoid to create a safe environment for your pup!

Essential Oils

Essential oils might make your home smell fresh, but they can be dangerous for dogs. Scents like tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint can trigger allergic reactions or even poisoning. The chemicals in these oils are easily absorbed through the skin or inhaled. It’s best to stick with pet-safe scents to keep your dog healthy.

Bleach

As a powerful disinfectant and stain remover, bleach can be far too harsh for pets. Its particles, if inhaled, can irritate your dog’s airway and can cause breathing problems. Also, skin contact may result in painful burns. This is because sodium hypochlorite, the main ingredient, is dangerous for dogs and other pets.

Ammonia

Ammonia-based cleaners may work wonders on tough stains, but they’re not safe for dogs. The strong fumes can irritate their respiratory system, leading to coughing and lung damage over time. Skin contact with ammonia can also cause burns or irritation. Switching to milder, pet-friendly cleaners is a safer option.

Disinfectant Wipes

While disinfectant wipes are a quick fix for cleaning, their benzalkonium chloride content, which can be absorbed through paws, makes them high-risk. If licked, it can cause nausea or vomiting, and even mild exposure can cause skin irritation. Switching to pet-safe wipes helps keep your dog both clean and safe.

Air Fresheners

Your home should smell good, but air fresheners can pose hidden dangers to your dog. Many contain chemicals like phthalates, which can disrupt your dog’s hormones. Inhaling these fumes may lead to breathing problems, especially for pets with respiratory issues. Natural alternatives like baking soda are much safer.

Carpet Cleaners

Carpets provide a comfortable place for your dog to rest, but the cleaners used on them can pose serious risks. Harmful residues like perchloroethylene contained in many carpet cleaners can harm your dog’s organs if ingested. Every nap or lick can also cause respiratory problems, so be aware.

Drain Cleaners

Even the aerosols from drain cleaners are dangerous and can irritate your dog’s respiratory system. Chemicals like the caustic sodium hydroxide are often an ingredient, and if your dog accidentally ingests it, it could result in severe poisoning. Non-toxic alternatives are a much safer choice around pets.

Window Cleaners

Window cleaners may give you a streak-free shine, but they often contain ammonia, which is harmful to dogs. Breathing in the vapor can cause lung irritation, and licking cleaned surfaces could lead to stomach upset. These products are best replaced with vinegar-based solutions that are safer for pets.

Fabric Softeners

With effects ranging from mouth ulcers and vomiting to seizures, fabric softeners can be extremely harmful to dogs. They contain cationic detergents, and exposure may necessitate immediate veterinary care. The chemicals can lead to severe complications such as fluid in the lungs or even collapse.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners

Keeping your bathroom clean is important, but toilet bowl cleaners can be hazardous for your dog. Hydrochloric acid, commonly found in these products, can cause burns if your dog drinks or touches the water. Even after flushing, harmful residues may remain, which can lead to severe internal injuries if ingested.

Oven Cleaners

Lye, a common ingredient in oven cleaners, is highly corrosive and extremely dangerous for pets. Inhaling the vapors can cause severe lung damage in dogs, while skin contact can result in painful chemical burns. Even a small amount ingested could lead to life-threatening internal injuries, making these cleaners especially hazardous.

Floor Cleaners

You may love the shine that floor cleaners provide, but many contain glycol ethers, which can be absorbed through your dog’s paws. These chemicals are harmful and can cause skin irritation and respiratory problems, and over time, may even affect your dog’s central nervous system.

Furniture Polish

Furniture polish can make your home shine, but it often contains petroleum distillates, which are harmful to dogs. Ingesting polish or inhaling the mist can cause vomiting, dizziness, or worse. Your dog is most at risk if they come into contact with freshly polished surfaces. Switching to pet-friendly polish keeps your dog safe.

Laundry Detergents  

Residue from laundry pods and detergents can linger on fabrics, potentially irritating your dog’s skin. If your dog chews on freshly washed items, the concentrated chemicals can cause gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and diarrhea. In more severe cases, these risky substances can lead to internal burns.

Glass Cleaners

If glass cleaner containing ammonia, isopropyl alcohol, or surfactants spills on your dog’s fur, it can cause mild skin irritation. Licking small amounts from surfaces may not be harmful, but ingesting larger quantities can cause more severe problems, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal issues that require attention.