I’m a home pro – I’m warning everyone to be careful when cleaning for holiday guests, the wrong method could kill pets
BEFORE your stuffy in-laws or sloppy cousins come to town for the holidays, you probably spend hours scouring the house from top to bottom.
If you have pets, you may need to change your approach for their safety, a home expert warned.
Your beloved cat or loyal dog probably creates their share of mess around the house, but you need to be gentle when cleaning up after them.
Ivan Ivanov from End of Tenancy Cleaning explained that the end of the year is “cleaning season” for many households, and poses an increased risk for pets.
“Although many popular cleaning products can give us the results we want, they are not so kind to pets, potentially putting them at risk of serious health problems,” Ivanov warned.
According to data gathered by End of Tenancy Cleaning, common products pose a major risk.
Oven cleaners, dishwasher tablets, bleach, and even laundry products can cause your pets to become gravely ill.
Floor cleaners (for hard surfaces or carpets/rugs) are known to pose a risk to pets, who spend plenty of time treading over those surfaces.
Ammonium-based cleaners are especially dangerous, Ivanov warned.
The powerful cleaners can cause irritation and chemical burns to paws, noses, and internal organs.
Don’t overlook your laundry detergent, either.
Highly-concentrated laundry products can get strong pet odors out of clothes and bedding. However, they can also linger in the fibers even after washing.
This, too, can cause irritation to your furry friends’ skin.
Use gentle detergents on your textiles or add an extra rinse cycle to your routine.
There’s even an easy rule of thumb to follow: “If they are fragrance-free, they are safer for your pet,” Ivanov said.
While you’re in the laundry room, keep bleach contained far, far away from any curious animals.
If you’re allowing bleach to “set” in your sink, tub, or toilet, make sure to lock animals out of the room so they don’t come to harm.
In fact, if you have a dog, you should keep the toilet lid closed at all times, even when you aren’t actively cleaning.
“Many instances of dogs ingesting bleach arise from our furry friends drinking out of recently cleaned toilets,” Ivanov explained.
Ivanov and the End of Tenancy team also warned that two kitchen-cleaning staples can pose a serious risk to your pets.
Dishwasher pods and tablets are small, but mighty. If you accidentally drop one on the floor, it’s likely to capture the interest of your pet.
But because the powerful pods are so concentrated, they can make your cat or dog sick quickly if ingested.
The experts warn your pet could become gravely ill. Keep an eye out for signs like vomiting foam, and rush to veterinary urgent care if your pet seems ill.
Ivanov also recommended keeping all dishwasher products sealed safely in their original packaging.
Finally, shoo pets out of the kitchen before you prepare your oven for heavy-duty holiday cooking.
Spray-on oven cleaner presents a list of problems if any of the product splashes onto your pet, or onto an area where they can reach it.
A mere spritz of the product can cause severe burns on your pet’s eyes, skin, or mouth.
“If ingested, it can also cause stomach problems, ulceration, chemical burns, and difficulty swallowing or breathing for your pet,” the expert warned.
Keep your pets somewhere safe when you’re in the middle of heavy-duty cleaning.
Have a family member take them on a long walk, or secure them in a different room until it’s okay for the animal to roam freely again.