Toxic Household Products and Pets

Why We Need to Question Everything

We’re All on Chemical Overload

I say this all the time: we have to question everything. We're finally starting to realize just how many chemicals we’re surrounded by every day. Open anyone’s kitchen cabinet or look under their sink and it’s a graveyard of toxic cleaners. And guess what? Those chemicals don’t magically disappear into the air. Because our dogs and cats live low to the ground, they’re breathing in more of it than we are with every spray and wipe.

Your Cleaning Products Don’t Just “Go Away”

When you spray the kitchen counter, clean the tile in your bathroom, or mop the floor, those chemicals don’t vanish. They settle. They linger. And your pets walk through them, lie in them, and lick them off their coats. It’s one of those everyday occurrences that we just don’t think about.

I have an air purifier in my house that gives me instant feedback. If I use anything outside my usual natural products, that thing kicks on immediately. Even with something as simple as deodorant, if I’m not using my natural one, my purifier starts kicking up.

If a machine can detect it that fast, imagine what our pets deal with daily.  

Don’t Forget the Floors

Think about the products we use on our floors. Swiffers, sprays, degreasers, all of it lands on the surface our pets lay on. People love to say, “It’s safe once it dries.”

I’m sorry, but I don’t buy that. Dry doesn’t mean non-toxic. If we wouldn’t spray it on our lawn and let our dog walk through it, why would it be any different indoors?

Making Natural Cleaners Is Easier Than You Think

Here’s the good news: you can make perfectly effective natural cleaners in about 30 seconds.

Grab a spray bottle and add:

• Water

• Lemon juice

• Vinegar

• A couple drops of pet-safe essential oils

Shake it up. Done. No fumes, no chemicals, no mystery ingredients.

Two brands I love for safer cleaning options are:

• Bragg’s (for vinegar-based cleaning)

• Scout’s Honor (for gentle, pet-safe cleaning products)

Like I always say, question everything!