Common Cleaning Products That Can Harm Your Pets

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 8.3% of pet poison calls are due to exposure to household cleaning products. Depending on their ingredients, cleaning products can pose dangers if your pet licks, inhales, or ingests them, or if they’ve come into contact with your pet’s skin or eyes. 

This can make deep cleaning your house a tricky feat for pet parents, as cleaning product labels can be very hard to read and interpret for possible pet poisons and toxins. Here’s some useful information on common cleaning products that may be harmful to your pet, and what to do if you suspect your pet was exposed to them.

What Makes Cleaning Products Dangerous?

Some common ingredients that are toxic to pets include ammonia, bleach, chlorine, formaldehyde, and isopropyl alcohol. However, the level of toxicity and degree of illness can vary significantly based on the concentration, how much the pet is exposed to, and the route of exposure (ingested, inhaled, contact). 

Common clinical signs of cleaning product toxicity in pets when ingested include:

• Drooling or pawing at the mouth

• Vomiting

• Not eating

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Lethargy

• Disorientation 

• Seizures

• Coma

Common clinical signs of cleaning product toxicity in pets when inhaled include:

• Sneezing

• Coughing

• Watery eyes

• Trouble breathing

• Increased rate of breathing

• Open-mouth breathing (in cats)

• Bluish-colored gums

Common clinical signs of cleaning product toxicity in pets when contact with the skin occurs:

• Redness and irritation

• Sores or blisters

• Rash

• Chemical burns

6 Cleaning Products That Are Toxic to Pets

Here are some common toxic ingredients found in many popular brand-name cleaners:

1. Ammonia

Ammonia most commonly appears on the product label as ammonium hydroxide, which is ammonia combined with water.

Other products that may contain ammonia can include furniture polish, toilet bowl cleanser, oven cleanser, and stainless-steel cleaner. 

2. Bleach and Chlorine

Bleach and chlorine are chemically identical. The difference is their concentration: Bleach is more likely to have 3%–6% concentration, whereas pool chlorine can be 10%–12% concentration. The toxic ingredient most commonly appears on product labels as sodium hypochlorite. 

3. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde has many precursors and byproducts, and can appear on the product label under many names, including formalin, formic aldehyde, methanal, methylene, and quaternium-15.

5. Phenol

Phenol may appear on a product label under many names, including butylated hydroxytoluene, benzenol, carbolic acid, phenolic acid, Bakelite, and alkylphenols. 

6. Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is also commonly listed on product ingredient lists as rubbing alcohol, with a percentage to indicate the concentration. It’s found in both antiseptics and cleaning products.

What To Do if Your Pet Is Exposed to a Cleaning Product

If your pet was exposed to a cleaning product, this may be a medical emergency. Act quickly to determine if they need to be seen at the emergency room. Try to determine:

• How your pet was exposed

• Which product was involved

• How much your fur baby was exposed to

Toxicity in pets varies greatly among household cleaners and can range from mild to life-threatening. It’s best if you have the packaging or can find the product label online to verify which ingredients are present. Even with the product label, however, it can be hard to determine if a toxic ingredient is present, because those ingredients may have multiple names. 

Gather as much information as possible, then call your veterinarian to discuss whether your pet needs to be seen. You can also call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for more help determining if your pet needs to go to the emergency room. 

Pet-Safe Cleaning Products

When possible, switching to pet-safe cleaning products reduces the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. Some favorites are:  

How to Keep Your Pets Safe Around Cleaning Products

Prevention is key when it comes to exposure to household cleaning products. When you’re cleaning in a home with pets:

• Keep cleaning products in a secure location, out of paw’s reach.

• Do not leave cleaning products unattended.

• Keep pets out of the room while you are cleaning.

• Ventilate the room by turning on fans or opening windows.

• Consider using fragrance-free or odorless products.

• Make sure all surfaces and products are fully dry before allowing pets back in the room.