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(WFXR) – Now that spring is officially underway, that means it’s time to clean up spring! However, while tidying up your home for you and your family, be sure to protect your furry friends’ belongings and their health.
Putting your home in order for the new season presents the perfect opportunity to tidy up, clean, and organize your pet’s belongings.
HomeAgain, a company that specializes in microchips and pet recovery, shared these cleaning tips for pet parents as they prepare, so be sure to consider these pending tasks while making your checklist:
- Check your pet’s collar, tags, and leash:
- As your pets grow and / or spend more time outdoors, be sure to check the condition of their leashes and collars.
- If it looks worn out or is about to break, it’s time to invest in new equipment.
- If not, you should still take the time to wash your pet shampoo collars and straps to help get rid of the underlying bacteria and dirt.
- You should also check your pet’s collar tags to confirm that the information is up to date.
- As your pets grow and / or spend more time outdoors, be sure to check the condition of their leashes and collars.
- Get rid of pet hair
- If you have a falling pet, try dampening a rubber glove and wiping it around areas that are difficult to clean, such as carpets or sofas. This technique removes hair that a vacuum can lose.
- Wash your pet’s toys
- Just like cleaning a child’s toy box, you should also wash your pet’s toy box to maintain sanitary ware and dispose of unsafe items.
- For plastic toys, you can wash them with unscented soap to remove bacteria and dirt.
- For stuffed or cloth toys, just throw them in the washing machine for quick cleaning.
- Just like cleaning a child’s toy box, you should also wash your pet’s toy box to maintain sanitary ware and dispose of unsafe items.
- Add your outer space
- If you have a backyard, clean up any leaves or debris that may have passed through. Also, make sure your garden is free of fertilizers or insecticides, which can be toxic if ingested by dogs.
- Keep away from pests
- While playing with your pets outdoors can be a lot of fun, you probably don’t want pests such as fleas and ticks to enter your home. Talk to your veterinarian about preventative medications and call them immediately if you suspect your pets are fleas or have been bitten by ticks.
If the cleaning process takes you in and out of your home, HomeAgain also encourages you to keep an eye on your pets so they don’t slip through the door with you.
However, a major concern when it comes to spring cleaning is potentially poisonous household products. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has published a list of cleaning agents that can cause medical problems for your pets, especially if you do not follow the label’s recommendations:
- Bleach
- “Parents of pets are often curious about the risks associated with cleaning their pets’ cages and toys with bleach, ”ASPCA said. “The bottom line is that cleaning your pet’s cage or toy with a properly diluted bleach solution, followed by a thorough rinsing and aeration, is not expected to cause harm. If the smell of the bleach appears overwhelm, open the windows and use fans to ventilate the room. “
- Once you have finished cleaning, remove any dirty or unused solutions and clean and store cleaning tools such as mops.
- Carpet air fresheners
- Proper use of carpet deodorant products should not cause significant harm or injury to pets. However, if your pet accidentally comes in contact with freshly applied powder, we recommend that you wash your paws with mild soap and water to prevent minor skin irritation.
- Minor intakes of carpet air freshener dust usually lead to mild upset stomach.
- Inhaling a small amount may result in minor respiratory irritation, which may cause sneezing, coughing, or runny nose, so you should probably keep your dog out of the room until after you have vacuumed the dust.
- Carpet shampoo
- Most carpet cleaners can be used in pet homes, but you should allow the carpet to dry before allowing pets to enter the area. This will help prevent the risk of skin irritation or gastrointestinal problems.
- Essential oils
- Cats are especially sensitive to essential oils. If ingested in large amounts, it could cause effects such as gastrointestinal upset, central nervous system depression, and even liver damage. In addition, inhalation of oils could cause aspiration pneumonia.
- There are significant variations in toxicity between specific oils, so we recommend that you do not use essential oils in areas where your pets have access, unless someone is supervising the pets or your veterinarian approves the use of the oils.
- Softening sheets
- Softeners contain cationic detergents, which have the potential to cause significant clinical signs that require treatment by a veterinarian, such as drooling, vomiting, oral and esophageal ulcers, and fever.
- Oral ulcers can develop if a pet chews on a new, unused hair dryer. However, used sheets have minimal amounts of detergent.
- If an animal ingests enough sheets, used or dried, an intestinal blockage can occur.
- Fever
- Despite rumors that Febreze is causing serious illness or death in animals, ASPCA veterinary toxicology experts at the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) believe Febreze tissue air fresheners are safe to use in homes with pets as long as you follow the instructions on the label. .
- If your pet accidentally comes into contact with Febreze while it is still wet, it should not cause problems beyond mild skin irritation, which can occur with any product on sensitive skin animals, or minor stomach problems if is ingested.
- Reunited
- Sealers vary widely in toxicity, from non-toxic to alkaline corrosive, so confirm the brand ingredients you use and call APCC or your veterinarian if your pet ingests part of the sealant.
- Alkaline products, such as cationic detergents, can cause drooling, vomiting, and oral and esophageal ulcers.
- Dry, or cured, sealant usually only causes mild stomach upset if ingested.
- Scented bunk bed
- When used around a healthy cat, scented litter is generally considered safe.
- Fragrances found in scented pet products, such as lavender, are usually synthetic and contain only a small amount of oil. However, cats with underlying respiratory problems may be more sensitive to strong fragrances, especially in a poorly ventilated area.
- When choosing pet products, consider the individual needs of your cat and the environment around your home. You can also ask your veterinarian for advice on which products will best suit your pet’s lifestyle.
- Swiffer Wet Jet
- “Swiffer Wet Jet products do not contain cleaning agents in large enough quantities to pose serious health risks to pets,” the ASPCA said. “An Internet rumor claimed that these products contained antifreeze and were responsible for the death of a dog. Our toxicology experts evaluated the product and determined that it does not contain antifreeze ethylene glycol and is suitable for use. in homes with pets. “
- Mild skin irritation or upset stomach may occur if pets go through a still damp floor or lick any spilled solution.
- Toilet cleaners
- Most toilet bowl cleaning pills are not expected to cause problems beyond minor stomach upset if a dog drinks diluted water in the toilet bowl. However, gastrointestinal problems related to bacteria could result from drinking stagnant water from the toilet, so the ASPCA recommends discouraging your dog from “blowing out of comfort.”
- Vinegar and water
- A solution of vinegar and water is used as an economical alternative to commercial cleaning agents. Vinegar is typically acidic, depending on the concentration of the solution, it acts as an irritant. As a result, ingesting concentrated vinegar can cause vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, and pain.
There are countless cleaning products on the market, with a wide range of ingredients and varying degrees of safety. While the ASPCA says that most cleaning agents can be used safely in homes, you need to make sure you follow the instructions on the label.
If you have any questions regarding the proper selection or application of a product, please contact your veterinarian or manufacturer before cleaning it.
If you believe your pet has been exposed to a poisonous substance, you should contact your veterinarian immediately or call the APCC hotline at 888-426-4435.