ATLANTA—It’s well documented that many traditional household cleaning products contain chemicals that are known toxins and irritants to the skin, eyes, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Children, the elderly, and pets are especially sensitive to these chemicals. Natural cleaning ingredients perform well in an array of household cleaning situations and are nontoxic, making them safe to use around animals.
The green cleaning experts from Maid Brigade compiled a list of the four ‘must have’ household ingredients and how to use them to freshen up around your furry friends – the safe and natural way.
1. Baking Soda
From cleaning rank bedding to controlling odors, make baking soda your new best friend. For cleaning pet bedding, sprinkle with baking soda and let stand for 15 minutes. Then, vacuum thoroughly. For dry bathing your pet, sprinkle your pet’s coat with baking soda and give the coat a good rubdown with your hands. Then, use a brush to spread the baking soda throughout the coat until it has disappeared. For controlling odors in bird or hamster cages along with cat litter boxes, add a thin layer of baking soda on the floor of the cage/box after it has been thoroughly and properly cleaned.
2. Vinegar
Vinegar has its own potent smell but this natural household cleaner is especially useful when controlling pet urine smells and stains. For cleaning caged critters’ homes, wipe down with a microfiber cloth dampened with vinegar. For cleaning aquarium rocks, scrub the stones with undiluted vinegar, let dry, and then return them to your fish habitat.
3. Soap and Water
It may seem too good to be true but good ole’ soap and water can rid your pet of those pesky little creatures that make them itchy and miserable – yes, fleas. To wash, squeeze a dime sized amount of soap onto your pet’s damp coat. Gently rub the soap throughout the coat and let stand for five to eight minutes (this is the trick). Then, rinse.
4. Non-iodized salt
A ‘must have’ in the kitchen, salt is also a cleaning cupboard requirement. For cleaning your fish tank, sprinkle a damp microfiber cloth with plain, non-iodized salt. Wipe the inside of the glass with the cloth to remove hard water deposits and buildup on the glass. Then, rinse well before returning your fish to the tank.
Looking for more ideas on how to create a safe home environment for your pets? Visit www.maidbrigade.com for more green cleaning tips and tricks. Also, make sure to check out the guide from The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASCPA) to create a poison safe home for your pets at http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/a-poison-safe-home.
