Common Cleaning Products That Can Harm Your Pets

Published Apr. 7, 2023
older woman petting her bulldog while vacuuming

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.

Type of cleaner

Example

Window cleaner

Windex Original Glass Cleaner

Floor polishing wax

Pledge Tile and Vinyl Floor Finish

Drain cleaner

ComStar Blow Out Drain Cleaner

Bathroom cleaner

Lysol Aerosol Bathroom Cleaner

Multisurface cleaner

Windex Advanced Glass and Multi-Surface Cleaner

Glass and mirror cleaner

Walmart Great Value Original Glass Cleaner

Carpet cleaner

Resolve High Traffic Foam

Pet stain remover

Resolve Instant Eraser

 

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

Type of cleaner

Example

Multipurpose cleaner

Lysol Bleach Multi-Purpose Cleaner

Tile cleaner

Tilex Disinfects Instant Mildew Remover

Bathroom cleaner

Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach Bathroom Cleaner

Disinfectant

Comet Disinfecting Cleaner with Bleach

Bleach

Clorox Disinfecting Bleach

Pool chlorine tab

In the Swim Chlorine Tabs

Drain cleaner

Drano

 

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.

Type of cleaner

Example  

Bathroom cleaner

Comet

Laundry detergent

Woolite

 

5. Phenol

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

Type of cleaner

Example

Soap

Carbolic soap

Disinfectant

Lysol

Laundry detergent

Woolite

 

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.

Type of cleaner

Example

Electronics cleaner

Windex Electronics Wipes

Hand sanitizer

Germ-X

Disinfecting spray

Lysol

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.

FAQs

What happens if my dog licks a cleaning product?

If your pet ingests a cleaning product, contact their veterinarian or one of the animal poison control centers (Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435) immediately to determine if your pet needs to go to the ER. 

Is Lysol® toxic to dogs?

Many Lysol products, like most common household cleaning products, can be toxic to pets. For example, Lysol can contain ammonia, bleach, and phenols, which are all toxic ingredients. If your pet is exposed to Lysol, locate the product’s label and contact your veterinarian. 

Can my dog get sick from smelling cleaning products?

Yes. Inhaling some cleaning products can be dangerous to pets and result in damage to the lungs, coughing, and trouble breathing. 

Is Clorox® toxic to dogs?

Most Clorox products contain bleach, which is toxic to dogs. 

Is Windex® toxic to pets?

Some Windex products contain toxic ingredients such as ammonia or bleach. If you suspect that your pet has had exposure to Windex, locate the product label and contact your veterinarian or one of the animal poison control centers (Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435). 

References

Peterson, Michael E. Small Animal Toxicology. 3rd ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2001.

Pet Poison Helpline. Household Cleaning Products are Your Pet: What You Should Know About.

ASPCA. Poisonous Household Products.

Featured image: iStock/supersizer

References


Veronica Higgs, DVM

WRITTEN BY

Veronica Higgs, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Veronica Higgs is a 2010 graduate from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.  She then completed a 1-year rotating...


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