Skip to main content

8 Spring Cleaning Products Safe for Pets and the Planet

So fresh and so clean, clean.

by Rebecca Caplan
April 4, 2022
A woman smiling at her dog while cleaning the kitchen counters with a cloth.
Ten Twenty Seven Films / Stocksy

Your pet wants you to read our newsletter. (Then give them a treat.)

See our privacy statement to find out how we collect and use your data, to contact us with privacy questions or to exercise your personal data rights.

Spring has officially sprung, and while everyone is excited to finally leave our apartments, some of us are just as excited to clean them. Especially if you have a pet who’s been cooped up inside for the past few months, you know that your apartment is a whole new level of grimy. 

But before you start scrubbing those (easily lickable) baseboards, pet parents should know that some cleaning products aren’t always safe for dogs and cats. Between harsh chemicals and added fragrances, many common cleaning agents can do short- and long-term harm to your pets and the planet. If you’re looking to do some spring cleaning, consider these pet-safe alternatives that can help create a peaceful space and peace of mind.

Btw, our editors (and their pets) picked out these products. They’re always in stock at the time we publish, but there’s a chance they’ll sell out. If you do buy through our links, we may earn a commission. (We’ve got a lot of toys to buy over here, you know?)

Bean & Lily Floor Cleaner

Many floor cleaners contain harsh fragrances that can irritate your dog’s sensitive nose — and if your dog is likely to pick up a stray dinner scrap from time to time, they could ingest any residue a cleaner might leave behind. Steer away from harsh chemicals with this floor cleaner from Bean & Lily, a small, eco-friendly company that specifically states their product is for “people, pets, and the planet.” 

$14 at Amazon
Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator

For a pet-safe product for pet-related stains, this stain-and-odor eliminator is gentle and effective. Rocco & Roxie uses a “professional-strength bio-enzymatic formula” that breaks down the enzymes of pet messes (pee, poop, etc) so that the smell is erased — not just masked. It will also deter your pet from returning to the scene of the crime, which can be especially helpful if you are potty training this spring. 

$19 at Amazon
Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Pet-safe toilet cleaner is a must — especially if your cat or dog has a tendency to take a sip or two from the bowl when you’re not watching. Traditional toilet cleaners use heavy-duty chemicals, while this cleaner by Better Life uses plant-based agents that can get the job done just as well. However, as with all cleaning products, this cleaner is not safe for any kind of ingestion, so make sure to keep the door closed when cleaning and flush well before allowing your pets in the bathroom.

$13 at Amazon
Reusable Lint Roller

While regular disposal lint rollers don’t pose a danger to our pets, they do pose a danger to our planet. To keep ours and our pet’s future safe, invest in a reusable lint roller that can be used on both yourself and your home. These metal lint rollers are gentle enough to glide along clothes but durable enough to dig out the pet hair hiding in your carpets and couches.

$13 at Amazon

Related articles

rebecca caplan

Rebecca Caplan

Rebecca Caplan is a writer based in Brooklyn whose work has been featured in The New Yorker, Reductress, and Vulture. She lives in Brooklyn with her perfect, toothless dog Moose.