Is Mr. Clean Safe For Pets?

Mr. Clean is one of the most popular cleaning brands out there. From its Magic Erasers to multi-surface cleaners, it seemingly has a cleaning product for everything. While its lineup might be effective, there's one important question that stands if you live in a house with pets: is Mr. Clean safe to use around your fur babies?

The Magic Eraser, one of Mr. Clean's most iconic offerings, is a multi-use scrubbing product. While the Magic Eraser has a similar appearance to a basic sponge, it contains chemicals that give it its cleaning and grime-fighting abilities. One such chemical is formaldehyde, which is toxic to pets. It's also a key reason pet owners should keep plug-in air fresheners out of their homes.

While formaldehyde is an effective cleaning agent when combined with the melamine foam of the Magic Eraser, you might want to avoid using this product around your pets, even if the formaldehyde content is considered very low. You also may want to steer clear of Mr. Clean's multi-purpose sprays, as they contain fragrances that are unsafe for pets, such as eucalyptus extract, which is toxic to both dogs and cats.

While Magic Erasers are probably best avoided due to their formaldehyde content, if you plan on using any chemical cleaning products in your pet household, such as other Mr. Clean offerings, there are ways to do so to ensure your furry friends don't come to harm. The best way to keep your pet safe while you are cleaning is keeping them far away from the process. Make sure your dog or cat is in a different room and can't access the area you.

Ensure the freshly cleaned surfaces have completely dried down before letting your pet back into the space. By doing this, you are preventing them from ingesting, inhaling, or coming into contact with the product.This is especially important for cats; even if a certain product doesn't cause issues when inhaled, they could end up ingesting it accidentally if it comes into contact with their fur and they lick it off. When not using cleaning products, store them somewhere your dog or cat can't reach or get to, such as in a cupboard.

If you'd rather be cautious and not use Mr. Clean in your home, there are other pet-safe ways to get your space squeaky clean. One of the best approaches is making your own cleaning products. Vinegar is a common household staple that is safe to use around pets and also effective at cleaning many different surfaces and killing bacteria. You can also use vinegar to remove dog urine odor. If you've got a hard-to-clean spot, add lemon juice to the vinegar to make it even more powerful.

Along with these common household ingredients, you can find recipes online for specific cleaning products you can make yourself that are pet-safe.If you plan to use commercial cleaners, check the ingredients and do your research to make sure it's a pet-safe cleaning product. Some common ingredients found in cleaning formulas you should stay away from in a pet household include formaldehyde, bleach, ammonia, and alcohol. If you own felines, avoid any substance containing phenols, as they are extremely toxic to cats.