Be Cautious When Using Cleaning Wipes If You Have Pets

Wipes can be a convenient way to clean up around the house or quickly scrub your dog or cat after a romp in the yard. However, the chemicals cleaning wipes use to kill bacteria can be dangerous to your furry friends when they come in contact with their skin, are ingested, or inhaled. While cleaning wipes can be risky for pets, you typically won't need to give them up for good as long as you use them safely.

Many popular cleaning wipes, such as Clorox and Lysol, contain chemicals that can be harmful to both dogs and cats. While not in all varieties, many cleaning wipes utilize ingredients such as alcohol and hydrogen peroxide that are dangerous to pets. Phenol is another chemical often found in cleaning wipes that is especially toxic to cats, and any product that includes it should be avoided if you have felines in your home.

Ingesting the toxic chemicals in cleaning wipes can lead to various symptoms in pets, ranging from mild to severe. If your dog or cat consumes a small amount of these ingredients, they may only experience gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. However, they can also suffer from more severe symptoms like seizures depending on the composition and quantity. Along with the dangers that come with ingesting cleaning wipe chemicals, your pet could have a problem from inhaling their fumes. If you notice that your dog or cat keeps sneezing, coughing, or experiencing breathing difficulty while you use cleaning wipes, they might be having an adverse reaction.

Never use disinfecting cleaning wipes to clean off your pet. The chemicals found in these products can dry out and irritate your cat or dog's skin, not to mention they could lick themselves and therefore ingest the toxins. Wipes may also contain "irritating compounds [that] might disrupt skin pH and cause skin problems," veterinarian Dr. Athena Gaffud told Rover. Some of the skin issues your pet could face include blisters, rashes, sores, and chemical burns.

Pets are curious creatures, and it's important to keep them safe around cleaning wipes when using them in your home. If you leave a surface you've cleaned unattended, your dog or cat might be inclined to see what's going on, which could lead them to possibly taking a taste of the cleaning product and thus ingesting toxic chemicals. If your pet happens to walk on the surface you used cleaning wipes on before it has dried, they could get chemicals on their paws and lick it off. Thus, it's crucial to keep your dogs and cats away from the area you are cleaning, and make sure surfaces dry completely before letting your pet back into the room. When not using cleaning wipes, store them somewhere your pets can't reach.

If you're wary about using wipes on surfaces in your home, look for pet-safe household cleaning products and disinfecting wipes that don't contain harmful chemicals, such as Clorox Free & Clear Wipes (per CNN Underscored). While you should never use disinfecting cleaning wipes on your pet, there are pet-safe cat and dog wipes out there that can help tidy your furry friend up in a hurry. Choose fragrance-free options, as dogs and cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans and can get irritated by scents easily.