Why Pet Owners Might Want To Reconsider Using Bleach To Clean Their Homes

Daily messes and spills happen, and you may be reaching for a common cleaner under your sink to deal with it: bleach. However, bleach is among the many toxic cleaners full of chemicals that can harm your pet. These include alcohol, peroxides, and phenols in addition to bleach. Pets can easily come into contact with bleach in a variety of ways. This includes accessing it openly in buckets or toilets, breathing in fumes, or walking on wet surfaces and then licking paws.

The main toxic component of bleach is a chemical called sodium hypochlorite. While all pets can have issues, such as Clorox causing toxicity in dogs, some pets, like cats, are more strongly affected due to their small size. Caged birds are also at a high risk of complications from bleach inhalation due to their unique lung physiology. Signs of bleach toxicity can include pain and redness on the skin if they come into physical contact with it. Bleach fumes can also cause eye damage and respiratory issues. If your pet ingests bleach, it can lead to symptoms such as crying or whimpering in pain; burns and ulcers in the mouth, throat, and tongue; and vomiting, lethargy, and distress. If you notice your pet experiencing any signs of bleach toxicity, it's best to seek veterinary care immediately.

If you believe your pet has consumed a toxic substance and you can't reach your veterinarian or an emergency clinic, please contact the ASPCA 24/7 Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.

Sometimes, harsh chemical cleaners can't be avoided when there's a tough cleaning task at hand. In these cases, you can take some key steps to help keep your pets safe and stop them from coming into contact with it. 

The first step is to keep pets out of the room that you're cleaning. Creating a cleaning routine with your pets may make it easier to keep them in different rooms during certain cleaning days. You also want to follow the instructions on the product's packaging and dilute the bleach correctly. Ventilating the room after cleaning, whether by turning on fans or opening windows, can also help reduce fumes. Once you're done cleaning, be sure to thoroughly rinse any buckets you employed and dispose of any used wipes. It's also important to store your cleaning products out of reach. A locked cabinet can prevent your pets from accessing them between cleaning sessions.

A better alternative to bleach is natural, non-toxic cleaners. Consider pet-safe household cleaning products for your floors, stains, and laundry that are labeled as non-toxic or pet-friendly. Natural ingredients can also be combined to make pet-safe cleaners that can be used on a variety of surfaces. Try mixing items like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice together for a pet-safe alternative. Together, natural cleaners combined with safe practices can help keep your pet safe and healthy.