Choosing Safe Cleaners for Kids and Pets

Nothing shows dust like a little sunshine, and as spring emerges we’ve got fantastic tips on how you can shop for and select safe and green cleaning products from our founder and resident green cleaning expert John Latta.

This spring, remember these 4 tips when you are out shopping for green cleaning products:

Look at the ingredients! Choose products that fully disclose their product ingredients.

1. Think Chem 101. Unless you have a degree in chemistry it is difficult to discern safe and green chemicals from the ones that are toxic and/or harmful. Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis and Potassium Cocoate sound pretty scary until you find out they are the names for Almond Oil and Coconut Oil! Avoid ingredients like Sodium Hypochlorite (corrosive to skin and found in some spot removers), Formaldehyde (toxic to ingest and found in some air fresheners) and Petroleum Distillates (flammable and found in some furniture polishes).
2. Read the warning label. Read the cautions and warnings on the label. What will happen if the cleaner comes in contact with your skin or your eyes? What happens if you swallow any of it? 
3. Can you safely breathe it? Avoid aerosols with aerosol propellants which are typically flammable and not safe to inhale. There are many effective cleaning products available that are safer than ever to use. Look for products that are non-toxic and that are safe to breathe and/or get on your skin.
4. Choose bio-degradable. Biodegradable ingredients are capable of being broken down by Mother Nature and dissolving into the earth. There are so many effective biodegradable cleaners today that it makes no sense any longer to use products with ingredients that don’t biodegrade.

With households full of kids and pets, toxins in cleaning products can be life threatening. Choosing green cleaning products is simple, safe and so important. Look, think, read, choose!

Have more questions? Contact KIDS ‘N’ PETS or reach out to us on Facebook and share your spring cleaning tips!