I’ve had pets my entire life. I grew up sharing my family home with our two cats, and then as soon as I moved into my own apartment after finishing college, I got two kittens of my own. Now, I share my tiny rented townhouse with a Bengal cat — who has a penchant for sprinting around in the early hours of the morning — and a Jack Russell cross who has a hyperactive streak. Though they bring a serious amount of love to my home, they also come with some rather smelly odors and a hell of a lot of messes. And any new pet owner will know the feeling of browsing the cleaning section of their grocery store with nothing but confusion in their mind and 1,000 questions to ask someone (anyone!).
Yes, you can't just use your same-old cleaning supplies to clean your home once your furry friends are present. And luckily for you, this means that over the years, I've managed to collect quite an arsenal of pet-friendly cleaning products, so I thought I would share the ones I repurchase over and over again — and that I pretty much rely on these days. No, I'm not just talking about a pet-friendly vacuum (though that definitely helps, take it from me). It’s pretty easy for me to keep the pet stank and muddy paw prints at bay now, whether they’re spread across my linoleum floors or stained into my lovely carpets. The things we do for our furry friends.
These are the 6 safe pet cleaning products I really recommend
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Note: I use these at home to clean around my pets, but I do always ensure that my windows are open when using sprays, and I will always prevent my pets from re-entering a wet area until it's dry. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
One of the major concerns when cleaning a house shared with pets is the use of potentially dangerous chemicals, which is where a steam mop — that kills 99.9% of bacteria and blasts away odors without using anything but water — can come in seriously handy. This Shark steam mop is my everyday go-to because it's lightweight, powerful, and ultra-easy to use. Plus, it comes with a double-sided mop pad that's ideal for extended use.
While I absolutely love the smell of the heavily perfumed cleaning wipes that you can pick up almost everywhere, they're not normally safe for pets. Instead, I normally opt for pet-safe wipes like these multi-surface cleaning ones. That way, I can quickly and easily clean surfaces without worrying about what will happen if my pets come into contact with the formula.
This spray is my everyday go-to for quick and easy multi-surface cleaning. It features a subtle grapefruit scent which I am low-key obsessed with, and it quickly cuts through grease, grime, and dirt. I use it for everything, from quickly wiping muddy paw print marks off the floor to giving the counters a clean when the cat jumps up onto them. A few other Real Homes team members who have pets also rave about Method cleaning products!
Whether it's mud stamped into the carpet after a walk or it's a stain from a couldn't-make-it-to-the-litter-box incident, having a spot cleaner on hand is a life-saver. This ultra-compact, multi-purpose cleaner from Bissell makes cleaning up pet messes far quicker and easier, and it went viral on TikTok for a reason. It'll soon become your go-to for cleaning your soft furnishings, plus you can use it with a pet-friendly formula.
For removing odors, this stuff is a must-have. It's easy to assume that all carpet and upholstery cleaners are made equal. However, when it comes to clearing up pee, normal carpet cleaners just won't do the trick. What you need is a urine enzyme destroyer like this powerful foam.
There's no denying that pet fur gets absolutely everywhere, and even your amazing cordless vacuum cleaner can't always get it all. This handy little tool is a game-changer for pet hair removal. Honestly, since I've been using it, I'm totally obsessed. It's just so convenient and quickly removes the fur layer that often sits atop my furniture.
Next up: 9 interior buys for your pet that are just as cute as they are