Are Carpet Cleaning Chemicals Safe for Pets?

We all clean carpets with the best of intentions — to remove dirt and grime so the carpet looks good and will last longer. But, if the cleaning process causes harm to your pets, you need to do something to resolve the issue.

Simply giving up on cleaning your carpets is not really a practical solution. Instead, you need to find out what is causing the problem and choose an alternative that does not do any harm.

How to Identify and Avoid Problems?

Pets do go through different phases in their health and behaviour, particularly at varying times of the year. If you notice any changes after cleaning a carpet, however, then the cleaning process may well be the cause.

Signs that a dog or cat has reacted badly to cleaning chemicals include:

• excessive scratching, lost fur and sores on the skin
• frequent licking and chewing, particularly on the paws, legs and stomach area
• vomiting and a poor appetite
• coughing, wheezing, sneezing or other signs of respiratory problems.

These symptoms may indicate your pet is allergic to a chemical used in the carpet cleaning product. Your veterinarian may be able to identify the problem, which is often due to one of the following ingredients that are common in carpet cleaning products:

• bleach, which is a caustic chemical that can affect the skin and respiratory and digestive systems
• ammonia that gives off vapour that agitates the respiratory system and can irritate eyes and throat as well as damaging skin
• perchloroethylene that causes toxic effects through ingestion, inhalation or absorption through the skin
• naphthalene that can lead to anaemia and damage to red blood cells, liver and kidneys
• glycol ethers that cause eye and skin sensitivity and, longer term, severe health conditions such as anaemia and kidney damage.

Avoiding Problems from Cleaning Products

There are plenty of non-toxic cleaning products that do not contain these harmful ingredients. You can also avoid the worst problems by ensuring a room is well-ventilated during cleaning and keeping your pets out until the carpet is completely dry

You can normally eliminate health problems by looking at labels and choosing products that do not contain any toxic ingredients. These products are often described as ‘eco friendly’, ‘natural’ or ‘chemical free’ but you should still check the ingredients rather than relying on the description.

If your pet still becomes ill despite your best efforts, the cause may be the carpet itself rather than the cleaner. Your pet may be allergic to the carpet fibres or may be sensitive to pests, spores and dirt that are present within the carpet fibres. Thorough cleaning may therefore help by removing these irritants from the carpet.

At Big Clean, we want to help you have clean floors as well as keeping everyone healthy, including your pets. So we offer all kinds of cleaning products, which include types that are chemical-free and completely safe for your pets but still just as effective. Browse our products and get in touch if you need help or advice.