We all want to keep our furry friends safe and healthy both inside and outside the home. But when it’s time for a cleanup, pet-safe + eco-friendly solutions can be hard to find. Never fear: we've got some tips to help make your pet-safe clean up more planet positive! Keep reading to learn how to make your cleanup safer – and kinder to the environment – with just a few simple changes. We promise your four-legged friend will thank you!
THINGS TO STEER CLEAR OF
1. Ammonia-based cleaners. These are often used in glass and window sprays, as well as some floor cleaners, and can be harmful to pets if inhaled or ingested.
2. Bleach. This one is pretty obvious - we all know that bleach is dangerous if ingested - but it's also worth mentioning that it can be harmful if inhaled, so with curious characters sniffing about it’s important to be extra careful.
3. Phthalates. Products containing phthalates, including a lot of air fresheners and some cleaning sprays like Dettol and Cillit Bang, can be harmful if inhaled by pets
4. Benzalkonium chloride. This is found in some antibacterial kitchen and bathroom cleaners and can cause irritation on pets’ paws, eyes, and nose.
It’s also worth noting that these chemicals aren’t great for your health either… so it’s worth deciding if you want to avoid them, as well as your pooch.
WHERE HOMETHINGS COMES IN
We exclude all ingredients that might be harmful to your (and your pets) health based upon peer reviewed science and/or benchmarking with external third party standards (like EWG, Ecocert, and Leaping Bunny).
But – I hear you ask – why are these chemicals included in other brands’ products if they’re not necessary? Take Benzalkonium Chloride. Most companies include it as an ingredient so that they can claim the classic ‘99.99% of germs are killed’. But most of the time this is only with significant contact time (5 to 10 minutes), which means that most of us are using harsher chemicals than required, especially as studies have shown that there is a lot of good bacteria that can also be wiped out by using mega-harsh anti-bac ingredients in your cleaning routine.
PLANET POSITIVE PET CARE
When taking care of and cleaning up after your furry friend, you can also easily reduce your impact on the planet.
That’s why we’re collaborating with Grub Club, a UK-based startup that makes hypoallergenic insect-based dog food, perfect for sensitive tummies, itchy skin and the planet. 20% of the world’s meat and fish is consumed by our pets, which is a pretty shocking stat seeing that livestock farming is one of the leading drivers of global deforestation and climate change. Bugs produce 96% less CO2 than livestock, have twice the protein per 100g, is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in amino acids. It makes sense. ‘Bugs taste best’.
Homethings’ products are single-use plastic free, waterless (so are lighter and more compact to ship), and don’t include chemicals that could be harmful to the environment. So that no matter how messy of an eater your pet is, you can get your clean on without worrying about harming the environment, your pet (or you… for that matter).
To get 25% OFF your first order at Grub Club, use code GRUBTHINGS at checkout.