How to Detox Your Home for Your Pet

Holistic Pet WellnessEmpowered Pet Parenting
Written By Liz Karem

Simple Swaps for a Healthier Space

When we think about our pet's health, we usually focus on what goes in their bowl. And that's important—nutrition is foundational. But what about everything else your pet breathes, touches, and lives with every single day?

The truth is, our pets are constantly exposed to substances we rarely think twice about. Cleaning products, air fresheners, lawn chemicals, even the toys they chew on—all of these can impact their health over time.

Here's the good news: you don't need to overhaul your entire home overnight or achieve some impossible standard of "perfection." Small, thoughtful changes add up. And creating a lower-toxin environment benefits everyone in your household—pets, people, and even the planet. It's a win-win-win.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely trust and use in my own home.

Why This Matters for Your Pet

Our pets are far more sensitive to environmental toxins than most of us realize. They're closer to the ground, they groom themselves constantly (ingesting whatever is on their fur or paws), and their bodies are smaller—meaning toxins can have a bigger impact faster.

Chronic exposure to household chemicals and environmental toxins puts stress on three critical detoxification organs:

The lungs: Filter what your pet breathes The gut: Processes what they ingest (including what they lick off themselves) The liver: Works to neutralize and eliminate toxins from the body

When these organs are constantly dealing with chemical overload, they can't function as efficiently. Over time, this can contribute to:

  • Chronic allergies and itchy skin

  • Digestive issues

  • Liver dysfunction

  • Weakened immune system

  • Increased risk of chronic disease

The goal isn't perfection—it's progress. Every swap you make toward a lower-toxin home lightens the load on your pet's body and supports their long-term health.

Where to Start: The Biggest Impact Areas

Let's break this down into manageable categories. You don't have to tackle everything at once—start where it feels easiest and build from there.

Cleaning Products

Your pet walks on the floors you mop, lies on the surfaces you spray, and licks their paws after being on those surfaces. If you're using harsh chemicals to clean, your pet is being exposed to them constantly.

What to avoid:

  • Bleach

  • Ammonia

  • Harsh disinfectants

  • Products with synthetic fragrances

  • Anything with warning labels about fumes or skin contact

What to use instead:

I've been making the shift to low-toxin cleaners for over a decade, and I've found plenty of options that actually work. Here are my go-to recommendations:

For general cleaning:

  • Dr. Bronner's - Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner - One concentrate makes all your household cleaners (all-purpose, glass, bathroom, laundry)

  • White vinegar + water (1:1 ratio) for counters and windows

  • Baking soda for scrubbing sinks and tubs

For wood:

For laundry (especially pet bedding and blankets):

DIY Herbal Vinegar Cleaner: Fill a jar with fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme and lavender are my favorites), cover with white vinegar, and let sit for 2+ weeks (the longer, the better!). Strain and dilute 1:1 with water in a spray bottle. This works beautifully for counters and surfaces.

Pro tips:

Indoor Air Quality & Fragrances

What your pet breathes matters just as much as what they eat. Many common household products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can irritate the respiratory system and contribute to toxin buildup.

What to avoid:

  • Scented candles (especially those with synthetic fragrances)

  • Plug-in air fresheners

  • Aerosol sprays

  • Heavily scented incense

  • Conventional air fresheners

What to use instead:

For cleaner air:

  • Open windows regularly for fresh air circulation

  • Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter, especially if you have smokers, wood stoves, or live in an area with poor air quality

  • Houseplants that naturally filter air (but make sure they're pet-safe—more on that below)

For pleasant scents:

  • Diffuse pet-safe essential oils (more on this in a moment)

  • Simmer herbs and citrus peels on the stove

  • Use beeswax candles (unscented or naturally scented)

A Note on Essential Oils

Essential oils can be wonderful when used correctly, but some are toxic to pets. Here's what you need to know:

Generally safe oils for dogs (when properly diluted):

  • Lavender

  • Chamomile

  • Cedarwood

  • Frankincense

Oils to avoid around pets:

  • Tea tree (Melaleuca)

  • Peppermint (in high concentrations)

  • Wintergreen

  • Ylang ylang

  • Use caution with hot oils such as Oregano, Cassia, Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, and Thyme.

How to use safely:

  • Always dilute oils

  • Use a high-quality diffuser in a well-ventilated space

  • Never apply undiluted oils directly to your pet's skin

  • Give your pet the option to leave the room

  • Caution should be used around animals that are pregnant, nursing, young, or on certain medications.

Simple Pet-Safe Diffuser Blend:

  • 1 drop lavender essential oil

  • 1 drop cedarwood essential oil

  • Add to water in your diffuser

My trusted essential oil sources:

Recommended diffuser: InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser - Quiet, effective, and reasonably priced

For more detailed guidance on using essential oils safely around pets, I recommend resources from Dr. Janet Roark.

Food Storage & Kitchen Safety

Plastic containers can leach chemicals into your pet's food, especially when exposed to heat or over time.

What to avoid:

  • Storing pet food in plastic containers

  • Heating food in plastic

  • Old, scratched plastic bowls

What to use instead:

  • Glass containers for food storage

  • Stainless steel containers

  • Ceramic or stainless steel food and water bowls

My favorite storage solutions:

Pet Care Products

What you put directly on your pet's body matters. Many conventional pet shampoos, ear cleaners, and grooming products contain harsh chemicals.

What to look for:

  • Natural, plant-based ingredients

  • Fragrance-free or naturally scented

  • No synthetic dyes or parabens

Consider:

Toys & Everyday Items

Cheap toys can contain harmful chemicals, dyes, or materials that shed or splinter when chewed.

What to choose:

  • Non-toxic, durable toys from reputable brands

  • Natural rubber or organic cotton

  • Avoid painted materials or anything that could easily break apart

Quality toy brands:

Toxic Plants

Many common houseplants and outdoor plants are toxic to pets. Even if your pet doesn't usually chew plants, it's better to be safe.

Common toxic plants to avoid:

For dogs and cats:

  • Lilies (extremely toxic to cats)

  • Sago palm

  • Azaleas

  • Tulips and daffodils

  • Dieffenbachia

  • Pothos

  • Philodendron

Pet-safe alternatives:

  • Spider plants

  • Boston ferns

  • Bamboo palm

  • Prayer plant

  • African violets

  • Areca palm

Resource: Check the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List for a comprehensive database.

Lawn & Pest Control

Pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers can be absorbed through your pet's paws or ingested when they groom themselves.

What to avoid:

  • Chemical pesticides and herbicides

  • Synthetic fertilizers

  • Treated lawns (especially when wet)

What to use instead:

  • Natural pest control methods (diatomaceous earth for ants, beneficial nematodes for grubs)

  • Organic lawn care services

  • Manual weed removal

  • Corn gluten meal as a natural pre-emergent herbicide

If you must treat your lawn, keep pets off treated areas for at least 24-48 hours (or as directed), and always rinse their paws after walks.

Medications & Medical Decisions

While medications are sometimes necessary, it's worth exploring whether every intervention is truly needed.

Questions to discuss with your vet:

  • Is this medication essential right now, or can we try other approaches first?

  • Are there natural alternatives we could explore?

  • What are the side effects, and how do we minimize them?

  • Can we use titer testing instead of automatic re-vaccination?

Always work closely with your veterinarian on these decisions. The goal is to minimize unnecessary pharmaceutical exposure while ensuring your pet gets the care they need.

My Personal Approach

I've been transitioning to a low-toxin home for over a decade now, and I'll be honest—it didn't happen all at once. I started with cleaning products (because those felt easiest), then moved to personal care items, then food storage, and so on.

What keeps me motivated is knowing I'm constantly trying to do better for my family—my husband, my dogs, my cat, and myself. Every swap I make from harsh chemicals to something gentler feels like a win. My pets benefit, my family benefits, and even the planet benefits.

There's no such thing as a perfectly toxin-free home, and that's okay. Progress, not perfection, is what matters.

Where to Begin

Feeling overwhelmed? Start with just one area:

  1. Swap your all-purpose cleaner to something natural

  2. Ditch one synthetic air freshener and open a window instead

  3. Check your houseplants against the ASPCA list

  4. Switch to glass or stainless steel food storage

Pick one. Master it. Then add another.

Moving Forward

Creating a healthier home for your pet doesn't require perfection—it requires intention. Every small change you make reduces the toxic load on your pet's body and supports their liver, lungs, and gut in doing what they're designed to do: keep your pet healthy and thriving.

If you'd like personalized support in creating a wellness plan that includes nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental factors tailored to your pet's specific needs, I'm here to help.

Ready to take the next step? Book a free Discovery Call here and let's talk about how to support your pet's whole-body health—starting right where you are.

Liz Karem
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