Make Your Home CLEANER GREENER AND SAFER

By Gail Mayhugh

1

You’re just spritzing a little into the air to eliminate the fishy, doggy, and kitty smells. But have you thought that it’s landing on your floors, counters, and any dishware around? Even though your room smells clean and fresh, you’re emitting volatile chemicals into the air. To make a freshening spray without essential oil, as they can be toxic to cats and birds, add vanilla extract to alcohol and water. Simply soaking fragrant herbs in alcohol can infuse the liquid with a sweet scent. You can also infuse herbs and plants into the water before mixing them with alcohol for a fragrance with less potency. If you don’t like the smell of alcohol, dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in two cups of hot water; add one teaspoon of lemon juice. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray as you would an air freshener.

AIR FRESHENERS

SPOT CLEAN FLOORS Your pets walk on them and lick their paws. As with any cleaning product, mild skin irritation or stomach upset may occur if pets walk through a still-wet floor or lick any spilled solution. A better alternative is good old water and vinegar.

CARPET FRESH I feel powder carpet fresheners shouldn’t be used. They get into your fibers which isn’t good for your carpet or pets. If anything, use baking soda, as it’s at least safer for you and Mollie.

POOP PATROL We all wish our pets could learn to use the toilet like some of those we see on YouTube, but it’s not a reality. So, picking up poop is a daily routine. If not picked up, it pollutes the environment, plus you have to watch for those little ones who should be in Poop Anon for cleaning it up for you. Use paper bags or biodegradable ones. If you’re not bringing your own bag to the store, make the plastic bags do double duty.

BE WATER SMART When refreshing the water bowl daily, use it in your garden instead of dumping it down the drain. Our climate is extremely dry and we’re experiencing drought conditions; plants won’t mind if Max shares his water with them.

6 7 8 9

It’s easy to assume that choosing a laundry detergent isn’t that important because the rinse cycle rinses it away. But there is a residue left behind on clothes and pet blankets that can be harmful to your pet, especially those that chew on their bedding. Avoid detergents with toxic ingredients; instead, try baking soda or distilled white vinegar.

TOY TIME

Pups can go through toys like snacks, and that can be expensive. So, when buying them, consider eco-friendly toys or make them yourself. I’ve found ones made of recycled materials that are no more than some of the best-selling toys. If you have time to make them, use recycled fleece to make braided pull toys. If your pup likes crinkling sounds, wrap a water bottle in a t-shirt. There are also cute plush toys where you can put the bottle inside. Make sure to take the cap off, and as with any toy, keep an eye on them when playing.

DONATE Keeping items out of landfills is a green move. Contact your local animal shelters and rescues to see what things they need.

RECYCLE Did you know some manufacturers have recycling programs where you can send the toy back for repurposing once Maya tires of it? Give it a try and see if they have any toys your little one may like.

Going cleaner and greener doesn’t have to be complicated. Just change a few habits and start using eco-friendly products to show your love for our planet and pets.

The world’s largest frog species is the goliath frog of West Africa. True or False

Frogs in captivity have been known to live more than 20 years. True or False

Toads are not frogs. True or False

Many frogs can leap more than 30 times their body length. True or False