Pets Discussions

I googled in hopes of finding an answer but I had no luck. Sorry! Turns out a lot of people are looking for an answer to your question. I did come across some companies (Oxifresh Carpets being one) that use environmentally safe carpet cleaners that are safe in homes with children and pets. You could try emailing them to ask about safe carpet cleaners. Good luck!

Thank you !  I'll check with them.  Hoover says that a lot of their products are "green" and not bad for the enviornment, but say nothing about pets being safe.  If I find out anything about Oxifresh, I'll post it.  Thanks again.

Oxifresh Carpets is a carpet cleaning service.  It looks like I could start a franchise but not buy their cleaning products.  At this point, I'm considering starting a franchise just so I can clean my carpets (kidding -- I'm 65 years old and the last thing I need is a new business to deal with).  I also checked out OxiBrands which cleans mold and mildew off of outside decks/pools.  Read up on OxiClean which says it can be used in steamvacs only after checking with the the manufacturer, claims it's environmentally favorable but makes no mention of being pet/child safe.  Oxy is an acne product.  Oxi-Med kills warts.

In short, I searched for anything/everything that uses the term "Oxi" or "Oxy" and the best I could come up with were recipes for making your own version of oxi clean on www.ehow.com (then search for oxi clean).  NOTE:  I haven't tried it and am not endorsing it.  Just figured that if you like that product you might be interested in trying to make your own.

Does anyone know if I missed something?

I ALWAYS use 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water in my steamcleaner and for everything else.  It works just fine, is pet and kid and me friendly.  It takes out all odors and if it's really bad, just use more vinegar.  See my review on...what else?  Plain White Vinegar.  I have 2 pups that I love more than anything so I know...

;)

Thank you !  Thank you ! !  Thank you ! ! !

Just what I needed to know.  My cleaning woman swears by vinegar but she's never used a steam cleaner so I was afraid to try it.  Now I know.  Now anyone who checks this post will know.  This is the best site ever to get help.  And everyone is so nice.  Now it's time to check out your Plain White Vinegar review.  (And just in case you were wondering, I never even CONSIDERED using balsamic vinegar.)

Thanks again.

Glad I could help...been using white vinegar for so long for everything.  It has never clogged my steamcleaner...but my husband doesn't like the smell, says it reminds him of his grandmother's house, so I try to use it when he's gone. 

BTW, I have a Bissell QuickSteamer, I should go review it ;)

Signed, The housekeeper ;)

I just cut open an orange for part of my lunch.  You may ask, what does vinegar have to do with that you silly woman? ;)

I added it to my review and here's a very helpful link also at VinegarTips.com

http://www.vinegartips.com/scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=7

I would never use commercial cleaners in my home, especially in my carpet steamer.  I have never bought an "Oxy/Oxi" product so I can't speak from experience there.   

I can't remember the last time I even bought a bottle of window cleaner.   I keep bleach here, but out in the storage building outside, just in case there's any mold that I want to kill quickly, but with all the air circulating.   Vinegar is a great disinfectant and anti-bacterial, however it takes awhile to get rid of mold with it.  If I do use bleach, as soon as the mold is gone, I clean it up with vinegar quickly. 

I don't use bleach in my laundry, I used to a long time ago when I washed my son's cotton Birdseye diapers (he's 28 so that was a LONG time ago).  I never bought one pack of disposable diapers, I don't believe in polluting our landfills more with them.  Ever research how long they take to break down?   Somehow I knew that even almost 3 decades ago.

You can add vinegar to your rinse water, and hang your whites/kids diapers outside. Sunshine is the best natural whitener IMHO. 

I printed out the list on that website and am going to start trying out some of the ideas.  Thanks so much for passing it along.  As for hanging clothes outside to whiten them, I'd never know whether or not it worked.  I live in an apartment in Los Angeles.  Trust me, two minutes after clothes were hung out to dry they'd be "owned" by someone else.  Life in the big city.

I have 2 dogs and a 2yr old.   Several months ago I came across a life saver in a specialty vaccume store.  They are actually 2 products, one is called-

"Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator" made by Unique, it is a Green, all natural product that works like a charm.  This stuff gets rid of any odor you can throw at it.  they have a website ...www.uniquemm.com   This product is not one to put in your cleaner but use it on its own and works great.

For your cleaner I use: "ZAK STEAMETT concentrated liquid carpet cleaner"  It is fact drying and have no problems with it around the dogs.

Hope this helps

Well, if you need to get out a definite pet odor, I have used Four Paws Wee-Wee Stain and Odor Remover in the steam cleaner. After housetraining a puppy, ugh. The carpet in the living room smelled like dog urine. Gross. So if your main concern is a specific pet odor, I'd say go for it. I don't know about its "green-ness" or whatever, but it also discourages further soiling. My puppy only actually returned to soil when I ran out of this and tried another product.

Good luck. -pd

I'm not worried about odors, just the cats.  The problem (?) with cats is that they clean themselves and swallow whatever their little paws have picked up -- including chemicals from cleaners.  I need a non-deadly cleaner and it looks like I'll try the vinegar solution recommended earlier.  As an aside, the last time I brought in my 16 year old female cat for her 6 month vet check-up, she was anemic.  I asked the doctor what could have caused that and his first question to me was, "Have you started using one of those Swiffer cleaners?"  I said no, and he was relieved.  He knows I'm usually careful about chemicals but he had to check.  Note:  I am NOT saying that Swiffers are dangerous to animals, I'm just saying that my cats are sensitive to chemicals, perhaps because I try not to use any/many.  But thanks for the information and if I do have a future problem with odors, I'll check out your suggestion and just be certain to rinse it out thoroughly.

I used vinegar and water 50/50 also in our last house with carpet. It works like a charm and is a lot cheaper than commercial detergents and it works just as good!  Think of all the money you will be saving!

Nancy44 said…

I ALWAYS use 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water in my steamcleaner and for everything else.  It works just fine, is pet and kid and me friendly.  It takes out all odors and if it's really bad, just use more vinegar.  See my review on...what else?  Plain White Vinegar.  I have 2 pups that I love more than anything so I know...

;)

---

Bayou Bengal said..."Think of all the money you will be saving!"

Think of the CATS I'll be saving.  Any money not spent will just go toward their next vet bill anyway.   Thank you for confirming that the vinegar is viable.  My steamvac should be here this week.  I'm stocking up on vinegar tomorrow.  I'll leave a post as soon as I've tried them out.  (I know you'll be waiting with bated breath.)  Thanks again.

It worked ! ! ! !  I love it.  I thank you, my cats thank you, and my vet thinks you're wonderful.