It never ceases to amaze me how many ‘pet friendly’ cleaning products there are on the market that are anything but ‘pet friendly.’

As a smallholder sharing my home with four dogs it is extremely important to me to ensure that the products I use in my home are safe around pets. Often many products that claim to be non-toxic and safe to use around cats and dogs include essential oils.

Whilst not all essential oils are toxic to dogs, cat owners need to be extra vigilant. Cats are more sensitive to essential oils than dogs and as such very few are safe around felines. Cleaning products however, don’t seem to differentiate when they state that they are ‘pet friendly’.

Whilst a lot of essential oils are inhaled for example through the use of diffusers to ward off the ‘doggy smells’ some cleaning products are actively advertised as being suitable for washing floors and wiping down upholstery. If pet owners are not clued up on which essential oils can be tolerated by dogs and cats this can become a huge problem. Just a small amount of the wrong essential oil on an animal’s skin can cause problems as they struggle to break down the chemicals in the oil.

Respiratory problems and skin irritation, not to mention gastrointestinal issues are just some of the complications that can be endured should a pet accidentally ingest the product, perhaps by licking a paw after walking on a floor that has been cleaned with a product containing essential oils.

Having said that, there are some essential oils that are safe to use around dogs. Cats on the other hand are completely different and it is better to avoid all essential oils if you have a cat in your household. Lavender, one of my personal favourites, chamomile, rosemary and bergamot are all considered to be safe for dogs however, citrus, often used in cleaning products, cinnamon, clove, Ylang Ylang, lemongrass and peppermint are toxic through both ingestion and skin exposure and should not be used in households with dogs.

When I came across Forest & Co, a company selling woodland probiotic cleaning products that claimed to be pet friendly and non-toxic, I was a little skeptical about their claims, having read about similar products on the market but I have to admit that I have been pleasantly surprised.

As the products are made with friendly micro-organisms, which are powerful natural cleaning agents, you get continual cleaning for up to four days after application.

The products are made in Britain. They are pet friendly and eco friendly and contain woodland probiotics for improved hygiene. The products smell pleasant without being over-powering, something which I often feel is used to mask rather than eradicate a problem, and I feel confident using the products all around the house, even where the dogs sleep!

If you would like to give them a try you can order from Amazon with the following link:



You can find Allison on Instagram countryliving_writer or visit her website here