Cats and cleaning products?

I'm unlurking to ask about cleaning products dangerous to cats. I am
hoping that with all the vast experience on this group, I'll be able to
find answers to my questions.

We will be moving to a new apartment in the next few weeks. As is usual
here in Spain, there are no carpets in the new place - all the floors
are tile. I am not sure what cleaning products might have been used to
wash the floors before we rented the place. I know that there are
certain products which are very toxic to cats.

So my question is, IF the floors in the new apartment had been washed
using some of those toxic products, what can I do to wash off the
remains of the toxic stuff? Could any toxic stuff have worn off over
time? I think the apartment has been empty for at least 2 or 3 months,
so would that be enough time for any toxic residue of the cleaning
products to dissipate? Any suggestions on what I can scrub the floors
with in order to get rid of any possible last traces of the dangerous
stuff?

We didn't have this worry when we first moved here because our first
apartment was brand new - it had never been lived in. But with this one,
I worry about the kitties' health. I am not going to bring them into the
new apartment until I'm sure it's safe for them.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me. And special thanks
from Kotyo and Sweety who will be the ones walking on the tile floors
and then licking their paws...

Nadia (and Kotyo and Sweety)

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

Nadia N. wrote:
I'm unlurking to ask about cleaning products dangerous to cats. I am
hoping that with all the vast experience on this group, I'll be able to
find answers to my questions.

We will be moving to a new apartment in the next few weeks. As is usual
here in Spain, there are no carpets in the new place - all the floors
are tile. I am not sure what cleaning products might have been used to
wash the floors before we rented the place. I know that there are
certain products which are very toxic to cats.

So my question is, IF the floors in the new apartment had been washed
using some of those toxic products, what can I do to wash off the
remains of the toxic stuff? Could any toxic stuff have worn off over
time? I think the apartment has been empty for at least 2 or 3 months,
so would that be enough time for any toxic residue of the cleaning
products to dissipate? Any suggestions on what I can scrub the floors
with in order to get rid of any possible last traces of the dangerous
stuff?

We didn't have this worry when we first moved here because our first
apartment was brand new - it had never been lived in. But with this one,
I worry about the kitties' health. I am not going to bring them into the
new apartment until I'm sure it's safe for them.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me. And special thanks
from Kotyo and Sweety who will be the ones walking on the tile floors
and then licking their paws...

Nadia (and Kotyo and Sweety)


I'm not an expert on cleaning products but my first thought was a
vinegar solution. Perhaps 1/4 cup per gallon of hot water. Use plenty
of the water. MLB

"Kajikit" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:23:31 +0200, "Nadia N."
wrote:

I'm unlurking to ask about cleaning products dangerous to cats. I
am
hoping that with all the vast experience on this group, I'll be
able to
find answers to my questions.

We will be moving to a new apartment in the next few weeks. As is
usual
here in Spain, there are no carpets in the new place - all the
floors
are tile. I am not sure what cleaning products might have been
used to
wash the floors before we rented the place. I know that there are
certain products which are very toxic to cats.

So my question is, IF the floors in the new apartment had been
washed
using some of those toxic products, what can I do to wash off the
remains of the toxic stuff? Could any toxic stuff have worn off
over
time? I think the apartment has been empty for at least 2 or 3
months,
so would that be enough time for any toxic residue of the cleaning
products to dissipate? Any suggestions on what I can scrub the
floors
with in order to get rid of any possible last traces of the
dangerous
stuff?

We didn't have this worry when we first moved here because our
first
apartment was brand new - it had never been lived in. But with
this one,
I worry about the kitties' health. I am not going to bring them
into the
new apartment until I'm sure it's safe for them.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me. And special
thanks
from Kotyo and Sweety who will be the ones walking on the tile
floors
and then licking their paws...

Nadia (and Kotyo and Sweety)

I can't imagine any commonly-used cleaning product so toxic to
cats
that it would hang around in the environment and still be unsafe
after
four months... it's a very big 'if' that you're worrying about.
I'm
sure they'll be fine. But if you want to be on the safe side, mop
the
floor with plain water and wash anything away!
--
I agree. I'd really be more concerned with new construction being
toxic than with any remnants of cleaning products on an older place.

But yes, wash, rinse, repeat.

Jo

MLB wrote:

I'm not an expert on cleaning products but my first thought was a
vinegar solution. Perhaps 1/4 cup per gallon of hot water. Use plenty
of the water. MLB

Thanks. I guess I'd better stock up on vinegar. It's a big apartment :-)

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

Jofirey wrote:

"Kajikit" wrote in message
...

I can't imagine any commonly-used cleaning product so toxic to cats
that it would hang around in the environment and still be unsafe after
four months... it's a very big 'if' that you're worrying about. I'm
sure they'll be fine. But if you want to be on the safe side, mop the
floor with plain water and wash anything away!
--
I agree. I'd really be more concerned with new construction being toxic
than with any remnants of cleaning products on an older place.

But yes, wash, rinse, repeat.

Jo

Yeah, I will be giving the place a thorough washing in any case.

I am just a bit paranoid about cleaning products because a few months
ago one of the posters of a Spanish cat forum that I lurk on had her cat
die after she washed her floor with some new product. She said she had
rinsed the floor with just water after using the product, but the cat
still ended up with enough toxins in her system that they couldn't save
her. Logically, my mind is telling me that there's little chance of the
same happening to my kitties, but...

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

"Jofirey" wrote in message
...

"Kajikit" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:23:31 +0200, "Nadia N."
wrote:

I'm unlurking to ask about cleaning products dangerous to cats. I am
hoping that with all the vast experience on this group, I'll be able to
find answers to my questions.

We will be moving to a new apartment in the next few weeks. As is usual
here in Spain, there are no carpets in the new place - all the floors
are tile. I am not sure what cleaning products might have been used to
wash the floors before we rented the place. I know that there are
certain products which are very toxic to cats.

So my question is, IF the floors in the new apartment had been washed
using some of those toxic products, what can I do to wash off the
remains of the toxic stuff? Could any toxic stuff have worn off over
time? I think the apartment has been empty for at least 2 or 3 months,
so would that be enough time for any toxic residue of the cleaning
products to dissipate? Any suggestions on what I can scrub the floors
with in order to get rid of any possible last traces of the dangerous
stuff?

We didn't have this worry when we first moved here because our first
apartment was brand new - it had never been lived in. But with this one,
I worry about the kitties' health. I am not going to bring them into the
new apartment until I'm sure it's safe for them.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me. And special thanks
from Kotyo and Sweety who will be the ones walking on the tile floors
and then licking their paws...

Nadia (and Kotyo and Sweety)

I can't imagine any commonly-used cleaning product so toxic to cats
that it would hang around in the environment and still be unsafe after
four months... it's a very big 'if' that you're worrying about. I'm
sure they'll be fine. But if you want to be on the safe side, mop the
floor with plain water and wash anything away!
--
I agree. I'd really be more concerned with new construction being toxic
than with any remnants of cleaning products on an older place.

But yes, wash, rinse, repeat.

Jo

Vinegar and water, it may stink to high heaven but it's a great cleaning
combination. (Works a treat for cleaning out coffee and tea pots). Of
course you really have to rinse well with water afterwards.

Jill

In article ,
Kajikit wrote:

I can't imagine any commonly-used cleaning product so toxic to cats
that it would hang around in the environment and still be unsafe after
four months... it's a very big 'if' that you're worrying about. I'm
sure they'll be fine. But if you want to be on the safe side, mop the
floor with plain water and wash anything away!

Good idea, since most cleaning products are water soluble (I don't know
any that aren't). Pesticides, on the other hand, may or may not
dissolve in water, but a cleaning product of your own, one you trust,
would probably take care of that problem.

Baird

--
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice
there is. -Yogi Berra

jmcquown wrote:

Vinegar and water, it may stink to high heaven but it's a great cleaning
combination. (Works a treat for cleaning out coffee and tea pots). Of
course you really have to rinse well with water afterwards.

Jill

Water and vinegar, check. Thanks, Jill.

This is gonna be a fun weekend. The kitties probably will not want to
come near me after I come home smelling of vinegar. But I have a secret
weapon of tuna and mackerel chunks in jelly, so I think they'll forgive
me once I open the can :-)


--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

Baird Stafford wrote:
In article ,
Kajikit wrote:

I can't imagine any commonly-used cleaning product so toxic to cats
that it would hang around in the environment and still be unsafe after
four months... it's a very big 'if' that you're worrying about. I'm
sure they'll be fine. But if you want to be on the safe side, mop the
floor with plain water and wash anything away!

Good idea, since most cleaning products are water soluble (I don't know
any that aren't). Pesticides, on the other hand, may or may not
dissolve in water, but a cleaning product of your own, one you trust,
would probably take care of that problem.

Baird


Ack! I didn't even think about pesticides! Thanks for reminding me.

I guess I'll just have to wash once with water and vinegar, then rinse
with just water, then wash again with a kitty-safe cleaning product...

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

"Jofirey"

"Kajikit" On Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:23:31 +0200, "Nadia N."


I'm unlurking to ask about cleaning products dangerous to cats. I am
hoping that with all the vast experience on this group, I'll be able to
find answers to my questions.

We will be moving to a new apartment in the next few weeks. As is usual
here in Spain, there are no carpets in the new place - all the floors
are tile. I am not sure what cleaning products might have been used to
wash the floors before we rented the place. I know that there are
certain products which are very toxic to cats.

So my question is, IF the floors in the new apartment had been washed
using some of those toxic products, what can I do to wash off the
remains of the toxic stuff? Could any toxic stuff have worn off over
time? I think the apartment has been empty for at least 2 or 3 months,
so would that be enough time for any toxic residue of the cleaning
products to dissipate? Any suggestions on what I can scrub the floors
with in order to get rid of any possible last traces of the dangerous
stuff?

We didn't have this worry when we first moved here because our first
apartment was brand new - it had never been lived in. But with this one,
I worry about the kitties' health. I am not going to bring them into the
new apartment until I'm sure it's safe for them.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me. And special thanks
from Kotyo and Sweety who will be the ones walking on the tile floors
and then licking their paws...

Nadia (and Kotyo and Sweety)

I can't imagine any commonly-used cleaning product so toxic to cats
that it would hang around in the environment and still be unsafe after
four months... it's a very big 'if' that you're worrying about. I'm
sure they'll be fine. But if you want to be on the safe side, mop the
floor with plain water and wash anything away!
--
I agree. I'd really be more concerned with new construction being toxic
than with any remnants of cleaning products on an older place.

But yes, wash, rinse, repeat.

Jo


I use Lysol 4 in one to clean cat messes off the rugs, then go over it wiith
a Wet Ones towelet, then take a paper towel and wet it down and sprinkle it
with baking soda, which removes all the smells. One of the cats pooped on
the rug in the catbox room and it worked for mr that way, and I'm a nut (as
you all know) about bacteria so I washed my hands with that antibacterial
soap you don't have to use water with. I keep a few bottles around, because
they shut off the water sometimes if they have a leak in the main water
pipes. We keep the bathtub filled for pouring water in the tank of the
bathroom. One day next way next week most likely, they will shut off the
water , to install a new water pump because the water pressure is so low.
the tub got filled this morning by me becaue I have a 'feeling' about it. I
also recycle my Snapple bottles by rinsing the empties by rinsing them out
with hot water and a little baking soda and then fill them with cold water
from our PUR water filter.
Baking soda is great for lots of things.
Good luck
Kyla