Spring cleaning time! Need info on product safety

[daydream]

Hi everyone, it's time for spring cleaning, so I have some questions about the use of chemicals and other products around the house. I already know that anything in aeresol cans is BAD BAD BAD.

My conures live in my bedroom, so I've always just been able to close the door and do whatever needed to be done in the rest of the house, so far as using cleaning products and such. I just take my U2 to the stand in my room. Well I've recently brought home a pair of macaws whose cages are in the main part of the house. I could probably get them on a stand in my bedroom while I do necessary cleaning, but I can't leave 3 large birds, who aren't friends yet, alone in my room while I go about my business. So I decided to just ask here about some products, then I'll know when it's really necessary to move the birds to my room and have son watch them.

Some of these products I think probably are NOT safe to use around the birds, but in small amounds (like bleach in the laundry) might be, so I'll ask anyway.

1. Chlorine bleach in my washing machine with lid closed? Will fumes still get out and harm my birds?

A bit of bleach in water used to wash down my walls?

2. Pine Sol-I love pine sol, but have only been using hot water to mop with since I brought the macaws home. I'd love to be able to coninue using the pine sol if it's safe.

3. Spray bottle cleansers that have bleach in them for use on counter tops?

4. Tap water? I read somewhere that my birds drinking water should be free of chlorine, but I only recently read that and it was only a comment by a single person. i believe our tap water also has floride in it.

5. Flea bombs- Of course I'd never use these where the birds are, but if I have the birds in my room with door closed and a towel at the bottom of the door is it safe to use a flea bomb in the other part of the house and then let the house air out before returning my birds to that part of the house? We don't have fleas right now, but usually do start seeing some in the summer months which are just around the corner. If anyone has information about safer ways to get rid of fleas in the house, please let me know.

6. Carpet shampoo?

7. Furniture polish in spray bottles?

8. My macaws love to pull my hair with their beaks. Is the defrizzer or other products I put in my hair dangerous to the birds?

9. Laundry detergent? Dryer sheets?
My birds like to chew holes in my clothes, so I need to be sure nothing in them is harmful.

All my teflon, candles, incense, liquid potpourri and air fresheners are in the yard sale box . Besides the products listed above, please feel free to contribute about any other products I may have overlooked.

Thanks!

[mmr]

Flea bombs are a big no no even with a door shut and toweled. The best thing to get rid of fleas is like frontline. Then vacume you floors like crazy. That makes the fleas hatch and jump on your pet then die right away!

As far as cleaners I know many use a steamer for floors, walls, counters etc. I use vinegar and water. I have been know to use a little pine sol but very very week and doesn't smell too much, but all windows are open also.

House plants are a natural air freshner also.
To be honest I still cook with a few of my Teflon pans. I know I am going to get yelled at, but It is for little quick jobs. I usually use my cast iron skillets.

Chlorine is pretty strong. Why not use the bleach alternatives the have out now that do just as good in the laundry?

For my counters I use old fashioned soap and hot water!

Bottled water is probably best. Tap water does have floride in it. They satrted this back many years to help prevent cavities in kids teeth, and are still doing it!


Carpet shampooing is okay. You can also use vinegar instead of the shampoo. It takes all the odors out of your carpet as well

Hair products I wouldn't worry too much about. But other may suggest different!

Baking soda also is great to use on things as well as an open box will suck in all the yucky smells!
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[Monica]

1. Chlorine bleach in my washing machine with lid closed? Will fumes still get out and harm my birds? A bit of bleach in water used to wash down my walls?
Bleach, diluted, should be perfectly safe. Try using a weaker solution instead of a stronger one.

2. Pine Sol-I love pine sol, but have only been using hot water to mop with since I brought the macaws home. I'd love to be able to coninue using the pine sol if it's safe.
There's alternatives, such as vinegar, Grapefruit Seed Extract, even some "Green" cleaners which should all be safe. I don't know about Pine Sol specifically so can't recommend it.

3. Spray bottle cleansers that have bleach in them for use on counter tops?
Bottles with a water/bleach solution? Sure. Something storebought? Maybe not...

4. Tap water? I read somewhere that my birds drinking water should be free of chlorine, but I only recently read that and it was only a comment by a single person. i believe our tap water also has floride in it.
Bottled/filtered water is probably better, but tap water will not hurt most birds. Some birds can have adverse reactions to tap so they are better off on "cleaner" water.

5. Flea bombs- Of course I'd never use these where the birds are, but if I have the birds in my room with door closed and a towel at the bottom of the door is it safe to use a flea bomb in the other part of the house and then let the house air out before returning my birds to that part of the house? We don't have fleas right now, but usually do start seeing some in the summer months which are just around the corner. If anyone has information about safer ways to get rid of fleas in the house, please let me know.
I honestly wouldn't know, however I would have to recommend removing the birds from the house to be on the safe side... or use a pest control company that uses organic chemicals and knows about their products and pets.

6. Carpet shampoo?
Oxyclean? Or some other oxy product... but then again, it's not recommended to shampoo your carpet unless you can be sure that you remove all of the shampoo residue. Otherwise, it'll just attract more dirt to your carpets...

7. Furniture polish in spray bottles?
I think there are some natural alternatives?

8. My macaws love to pull my hair with their beaks. Is the defrizzer or other products I put in my hair dangerous to the birds?
If you put the stuff on while in the shower and rinsed, I don't see an issue. If it's after a shower, well probaby not...

9. Laundry detergent? Dryer sheets?
My birds like to chew holes in my clothes, so I need to be sure nothing in them is harmful.
Can't say I've heard of any issues here, but there are, again, 'green' alternatives...

All my teflon, candles, incense, liquid potpourri and air fresheners are in the yard sale box .
Just because a pan is nonstick doesn't mean it's got PTFE (Teflon is a brand name) or PFOA in it. We've been using nonstick pans for years without issues, as well as other bird owners.

Not all candles are bad, but if you don't know about the ones you have, don't use. There's also natural air fresheners.


Try doing a search on the forum for safe cleaning products and natural air fresheners.

[nene142]

Furniture polish - try method (target) it smells so good and all method stuff is great and I think safe or safer to use around the fids. I worry about stuff to so don't feel bad!@

[tabooh]

my rule of thumb is to use non toxic products period which generally consists of the good old fashioned stuff that my grandmother used to clean her windows with and salads,lol! You have already mentioned it, but that was really good of you to share the information with us, and I have learned about other products as a result, thank you!

[oodi]

Originally Posted by nene142

Furniture polish - try method (target) it smells so good and all method stuff is great and I think safe or safer to use around the fids. I worry about stuff to so don't feel bad!@

I have to agree with this one! I use all of the Method products, and they work great! It is all non-toxic. I bought a Rug Doctor for cleaning carpets, and I use the Method All Surface cleaner in it, instead of carpet shampoo. It works better, and doesn't leave residue.

[Razzle]

I wouldn't even know where to begin. But I would suggest that if you are having a spring-cleaning spree that you get the bird boarded with the vet over the weekend, then air out the house before bringing your baby back to make certain any fumes that could cause a problem are gone. You don't need me to tell you how sensitive birds are to air pollutants! Which is why miners used to take canaries with them so they could evacuate if the bird died.

[Razzle]

Oh, and you could try asking your local health-food/organic food store about natural non-toxic products that are safe for birds in the environment! (safe for a blue-jay or sparrow probably means safe for a finch or macaw, at least roughly although you can't be too careful.)

[Alyx]

I remeber reading this thread before I went shopping last week and had to buy something to spray and clean the house with. I didn't have a lot of faith in the "meathod" product. It seems at least to me that these products are often not as good or as safe as they seem. I did some research and couldnt' find anything negative about what they use but figured the cost would be prohibitive. I got to the store and oddly it was the same price as the rest of the cleaning products, but then I figured it wouldn't work anyway. So I bought it, brought it home and would you believe I won't use anything but it now!

[chapala]

There are lots of natural cleaning solutions available. I don't use any commercial products to clean with, except a bathroom cleaner for the upstairs shower - no birds nearby. We have lived with all tile floors the whole time we've been in Mexico (in our tenth year), and I have the maid mop with a white vinegar and water mix. Works great, and completely non-toxic. Do be very careful with bleach around the birds since it does have harsh fumes. Most commercial cleaners do have nasty chemicals and/or fumes. Better for people too to use natural ones.

Here are a couple of sites for some alternative cleaning ideas:
Non-Toxic Cleaning | Healthy and Green Living
28 Practical Uses for Vinegar, Nature's Magic Cleanser

homemade furniture polish:
Natural Furniture Polish (Homemade)

There are many more sites with information on natural cleaning products.


Happy spring cleaning!!