DIY Eco-Friendly Products for Pets

Eco-friendly products for pets are a great way to limit the chemicals that you, your family and your animal companions come in contact with. Making your own DIY eco-friendly products for your pets also helps you limit the impact your family has on the environment by limiting the waste that you produce from packaging and the chemicals that would normally end up in landfills, waterways, air and soil.

These three easy, DIY eco products offer convenient, inexpensive and eco-friendly ways to care for the animals in your life without using toxic chemicals and adding packaging to landfills.

Eco-Friendly Products for Pets: Dry Shampoo for Dogs, Cats and Other Furry Critters

In between trips to the groomer or regular baths at home, you can extend the length of time between water baths for dogs, cats and other furry critters by using an easy DIY eco-friendly dry shampoo. All you need is baking soda or cornmeal and a pet brush, and you can keep your animal companions clean and smelling lovely with fewer regular baths. It's always a good idea to do a small test area to make sure that the animal is not sensitive to the baking soda or cornmeal. Baking soda and cornmeal are so mild that this issue is rare, but it's always worth checking first.

To apply a dry shampoo to your dog, cat or other furry critter simply sprinkle baking soda or cornmeal onto their coat and massage it down to their skin. Be sure to avoid any sensitive areas - like eyes and noses - and let the dry shampoo sit for a minute or two as it absorbs excess oil and odor. Then, brush the dry shampoo out of their coat with a pet brush.

Why is a baking soda or cornmeal dry shampoo an eco-friendly product? For several reasons actually - you can save gas by fewer trips to the groomer, save water with fewer regular baths, limit waste by using this eco-friendly product that comes in recyclable packaging rather than a bottle of commercial dry shampoo, limit the chemicals that you, your pet and the environment have to contend with by avoiding chemical-laden commercial dry shampoos and

Eco-Friendly Products for Pets: Baking Soda Toothpaste

Rather than buy commercial pet toothpaste that is typically full of toxic chemicals and comes in a one-time use container, you can simply use a toothbrush dipped in baking soda to brush your pet's teeth. Wet the toothbrush and dip it in a small amount of baking soda, then gently brush your pet's teeth with this eco-friendly product that is inexpensive and readily available. Regular professional teeth cleaning by a veterinarian will still be necessary to maintain your pet's oral health, but at-home baking soda brushing is a great, eco-friendly way to improve your pet's teeth and breath between dental care visits.

Eco-Friendly Products for Pets: Non-Toxic, DIY Cage and Litter Box Cleaner

Keep your critters' cages and litter boxes clean and odorless with a simple eco-friendly DIY water and baking soda cleaning routine. Whether you need to clean your cat's litter box, the bottom of your bird's cage or the cage of some other little critter in your home, a damp sponge and baking soda is an eco-friendly cleaning method that avoids the chemicals and wasteful packaging of commercial cleaners. Simply shake a bit of baking soda on the bottom of the litter box or cage and wipe - or scrub if needed - with a damp sponge.

You can also mix baking soda with your cat's litter for eco-friendly enhanced odor control for cat's litter box.