When Ann’s Labrador, Elva, started losing her fur and scratching herself raw, no one suspected the floor cleaner. Or the fragrance diffusers. Or the freshly washed sheets.
After all, these were the same products millions of people use every day, the ones that promise a clean, fresh-smelling home. But for Elva, they triggered months of relentless itching, bleeding skin, and sleepless nights for the whole family.
What started as a mild irritation soon became an urgent wake-up call that forced Ann to question everything she thought was ‘safe’ inside her home.
And it was that same journey – from chemical confusion to natural clarity – that eventually led her to OurEco Clean.
From discomfort to distress
Elva’s symptoms weren’t subtle.
“She would scratch herself until she bled,” Ann explains. “Her chest and neck were bald from hair loss. She was miserable—and so were we. None of us were sleeping because she was up all night, scratching constantly.”
Like many of us, Ann had assumed that the cleaning products she used were safe—after all, they’re on supermarket shelves. However, what she didn’t know was that many commercial floor cleaners, laundry liquids and air fresheners contain ingredients known to irritate the skin and disrupt hormones, especially in pets.
And when your best friend is walking barefoot on freshly bleached floors, licking their paws, and snuggling into chemically washed bedding, it’s a recipe for disaster.
A dog’s nose knows
We often forget just how sensitive our dogs are to chemicals. A dog’s sense of smell is estimated to be between 10,000 and 100,000 times more powerful than ours. Their noses detect not only scent but also chemical composition, and they absorb toxins through both inhalation and skin contact.
“I started to notice Elva reacting not just to cleaning products, but even to reed diffusers and scented candles,” Ann says. “Her skin would even flare up when the council sprayed weeds with chemicals across the road, not even on our lawn. It was like she was the canary in the coal mine.”
When medication isn’t the answer
A traditional vet prescribed Apoquel, a popular drug for itchy dogs, but the side effects concerned Ann. “When I researched it, I found studies showed serious health implications, including links to cancer and serious infection, even euthanisation after long-term use,” she says.
And Ann’s not alone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also expressed concern about the effects of Apoquel and the misleading information online to label the drug ‘safe’.
“We didn’t want to just mask the symptoms or cause further health complications. We wanted to fix the problem,” Ann recalls.
So, they sought out a natural vet, who prescribed Chinese herbs to help support Elva’s immune system and skin health. But the real shift came when Ann looked at her home environment – and the products Elva was being exposed to every day.
The big switch that changed everything
“We removed everything: the bleach, the supermarket floor cleaners, the chemical laundry liquids, the synthetic air fresheners. It wasn’t one thing – it was all of it. And we replaced it with natural alternatives.”
The change wasn’t overnight. “It took about 12 months for her to fully regrow her coat,” Ann recalls. “But within a few weeks, we saw signs. She was sleeping through the night again. She had energy. She wasn’t scratching herself and leaving marks.”
It was during this time that Ann discovered OurEco Clean, a small Aussie brand that used only food-grade, plant-based ingredients. The immediate difference was so surprising. “I’d never heard of them before,” Ann says. “But their products worked—and Elva didn’t react to any of them.”
Clean doesn’t have to mean chemical
At OurEco Clean, every product is made with intention. We use simple, proven ingredients like bicarb soda, citric acid and high-quality essential oils like Lemon Myrtle—nature’s own antibacterial powerhouse—because they work, without the toxic trade-offs.
We don’t just say our products are safe—we’ve researched, tested and refined them to make sure they’re effective, sustainable and gentle on sensitive systems (including paws and noses). Because when we say we help protect the things that matter most, we mean it—your health, your pets and our planet.
Why Elva’s story matters to all of us
Elva may have been the first to react, but she likely won’t be the last.
“Pets can’t tell us what’s wrong,” Ann says. “They rely on us to notice. And if chemicals were affecting her this badly, what are they doing to our family? Our lungs? Our waterways?”
We believe in cleaning that uplifts your home without harming the living things inside it.
OurEco Clean supports local Australian suppliers. We avoid synthetics and harsh toxins. And we’re proud to be part of a movement that says no to chemical overload and yes to conscious, sustainable living.
“I didn’t discover OurEco Clean through a glossy magazine ad—I found it in a moment of desperation, searching for anything that could help my dog. The products spoke for themselves, and I genuinely believe Elva wouldn’t still be with us if we hadn’t made the switch.”
Today, Elva is 14, healthy, and still a bit cheeky, and Ann is proof that one small change can lead to something much bigger.
Start your healthy home journey today
If your home has a heartbeat – furry, feathery, or human – it’s worth rethinking what’s under the sink. OurEco Clean is ready when you are.
Explore our natural cleaning range and join the #iquitchemicals movement.