Citrus Scented Soap?

Hi guys, quick question here, I washed my hands with a citrus scented soap not long before doing some routine cage maintenance for my skink,(changing water, checking for poo etc..) and was wondering if the citrus soap is safe. The reason I ask is because I've read citrus is bad for reptiles and most pets, and I'm kinda worried that it could potentially be toxic, although it must be pretty diluted in the soap. Does anybody know if it's safe? It has typical soap ingredients along with citrus acid.

I use a lemon scented hand soap before every time I open one of my enclosures. Never noticed any problems

Probably safe...you're not soaking the snake in it, or rubbing it on them. The amount on your dry hands is so minimal, I wouldn't worry, honestly. And fyi,
I'm pretty careful [read: paranoid ;) ] about many many substances used around my pets as well as on myself, and I eat organic produce, etc. etc.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Probably safe...you're not soaking the snake in it, or rubbing it on them. The amount on your dry hands is so minimal, I wouldn't worry, honestly. And fyi,
I'm pretty careful [read: paranoid ;) ] about many many substances used around my pets as well as on myself, and I eat organic produce, etc. etc.

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I get made fun of but I never touch a snake before using hand sanitizer. Not once, and it’s not for me it’s for the snakes

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

I get made fun of but I never touch a snake before using hand sanitizer. Not once, and it’s not for me it’s for the snakes

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I'm not a fan of hand-sanitizers...they are now thought to promote resistant germs. Hand washing yes, hand-sanitizers no.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I'm not a fan of hand-sanitizers...they are now thought to promote resistant germs. Hand washing yes, hand-sanitizers no.

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I only use them after I wash my hands with soap. Then it’s sanitizer and in between snakes I always use hand sanitizer again.

But im the guy that will eat off the ground, hardly ever get sick. I’m an Eagle Scout so I grew up outdoors. So I’m not a always washing my hands try of guy. But I won’t put my snakes or any other pets at risk

I've been using a citrus-scented dish soap to clean my BP's water bowl and feeding tongs, would that be harmful?

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

I've been using a citrus-scented dish soap to clean my BP's water bowl and feeding tongs, would that be harmful?

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Do u leave soap in there after ur done? If not then I say your fine, unless ur using like bath and body works type stuff that’s for extra “smell good stuff”

I use lemon-scent hand sanitizer when handling my more foody snakes, especially my king snakes in the spring when their appetites start to return after their winter fasting, as the sharp smell helps them realize that my fingers aren't edible.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

I've been using a citrus-scented dish soap to clean my BP's water bowl and feeding tongs, would that be harmful?

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No, as long as it's completely rinsed...and you'd want no soaps of ANY kind left anyway. Mostly I clean snake bowls* with full-strength white vinegar- it's both a mild
germ-killer and it gets out the hard water deposits, plus it rinses clean. I re-use smaller plastic bottles (like dish soap came in) & keep one filled at kitchen & bathroom
sinks filled with white vinegar that I buy (cheaper) by the gallon in grocery stores. It's good for many other things (sink, shower and toilet). *Dump out the water, let
bowls sit a few minutes w/ the vinegar...about 2 T. to scrub with, then rinse. It also rinses much easier than soaps/detergents do.

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

Do u leave soap in there after ur done? If not then I say your fine, unless ur using like bath and body works type stuff that’s for extra “smell good stuff”

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

No, as long as it's completely rinsed...and you'd want no soaps of ANY kind left anyway. Mostly I clean snake bowls* with full-strength white vinegar- it's both a mild
germ-killer and it gets out the hard water deposits, plus it rinses clean. I re-use smaller plastic bottles (like dish soap came in) & keep one filled at kitchen & bathroom
sinks filled with white vinegar that I buy (cheaper) by the gallon in grocery stores. It's good for many other things (sink, shower and toilet). *Dump out the water, let
bowls sit a few minutes w/ the vinegar...about 2 T. to scrub with, then rinse. It also rinses much easier than soaps/detergents do.

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Thanks for the replies! Yes I do rinse them off very thoroughly and no the soap is not for "smell good stuff", it's just the flavour of dish soap I have on hand right now. Glad to hear it won't hurt as long as it's washed off, I was worried for a second seeing that citrus is toxic to snakes. Thank you for the tip on using vinegar to clean bowls as well. I'm currently using white vinegar mixed with water when I spot clean my BP's enclosure.

I've been known to use a bit of dish soap (often with a citrus scent) to wash snake hides etc. No problem at all.

Thanks for the replies guys, after posting this I went and looked at the ingredients of some other soaps in our house and found even ones that weren't specifically "citrus scented", all contained citric acid. So I guess it must be pretty common in most soaps. Glad its nothing to worry about. Thanks again.

Hey, it never hurts to ask. It's not like we charge for answers, :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Hey, it never hurts to ask. It's not like we charge for answers, :rofl:

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U didn’t sign up for the pay for posts? It doesn’t pay much but it’s enough to feed my snakes..

i sell essential oils and make soaps (along with spray cleaner and all sorts of other stuff)...

the citrus oil is bad! tea tree oil is bad! camps don't understand that yes, pure essential oil put directly on a pet is horrible. but high quality properly diluted oils are safe.

just my 2 cents.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

... I'm currently using white vinegar mixed with water when I spot clean my BP's enclosure.

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Hopefully the vinegar is diluted enough that no irritating smell remains, but do use it full-strength to remove hard water deposits in water bowls (etc.), then rinse out.

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

I get made fun of but I never touch a snake before using hand sanitizer. Not once, and it’s not for me it’s for the snakes

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The reason I don't use hand sanitizer is that they now know it's not harmless. Triclosan (common ingredient) is a hormone-disruptor & helps promote resistant bacteria.

Here's a quick "more about" from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-l...n/faq-20057861

Just wash your hands well. Some bacteria is meant to be there...