The Best Spray Bottles for Cleaning Up After Pets

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber
Published on
February 26th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben has over a decade of experience in cleaning projects of all types along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician), WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning and leading teams goes back as far as he can remember.

The Cleaning Institute

You need a reliable spray bottle to clean up after your pet and finding a reliable spray bottle can save you time, money and hassle. The spray bottles that manufacturers use for their cleaning products aren’t necessarily designed to last longer than the time it takes for you to empty the bottle. Some of the mechanisms in the sprayer could be faulty, the bottle itself could leak or the adjustable spray pattern may not be effective. When you shop for the perfect spray bottle, all of these problems are alleviated.

A refillable spray bottle you can rely on can be used for many different applications. You can pour your store-bought cleaning products in them, make your own homemade cleaners that won’t irritate your pet and more. The best refillable spray bottles will not leak and the spraying mechanisms are built to last and handle different liquids and chemicals. The idea is to have a bottle you can rely on for many years while using it with various applications, and we took this into consideration throughout our evaluations.

With our years of experience in evaluating cleaning products, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to separate cheap spray bottles from the best ones. We used a few different testing categories to determine the best spray bottles. The Empty Amber Glass Spray Bottles ultimately ended up as our Top Pick, while the Pinnacle Mercantile Plastic Spray Bottles garnered our Honorable Mention selection.

Testing Categories

While we used three main testing categories to evaluate the best spray bottles, we had to test each category multiple times with different types of liquid. Some handled thicker liquids well, while others could only handle the consistency of water. Our three categories were durability, design and application and we were able to make our top selections based on them.

Durability: Spray bottles can take some abuse over time, so you need one that will withstand bumps, falls and intense spraying and still work effectively. Of course, glass bottles are always prone to breaking when dropped at higher elevations, but they should be able to remain intact when dropped at a couple of feet high. Durability was also tested with the spraying mechanism. The spray bottle received a lower score if any liquid leaked out of the sprayer itself and received a high score if no liquid came out of the bottle after several minutes of spraying. The overall durability of a spray bottle was determined by the bottle itself and how well it help up after intense spraying.

Design: The design of a spray bottle is an underrated aspect. You want a bottle that holds enough liquid without you having to constantly refill, but it also can’t be so big that it’s too heavy to use at first. The best spray bottle should fit in your hand easily and the trigger should be simple to reach and pull with minimal effort. We looked closely at the design of every spray bottle we evaluated and the score it received weighed heavily in our overall score.

Application: We looked at a few different things when giving a score for the application category. One was how easy it was to spray liquids of different consistencies. Another was how the spray tube fit inside the bottle and how much liquid was leftover in the bottle when it would no longer spray. And most importantly, we wanted to see if any liquid leaked out of the spray head, the trigger or the cap when using it. This may be our third category in the priority chain that we evaluated, but it was actually weighed just as heavily as durability and design in our overall score.

Top Pick

Empty
Amber Glass
Spray Bottles

These Empty Amber Glass Spray Bottles are the perfect size, easy to use and will protect the liquids you have in them. They are also so durable that you won’t have to buy another spray bottle again.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The durability, UV protection attributes, size, ergonomics and reusability all combine to make these glass spray bottles our Top Pick. Whether you want to pour in store-bought cleaners into these bottles or make your own cleaners, these are perfect for either situation. The sprayer itself is built to last for a long time and you can keep liquid in the bottles without having to worry about replacing them. The UV protection is a great benefit that often gets overlooked. And since the bottles are made of glass, there are no concerns about them getting too hot and releasing harmful chemicals into the liquids that plastic bottle sometimes do. With this spray bottle, you will quickly clean any messes your pet has made.

Biggest downsides: One thing that’s somewhat inconvenient about these spray bottles is they don’t have an adjustable nozzle to determine the spray pattern. It’s set on a neutral pattern between a mist and a stream, but if you often toggle back and forth between different settings, then these bottles may take some getting used to. You also have to be careful with how thick you mix your liquids, since the bottles require a very thin consistency to go through the nozzle.

Honorable Mention

Pinnacle Mercantile
Plastic
Spray Bottles

The construction of these plastic spray bottles makes them leak-proof and be some of the strongest plastic bottles made, which ensures that your pet will not come into contact with a large number of chemicals. You may not find a better spray bottle made of plastic than these.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The ergonomic design of these spray bottles makes them easy to use for an extended amount of time without making your hands or fingers tired. The adjustable nozzle is always convenient, since you never know what type of spraying pattern you’ll need. These bottles are made from a durable HDPE plastic, which is one of the sturdiest types of plastic you can find. And the best part is most water-based chemicals can be placed in these bottles without any harm.

Biggest downsides: While these are some of the strongest plastic spray bottles anywhere, plastic can only withstand so much. The Pinnacle Mercantile plastic bottles earn our Honorable Mention selection mainly because they can’t hold every type of chemical safely. The combination of the plastic and the metal springs in the spraying mechanism itself can become damaged or corroded with certain cleaning chemicals. You’ll need to read the label closely to determine whether the liquid you intend to put in the bottle is safe enough for it. Be careful so that you and your pet do not come into contact with a large chemical mess!

Green Pick

MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz Spray Bottles

The MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz. Spray Bottles are made in the U.S.A. and have a sleek and minimal design. The products are BPA-free and 100 percent food-grade safe with a no-leak design to keep you and your pet safe from harmful chemical leaks.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz. Spray Bottles are transparent bottles that look sleek and modern due to their minimal construction. The products are extremely versatile and can be used as a misting sprayer for perfume, body spray, essential oils, hair products, water, serum, and cosmetics. The durable construction of the product is long-lasting and prevents leaks from forming. It’s reusable, rewashable, and refillable to reduce waste, and allows the purchaser to use an eco-friendly product each day. It has a reliable spray screw-on pump trigger that is easy to use and doesn’t require too much pressure to be applied while releasing a fine mist. An additional locking mechanism is included to prevent it from spraying or spilling when it’s not in use. The clean design of the bottle prevents it from contributing to clutter in the bathroom or home and can be easy to label. The transparent plastic that is used also allows the consumer to determine how much product is left in the bottle and when it needs to be refilled.

Biggest downsides: The MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz. Spray Bottles do not always include the trigger tops that are advertised. They are prone to becoming clogged and can begin to stick when pushing down the trigger. The plastic handles are also cheap and can be too fragile for frequent use.

All Our Picks

Honorable Mention

Pinnacle Mercantile
Plastic
Spray Bottles

The construction of these plastic spray bottles makes them leak-proof and be some of the strongest plastic bottles made, which ensures that your pet will not come into contact with a large number of chemicals. You may not find a better spray bottle made of plastic than these.

Price Check

Tips for Effective Spraying

Spray bottles sometimes have to be versatile to handle different types of spraying jobs, depending on what kind of pet you have and what kind of mess you are cleaning. You may need a jet stream for some tasks, while other tasks would be better suited for a light mist. Having a spray bottle with an adjustable spray pattern is convenient so you can have it for multiple uses. This typically comes down to personal preference and how you intend to use your spray bottle.

Most spray bottles will only spray liquids with the consistency as thin as water. Thicker liquids like olive oil or other similar consistencies may not spray effectively and could damage the spraying mechanism. The label on the product should indicate the types of liquids it’s suitable for, but if you try one out and it doesn’t spray right away, unscrew the lid and pour it out to prevent damage.

A Note About Safety and Storage

Plastic spray bottles are typically more dangerous than glass bottles, simply because certain chemicals can react adversely to plastic. Be sure to check the label on your bottle, as well as the particular liquid you intend to put in the bottle, to determine whether it can be safely applied. The chemicals could break down the plastic and make the bottle leak, which could be harmful if you aren’t wearing protective gloves. It could also put your pet into contact with chemicals that could harm them.

A good practice when storing spray bottles is to clean out the spray heads after you’re done using them for a while. Sometimes the chemicals found in the cleaning liquid can break down the small plastic or metal pieces and reduce the lifespan of your spray bottle. It’s also important to store your bottles away from direct sunlight, especially if you have liquid in them. The UV rays can reduce the effectiveness of the chemicals, so either store them in a cabinet or on a shelf away from the sun or be sure the bottles have UV protection properties.

The Best Spray Bottles for Cleaning Up After Pets

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Empty
Amber Glass
Spray Bottles

Pinnacle Mercantile
Plastic
Spray Bottles

MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz Spray Bottles

All Our Picks

Empty
Amber Glass
Spray Bottles

Pinnacle Mercantile
Plastic
Spray Bottles

MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz Spray Bottles

Tips for Effective Spraying

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Spray Bottles for Cleaning Up After Pets

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

EmptyAmber GlassSpray Bottles

Pinnacle Mercantile PlasticSpray Bottles

MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz Spray Bottles

All Our Picks

EmptyAmber GlassSpray Bottles

Pinnacle Mercantile PlasticSpray Bottles

MoYo Natural Labs 8 oz Spray Bottles

Tips for Effective Spraying

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Empty
Amber Glass
Spray Bottles

Pinnacle Mercantile
Plastic
Spray Bottles

Empty
Amber Glass
Spray Bottles

Pinnacle Mercantile
Plastic
Spray Bottles