Having pets is a blessing. They bring infinite companionship, energy, laughter, and love to your home but can also incite major pet allergy flair-ups.
Here are a few suggested tips for combating pet allergies and products specifically geared toward fighting pet allergies and dander in the home.
Jump to the section you need by using the list below:
- What are Pet Allergies?
- Creating Healthier Air for Pet-Parents
- Change Air Filters
- Vacuum Your Home Thoroughly
- Install an Air Purifier
- Clean-Up Pet Messes
- Wash Linens + Pet Linens
- Dust Frequently
- Additional Suggestions
- Questions?
What are Pet Allergies?
Hypersensitive immune systems are the culprit for pet dander allergies. Frequently, people already suffering from allergies tend to suffer the most. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 3 in 10 people suffer from pet allergies. Usually, these allergies stem from the pet dander, not from the hair.
Cat allergy symptoms and dog allergy symptoms pose the same issues. Cat allergies are caused by the protein found in cats' dander, saliva, and urine.
Saliva is deposited on the fur, dries, and spreads through hair shedding or petting the animal. Additionally, cat dander and the presence of a litter box can increase these cat allergies.
Dog allergies are similar. Allergy sufferers are allergic to dog saliva and dander but also to the allergens and particulates that come into the home on the dog's coat. This further complicates allergies and immune systems.
Both cat and dog allergy symptoms include:
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Red, irritated skin or hives
- Itchy eyes
Creating Healthier Air for Pet-Parents
Creating healthy indoor air while salvaging a healthy relationship with your pets is crucial. Here are some helpful guidelines and tips for healthy indoor air for pet parents with pet allergies.
Change Air Filters
Healthy indoor air begins with ensuring your HVAC system is working well. Depending on how many pets live in your home, changing your HVAC filter every 40 to 60 days or at least every 6 to 8 weeks is recommended.
You will also want to consider
- Season
- Number of Pets in the Home
- Coat Thickness and Shedding
- Grooming Schedule
To keep your HVAC system working in peak condition sans pet allergens, dander, and hair, consider using furnace filters that remove particulates as small as .3 microns. Look for other features such as electrostatic pleated filter fibers, high MPR (micro performance rating), and high MERV rating between 12 and 14.
Further, keep your HVAC system in good condition with regular inspections and cleaning.
Vacuum Your Home Thoroughly
Vacuuming all areas of your home regularly, especially places your pets love to hang out, is crucial.
Pet dander can accumulate anywhere, particularly in corners of the room, along baseboards, and behind furniture, not to mention on upholstered furniture.
HEPA vacuums are the best vacuums for pet hair and dander. Vacuums with layered HEPA filtration systems and activated charcoal filters start by removing pet dander and neutralizing odors.
HEPA filters, much like furnace air filters, capture particulates as small as .3 microns with 99.97 percent efficiency. Most have a good array of tools for getting into corners, underneath furniture, on upholstery, and deep into carpets.
The Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum is great for pet hair and dander removal. For hard floors in high pet traffic areas, consider the EyeVac Pro Pet touchless vacuum with an infrared sensor that can detect pet hair, dirt, and dust and sucks it up without pulling out and plugging in a vacuum.
Install an Air Purifier
If you want to remove pet hair from the air, introducing an air purifier to your home is an ideal solution. An air purifier can help alleviate irritating symptoms like itchy eyes, stuffy nose, or sneezing.
Because pet dander—which contains the proteins we are allergic to—always circulates throughout our air, capturing those particles with an air purifier like the Coway Airmega 300 HEPA Air Purifier is imperative.
Our air purifier buying guide can help you check the square footage and air changes per hour to determine the appropriate size unit for your home.
Clean-Up Pet Messes
Where there are pets, there are bound to be messes. If your pet has the occasional accident on bare floors, it is essential to clean it up quickly, since proteins in pet urine are pet allergy culprits.
Steam mops provide simple operation and sanitized cleaning without touching the mess. Select a steam mop with hot sanitizing steam, variable controls, or features like odor-eliminating discs or built-in scrubbers.
The Bissell Symphony Pet All-In-One Vacuum and Steam Mop combines vacuum suction and steam mop sanitizing for vinyl flooring and hardwoods.
If you've experienced problems with flea allergies, consider using a high-temperature, dry vapor steam cleaner, like the US Steam White Tail steam cleaner, to kill fleas and their eggs.
The ability to kill fleas and their eggs with short-term heat exposure is ideal for eradicating them. Then, you can vacuum thoroughly with your HEPA vacuum cleaner.
Wash Linens + Pet Linens
Stay on top of washing linens throughout your home, especially if pets sleep on your bed or have a bed in your room. Including curtains, slipcovers, or removable furniture covers, as well as all pet bedding, will improve the air quality and help control odors.
Dust Frequently
Dander and hair are carried through the air and will inevitably land on the surfaces around your home. Your shelves, ceiling fans, media cabinets, tables, and electronics are prone to attracting dust and dander, and this dust inevitably creates build-up.
If your vacuum has no dusting brush, lightly use tap water with your dust rag to wipe down surfaces. This will help ensure you capture particles and not just stir up dust, allowing it to go back into the air. For wood furniture, use a mixture of two parts light oil, like lemon or olive, with 1 part lemon juice to clean and give it a rich shine.
Finish off with cleaning or laundering linens and vacuuming with your HEPA vacuum.
Additional Suggestions
In addition, consider these suggestions to control pet allergies:
-
Pet Wipes: Use pet-approved pet wipes to wipe down your pet's coat to remove dried saliva, dander, and outdoor allergens. - Bathe and groom: Remember, consistent bathing and grooming will help with shedding, dander, and odors, especially during hot months. Dyson offers a convenient grooming tool that connects to your Dyson HEPA vacuum.
- Block off bedrooms: Finally, consider blocking off bedrooms or rooms you frequently occupy to help alleviate pet allergies.
Questions?
If you suffer from pet allergies, don't suffer any longer. If you have any pressing questions about air filters, HEPA vacuums, or steam mops, call our sales staff at 1-800-934-9194. They can answer your questions about our line of products tailored for battling pet allergies.
How do you combat pet allergies? Let us know on the Sylvane Facebook and Twitter pages.
