Tips to Reduce Accumulation of Pet Dander in the House
Pet dander triggers health problems, such as asthma or allergy attacks, in some people. If you have such persons in your home, you should take measures to minimize pet dander in your house as much as possible. The following tips can help.
Clean Your House Regularly
Clean your home regularly to reduce the accumulation of pet dander. The following cleaning tips will help:
- Use a lint roller to remove dander on flat surfaces.
- Clean HVAC registers and air ducts so they don't circulate dander throughout the house.
- Vacuum soft surfaces, such as sofas.
- Clean pet accessories, such as toys or clothing.
- Throw large items, such as blankets, into the dryer before washing.
Regularity is the key here - cleaning your home occasionally won't be enough, but a regular cleaning schedule can keep pet dander under control.
Declutter Your Home
Declutter the home to reduce the surfaces, corners, and crevices on which pet dander can hide. Cleaning is also easier after decluttering. Consider a case where you have toys, unused shoes, and furniture all over the place. The items will not only collect pet dander, but also make it difficult for you to clean the floors or walls on which they rest.
Bathe and Brush Your Pet Regularly
Brush and bathe the animal to get rid of pet dander. The bathing allows you to direct the fur into suitable places, such as down the drain, so they don't end up in your house. The frequency of brushing and bathing depends on the furriness of the animal. For example, longhaired animals require daily brushing, while others can make do with weekly brushing.
Use a HEPA Filter
Your HVAC's filter traps debris so that it doesn't circulate in the house. Filter efficiency determines the size of particles that pass through. A High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter traps 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger - which you cannot even see with your naked eye. The filter will trap most of the pet dander so that the HVAC doesn't circulate them.
Change HVAC Filters Regularly
Dirty air filters are not as effective as clean filters. For one, dirty filters force the HVAC to run longer than usual to keep the house cool or warm. The more the HVAC has to run, the more it's likely to circulate debris (including pet dander) in the house.
Secondly, when debris clogs air filters, some of the debris eventually finds its way through the filter. Replace the filters regularly to prevent such eventualities. Replace the filter once every 60 days if you have one furry pet. A shorter replacement schedule may be necessary if you have multiple pets.
Use a Hard Flooring Material
Pet dander sticks more easily to soft surfaces than hard surfaces. In many homes, the carpet is the largest soft surface to which pet dander can stick. Thus, you can minimize pet dander in your home if you replace your carpet with a hard material. For example, you can use hardwood flooring or linoleum flooring instead of fluffy carpets.
Restrict the Pet From Certain Areas
Lastly, try to restrict your pet from parts of the house that are highly susceptible to dander accumulation or where the dander can cause serious problems. For example, if you have an asthmatic member of the household, you should keep pets away from their bedroom.
Unless you get rid of the animal, you will still have some pet dander in the house. Thus, the vulnerable persons may need immunotherapy to reduce their susceptibility to pet dander. Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Fort Worth has the resources you need to prevent your pets from making you sick. Contact us today for a consultation so that we can determine how to help you.
