How To Reduce Pet Hair and Dander in Your Home 

How To Reduce Pet Hair and Dander in Your Home  – About 70 million U.S. households own a pet. Dogs are the most common pets owned globally, with 33 percent of households owning dogs, followed by cats at 23 percent. Our furry friends are family members, and we love them dearly. As for the pet hair, not so much. They also bring pet smells, flying fluff, dander, litter box bacteria, and allergens into our homes. Pet hair and dander can be a real problem, especially for people with allergies. In the U.S., as many as 30% of people have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. 

According to AAFA (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), you’re not allergic to the pet’s hair, fur, or feathers when you have a pet allergy. Instead, you’re allergic to the protein in the pet’s dander (dead skin cells), saliva, and urine in the hair, fur, or feathers that collect the dander. It carries other allergens like dust mites, mold, and pollen. When those proteins enter your airways, eyes, nose, mouth, or skin, it triggers allergy symptoms.

The most effective ways to keep pet hair and dander to a minimum, and allergies under control, are regular house cleaning and pet grooming, using high-quality HVAC filters and replacing them every couple of months (or sooner if excessively dirty), investing in a quality air purifier, and cleaning your air ducts.

Regularly Cleaning Your Home

Regular house cleaning can significantly reduce the amount of pet hair and dander in your home.  

• Wash your bedding once a week
• Vacuum any non-washable items like the comforter
• Steam clean and vacuum curtains
• Sweep and mop all hard surfaces at least once a week
• Vacuum carpets and rugs daily; a vacuum with a HEPA filter is especially effective

You can make cleaning up after your dog or cat a whole lot easier by investing in the best vacuum for pet hair you can afford. Engineered with features to capture hair, dust, dirt, crumbs, dander, and more, these vacuums are a must-have for pet owners. Many of these vacuums also have specialist brushes for banishing dirt and hair.   

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You also want a vacuum that includes a HEPA filter, which will prevent dust and contaminants from being exhausted back into the household. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. A HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter; it works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke. The American Academy of Asthma Allergy & Immunology recommends vacuuming and washing area rugs and floor mats weekly. You might even consider vacuuming more frequently, depending on how much your pet sheds.  

Removing Pet Hair from Floors, Capet, and Furniture

You can remove pet hair in your home by following these tips:

• Removing pet hair on hard flooring:  Vacuuming won’t do much good for pet hair on hard floors, as it tends to blow it around instead of picking it up. Instead, try using an electrostatic or microfiber dry mop to trap and remove hair, dust, and particles.
• Removing pet hair from carpets:  Scrape a pumice stone or a tool used for de-shedding your pet—across the top. The pet hair should gather, making for easy vacuuming or pickup. 
• Removing pet hair from furniture: Keep pet blankets on couches and chairs to prevent pet hair from sticking. For removing pet hair on furniture, don a slightly damp rubber glove and run your hand over the couch, bed, chair, or whatever fabric-covered surface your pet calls home. The pet hair should lift right off. 
• Throw pet hair-covered items in the dryer: Try putting items like blankets and pillowcases in the dryer with a dryer ball or dryer sheet for ten minutes before they go in the wash.  The dry sheet/ball action with the hot air will loosen the hair, ending up in the lint trap ready to be neatly disposed of.  

Regularly Grooming Your Pet(s) 

Regular pet grooming will help reduce the amount of pet hair and dander lurking in your home. Owning a pet comes with responsibilities, like grooming. When you can smell your pets from across the room, chances are they’re spreading more than just odor. Without regular washing and brushing, dander can build up in their fur and easily spread wherever they wander.

According to a study, washing dogs twice a week reduces the amount of dander and other allergens in their fur. If that much washing is unrealistic for your pet, you can also use a brush to remove excess hair before it ends up on your floors and furniture. You’ll want to be extra diligent with washing and brushing if your dog spends a fair amount of time exploring the outdoors.

Adding a High-Quality Air Purifier 

You can sweep, dust, and mop all you want, but once you’re done sneezing, make peace with the fact that you may want to consider investing in a high-quality air purifier. It’s a sophisticated machine that sanitizes the air by trapping particles and microns, like viruses or bacteria, and neutralizes them. 

Pet allergens can collect on furniture and other surfaces. The allergens may cling to walls, fabric furniture, and clothing. They can stick to carpets, pillows, and other surfaces. Allergens can get stirred into the air again during dusting, vacuuming, or other household activities. Once airborne, the particles can stay in the air for long periods.

Whether or not you need an air purifier really depends on three things:

1). How much clean airflow do you achieve daily?  Do you live in a sealed space most of the day due to extreme temperatures or weather, or can you leave doors and windows open for an hour or two throughout the year?

2). How much dust, dander, odors, and airborne particles are in your home? The more you have to dust and clean up pet hair, the smellier your house is, or the more sensitive your allergies, the more need for an air purifier.

3). How often your HVAC air filter needs replacing? If you need to change a dirty air filter before the normal three month-mark, an air purifier can help keep your air clean in conjunction with your HVAC system. The problem is that many homeowners use cheap, flimsy HVAC filters that cost a few bucks and do little to filter the air effectively. 

Getting Your Air Ducts Professionally Cleaned 

Pet owners should have their air ducts cleaned more frequently. Ductwork can circulate contaminants like dust, debris, dander, pollen, bacteria, and musty odors. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends cleaning your air ducts every 3 to 5 years. However, if you have pets, it’s recommended that you clean them every 2 years. A professional technician will use a powerful vacuum to eliminate contaminants, providing cleaner, healthier, free-flowing air for you and your family to breathe.

Hire a Professional Cleaning Service 

Regular house cleaning and pet grooming, investing in high-quality air filters and replacing them often, and adding an air purifier can substantially reduce the amount of dust, dirt, mold, particulate matter, pet hair, and dander in your home.

When you need professional house cleaning, call Clean Nation Company. Our cleaning experts will give your home the deep cleaning it deserves. We also provide weekly and bi-monthly cleaning services to help you keep your home healthy, fresh, and clean. Our cleaning pros are friendly, detailed oriented, background-checked, and insured, and we 100% guarantee your satisfaction with our work!