You love your pets, but you probably also love having clean air in your home. You can be in a quandary about how the pet dander and hair of dogs, cats, and rodents, or the dander and feathers of pet birds, affect the air you breathe, particularly if someone in your house is allergic to these substances. Here are some tips on pets and air quality that can help humans, pets, and clean air coexist in your home.
Pets and Air Quality Indoors
Some tried-and-true tips for improving air quality while you have indoor pets:
- Use a quality air filter. Air filters are rated according to the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) scale. The higher the rating, the denser the filter and the more pollutants it will trap. For a typical residence, a filter rated MERV 8-12 is probably best. Any higher and it might impede airflow. Dense, quilted filters are an important tactic for removing airborne pollutants such as pet dander from your home’s air.
- Brush your pets regularly. Take a brush to your cats and dogs, removing hair and loosening dander. Do it outside. Bathe your cats and dogs at least once a week with a shampoo that is pH balanced for pets. It’s crucial to rinse the shampoo thoroughly from the pet, especially a cat. Three thorough rinses is not too much. Also, keep bird and rodent cages clean to help the relationship between pets and air quality.
- Vacuum the home with a HEPA filter. Use a dense HEPA filter in your vacuum. Vacuum carpets, rugs, and even bare floors. Vacuuming will give better results than sweeping, as sweeping just propels particles such as hair and pet dander into the air. Vacuum upholstered furniture as well.
- Use an air purifier. Try using an air purifier with HEPA filtration. There are many different kinds, so ask your HVAC consultant which is best for your home. A portable model will work fine, but it has to be moved from room to room.
For more on pets and air quality, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company of Yuma.
