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Pet Care Tips for Better Indoor Air Quality
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Pets enrich our lives in many ways, but your furry friend can actually have a negative effect on the quality of the air in your home. Here are five tips to reduce your pet’s impact on indoor air quality.
1. Bathe your pet regularly—even if they hate it!
Your pet’s hair acts like a magnet for allergens, especially if they spend time outside. Monthly baths help reduce shedding and cut down on dander, which would otherwise be redistributed throughout your home. Be sure to brush your pet daily with a de-shedding tool to help reduce the dust and allergens that cling to its coat between baths.
2. Keep pets off furniture.
Forty-five percent of pet owners allow their pets to sleep in bed with them*. As much as you might love to snuggle with your four-legged companion at night, inviting your pet into bed with you also invites allergen-filled fur and dander under the covers. Keep your bed off-limits to your pet, and use allergen-protective covers on your mattress and pillows. If pet-free furniture is out of the question, be sure to cover couches, chairs and beds with designated throw blankets that you wash frequently.
3. Wash bedding and toys often.
Keep your pet’s bed in a designated area of your home, and wash it weekly to minimize odors and eliminate bacteria and allergens picked up by your pet. Pet toys were found to be one of the top 10 germiest items in American households**, so wash hard toys with soap or in the top rack of the dishwasher, and toss soft toys in the washing machine along with the bedding.
4. Remember to change your filter.
The Filtrete™ Allergen Defense Air Filter traps microscopic particles from the air, including pet dander. Removing dander and other unwanted allergens from the air in your home can have a significant impact on your indoor air quality. For optimal performance, it’s recommended you change your filter at least every three months. If you have multiple pets, consider changing it more frequently.
5. Clean your carpets.
Allergens can get trapped in the carpet, so one of the best ways to keep pet hair and dander at bay is to vacuum carpeted floors a few times per week and have them dry steam cleaned annually. Carpet is a significant culprit of poor indoor air quality, so if it’s time for a remodel, consider tile, wood and linoleum floors, which can be wiped clean of allergens.
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