Allergies and Pets: Tips for House Cleaning

Statistics show that over 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies of some sort.  Add to this information is the fact that there are over 100 million dogs and cats in households across the country.

So, what does this tell us?  The potential for an allergy sufferer living in a home with pets that may be contributing to their allergies is a significant number.  Does someone in your family suffer from pet-related allergies?  Do you know the best ways to remove allergens from your home?  Let’s look at a few house cleaning hints and tips that could make your life so much more pleasant.

Many people erroneously believe that the allergic reactions they have to their pets are due to the “hair” or fur their pet wears.  The truth of the matter is that it is not the hair but the dander and saliva that produces allergens in the air, on their body, and on contact with you.  Dander is caused by dry skin and normal skin shedding (skin cells die and flake off).  The saliva from your pets’ mouth when they wash or groom themselves just adds insult to injury here.  Shaving the coat off your dog or cat is not going to alleviate the allergy issues.  Keeping them washed, brushed, and clean will go a long way to help.

Here are some tips to lowering the level of pet allergies in your home.

• First, keep your dog or cat clean and brushed.  The brushing loosens and removes the dander.  Bathing with either a hypoallergenic product or one of the allergy relieving pet shampoos on a regular basis can help keep the saliva allergens off the coat, and the dander under control.  You may need to have the pet washed weekly initially, if you have developed a significant reaction.  Do not bathe or groom the pet yourself if you are the allergy sufferer.  Have another family member do this to limit your exposure to contact allergens and air-borne particles.   You could consider having your groomer do weekly baths for you.  Remind them to use specific product and not any colognes or scented shampoos.

• Keep your pets out of your bedroom.  Period.  There’s really just no alternative to this one.  You spend one-third of your day in this one room.  Keep it allergy free to the best of your ability.  This would include removing rugs and having hardwood floors to keep the dust and dander out of the floors.  Wash your bedding regularly, replace your pillows often, and vacuum several times a week.  People have also found using air purifiers to be of great assistance.

• Cleaning the rest of your house should include vacuuming several times a week using a double-bag vacuum or a unit that uses HEPA filters, for the best air quality possible.  The Maids cleaning service in Boston offers allergy-free cleaning and can save you so much time.  Consider using a maid service to help you keep up with necessary cleaning that has to be done to preserve your health.

• Keep floors clean and cleared off, remove carpeting if at all possible, and  washor vacuum drapery and other window treatments regularly.  Keep your furniture vacuumed and all dust removed each time you clean.  In addition to pet dander, dust mites are happily making their home in your furniture, carpets, bedding and pillows.