How Pet Dander Can Affect Your In-Home Air Quality

Pet dander consists of tiny fragments of skin cells shed by dogs, cats, and other furry or feathered animals. Owing to their microscopic size, these particles can bring out the most dreadful allergic reactions. This makes it very difficult to reduce these allergens from the home. When our beloved pals groom themselves or shed fur, they release dander that latches onto items with adhesive properties. These include upholstered couches, carpets, curtains, and bedding. This residue can persist for a long time, even after your pet has left a particular area in the house.

However, pet dander is more than just skin cells; it also contains proteins from the saliva, urine, and fecal matter of your pet. These are the proteins behind triggering allergic reactions, which is especially annoying to those who are sensitive. These allergens get trapped in the fur of the animal, so when the fur sheds, it can trigger an allergic reaction. There is a broad range of symptoms, from mild sneezing to extreme breakouts of hives on the skin.

Everyday activities, such as walking in the space where the dander has settled, can cause it to take flight. Once released into the air, these particles can catch the path of a breeze and spread throughout the home. Eventually, if not already inhaled, they will settle on commonly used surfaces such as kitchen counters and desks. Even in homes without pets, pet dander can attach to clothing or come in through an open window. While it's impossible to completely eliminate pet dander, the key lies in effectively managing and controlling its spread within your home.

The presence of pet dander significantly influences the indoor air quality of your home. These unpleasant allergens can remain suspended in the air for months if left uncleaned. Over time, they may negatively affect your body and contribute to health problems. Let’s take a closer look at some of these undesired conditions:

Mild internal allergies: Pet dander's most common health concern is its potential to trigger annoying internal allergies that mimic hay fever symptoms. These include sneezing, stuffy noses, itchy eyes, and occasional headaches.

Severe internal allergies: In more serious cases, prolonged exposure to pet dander can lead to asthma attacks, wheezing, chronic sinusitis, and swelling around the face. Hospitalization for intensive care may be required in these circumstances.

Skin allergies: Another common issue is external skin allergic reactions. When pet dander is in direct contact with sensitive skin, it can cause inflammation known as dermatitis. The main symptoms of allergic dermatitis are raised red rashes, eczema, and severe itching. This can lead to blistering and flaky skin, which can be painful and irritating.

Physical fatigue: If your immune system is compromised by dander particles, you may start to feel physical fatigue or lightheaded. Your body's ongoing battle against allergens requires a significant amount of energy, leaving less available for daily activities and leading to a sense of physical drain.

Fatigue from medications: Antihistamines, the most common medication used to treat allergies, are known to cause drowsiness as a side effect. Although they effectively alleviate allergy symptoms, they generally result in people feeling lethargic, intensifying sensations of fatigue.

Mental fatigue: Managing pet dander allergies can also be mentally exhausting, especially if they disrupt sleeping patterns. The constant fear of allergy triggers and the need to monitor your home environment can lead to increased anxiety.

Emotional effects: Living with pet dander allergies can also take a toll on our emotions. The disappointment of not enjoying moments with your pets can lead to feelings of frustration. This emotional weight can add to your physical and mental tiredness, making it even more challenging to find relief from allergy symptoms.

Hay-fever-like symptoms: You may experience symptoms like hay fever. This includes a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and shortness of breath.

Living with pet allergies can be challenging, but there are ways to minimize exposure and establish a lifestyle that works for you and your furry friend. Here are some ways to reduce pet dander in your home:

Clean Regularly

Frequent cleaning is crucial for controlling indoor dust and dander build-up in your home. Make sure to vacuum your carpets, rugs, and upholstery to remove dander particles that have settled on these surfaces. Use a vacuum cleaner with a electrostatically charged hvac air filter to capture the smallest bits of dander and prevent them from recirculating back into the air.

Wiping surfaces with a damp cloth will also effectively remove dander. Pay special attention to spots where your pet hangs out often, like grooming areas. Regularly washing your pet's toys and bedding can also reduce allergens from your home.

Also, remember to wash your pets’ bedding, stuffed toys, and blankets at least once a week. Additionally, make sure to wash your own bedding frequently, especially if your furry buddy sleeps on your bed. Use hot water and hypoallergenic soap to effectively eliminate and kill pet dander that may be trapped in your linen.

Declutter Your Home

Clutter can harbor pet dander and make it harder to effectively clean. Limiting the things that gather dust on surfaces like countertops, shelves, and tables can be helpful when you need to get rid of pet dander allergies. Store your belongings, such as dirty laundry, extra towels, and shoes in cabinets to prevent dander from settling.

You might also want to think about swapping out carpets for flooring like hardwood, vinyl, or tile. These options are easier to clean and don’t hold onto allergens as much as carpets do. If removing a carpet is not an alternative, regular steam cleaning could get rid of embedded dander and other allergens.

Use Highly-Rated MERV Filters

Invest in a high-quality air filter to significantly reduce the presence of dander and other allergens in your home. Seek out air filters with a MERV rating of 11 or above, which are engineered to capture finer particles such as pet dander. These should be installed in your HVAC system to prevent dander from being circulated in your home.

Check and replace air filters as advised by the manufacturer. If you have multiple furry companions in your home, you might need to change them frequently. Regular replacements help the filters perform at their optimum and keep the air quality in check. Additionally, ensure that your home’s air ducts and vents are securely sealed. Leaky ducts can spread allergens and degrade the effectiveness of your filtration system.

Creating Pet-Free Zones in Your Home

To create a healthier living space, think about selecting areas of your home that you’d want to keep free from allergens. The bedroom is a good example, as this will allow you to get a good night's sleep without any allergy disruptions. You roughly spend eight hours in this room for rest and it’s important it doesn’t get sabotaged by pet allergies. Another area you might want to consider making a pet-free zone is your home office, which will enable you to optimize your productivity without the sniffles.

Establish clear boundaries to prevent your pet from entering any designated pet-free zone. This can be done by closing the door or using baby gates. It is important to make your furry companions’ permitted area as comfortable as possible, so they wouldn’t find the need to intrude into the pet-free zones. Consistently reinforcing these boundaries is essential so your pets understand where they are not allowed. It’s also beneficial to train them from a young age to respect these boundaries.

You can also implement a “no-shoe” policy in high trafficked areas of your home. Shoes are big sponges for catching pet dander and other allergens from outside. Implementing a zero or low tolerance for walking indoors with shoes on will help reduce the amount of dander carried into these areas. Encourage relatives and guests to leave their shoes at the door or a designated hallway area.

Reduce Pet Dander with Kleenex Air Filters

The Kleenex Advanced Allergen Air Filter works to help capture pet dander. With a MERV 11 rating, this filter captures particles as small as 0.3 microns that works to trap microscopic dander as well as capture lint, household dust, dust mite debris, pollen, pet dander, and smog.

From furry to filtered – your home deserves clean air! You shouldn’t have to compromise the companionship of your pet because of allergies. Get Kleenex Advanced Allergen Air Filter at your local retailer to experience the difference.