Pets are fun companions for kids and adults, but many people are allergic to pet hair and pet dander — bits of skin that cats, dogs, rodents, and other animals shed along with their hair. It can cause sneezing, watery eyes, skin rashes, trouble breathing, and other symptoms.
Pet hair and dander clings to clothing, furniture, and carpeting, making your home less comfortable and attractive. You can reduce pet hair in your Severna Park, Maryland, home by cleaning often, having your ductwork cleaned by an expert, grooming your pet, and maintaining your HVAC system.
Clean Often
Cleaning your home often will keep pet hair and other allergens like dust, dirt, mold, and pollen from accumulating. You should vacuum your floors every day, dust with a damp cloth twice per week, and have your carpets steam cleaned every few months. When you clean, use a dust mask to protect yourself from pet dander and remember to clean your HVAC system’s air registers. To make vacuuming faster and easier, buy an automatic or robotic vacuum cleaner.
Also, you should wash your hands when you touch your pet, keep your furry friend out of your bedroom, and wash blankets and pet toys often. Buy your pet its own bed and keep it away from your furniture. To make sure your furniture stays spotless, use washable slipcovers or even old sheets. When guests visit, you can just put your slipcovers in your washing machine. Decorative throws can also help protect your furniture.
Groom Your Pet
Grooming your pet is much easier than getting rid of big piles of fur on your floors and furniture. It also keeps cats from coughing up hairballs. You should brush your cat or dog every day. Go to your garage or your yard for grooming so that no fur ends up in your home. If your pet doesn’t like brushing, try switching brushes. You can also give your pet a treat after every brushing to help them get used to it.
You should bathe cats and dogs once per week or take them to a professional groomer. Even cats can become accustomed to a regular bath, and bathing removes pollen, mold, and other allergens as well as hair and pet dander. Even if your pet is a hairless breed, you should wash it often to remove pet dander. Between washing and brushing, dress your cat or dog in a cute sweater to keep them from shedding.
Have Your Ductwork Cleaned
If you’ve had pets for a while, you should have your ductwork cleaned by a professional to improve your HVAC system’s airflow, save energy, and keep pet hair, dander, and other pollutants from spreading through your home. The contaminants can accumulate gradually on the walls of your air ducts. Eventually, more pet hair could come from your ductwork than from your pets!
You can make sure your ductwork is clean by removing an air register and checking for pet hair, cobwebs, dirt, mold, pest droppings, and other pollutants. If you see any of these problems or if you haven’t had your ductwork cleaned in more than five years, contact a professional to inspect your ducts and clean them if necessary.
Maintain Your HVAC System
Change your HVAC system’s air filter once per month to save energy and keep your indoor air quality high. If you have allergies, wear a mask and gloves when you change your filter and throw it away in a sealed plastic bag for extra protection.
You should also have your system inspected by a professional at least once per year to extend your heater and air conditioner’s life and prevent inconvenient, uncomfortable breakdowns. You can add an air purifier to your home to remove even more pet hair and pet dander. Just remember to change its air filter once per month when you change your HVAC system’s air filter.
Coastal Heating & Air Conditioning has more than 40 years of heating and air conditioning experience, and we can help you install, maintain, and repair a variety of HVAC equipment. Call us anytime at 410-919-0110 for excellent service and more tips for controlling pet hair.
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