Pets definitely know how to add their fair share of bad smells, dirt, grime, and dander to your household. Pets are also especially vulnerable to fragrances and residences from cleaning supplies, much like small children. And while animals are great at avoiding danger in the wild, they’re less talented at avoiding dangerous chemicals or substances found around the home and may hurt themselves out of simple curiosity. If you have pets, it’s important to clean as thoroughly as if you have babies and toddlers.
Groom Pets Frequently – Outside Pets track in grime with their paws and shed fur around your home, but they also regularly release dander. These tiny particles of skin and protein scatter about your home as your pet shakes, rolls, cleans themselves, scratches, and more. When humans inhale pet dander, the immune system often mistakes it for a pathogen, and it can trigger respiratory allergy symptoms. Pet dander also frequently sticks to your home’s surfaces, and it can travel around the house on your bags, clothing, blankets, and other items. Brush your pets regularly, outdoors if possible, to limit the amount of shed hair and dander that accumulates in your home. Avoid bathing your pet too much, as it can dry out your pet’s skin and make their dander issues worse.
Clean More Frequently – If you live in a house with only humans, you may be able to get by with dusting and vacuuming about once a week. However, if you have pets, you may need to dramatically increase the frequency that you clean, especially during the late fall and early spring, when they shed the most. If you have allergy sufferers in your family, think about adding an allergen denaturing agent to neutralize the proteins in your pets’ dander. These agents can be acidic, however, so be sure to pay careful attention to the directions and check for colorfastness before you use them on your soft furnishings. Even if you don’t have any allergy sufferers in your home, it’s important to clean frequently and not allow dander to build up, as contamination can affect your overall home values.
Professionals can get all your pet dander out, so don’t hesitate to call one today!
