Pets are some of the most wonderful creatures in the world. They can bring a smile to your face even in the worst times. Despite how cute and heartwarming these creatures can be, they can be dangerous to those who have allergies. If you have allergies or asthma, you need to take steps to ensure that you can be safe in your own home. Today we will take a look at what you can do to make your home safe for your pet allergies.
Wash Your Hands Regularly
One of the best things that you can do to keep your allergies at bay in your home is to wash your hands regularly. Our hands are constantly touching various things throughout our homes, and thus they are magnets for allergens. As soon as our hands touch our faces, it spreads the allergens to our faces. The more you wash them, the fewer allergens you have on your hands.
It is important to note that washing your hands will not completely eliminate your allergy problems. Still, it will help to significantly improve them.
Limit Their Access
The logical answer would be to not have pets in your home, but there are many reasons that you might want or need to have pets in your home. You can help your allergies to reduce contact with pets by keeping them out of your bedroom and other similar areas. This will help prevent pets from getting on areas that your face will be close to.
Keeping your pets off the couch is also part of this. You may want to spend time cuddling on the couch, but the allergens stick to the couch and are close to your face and hands.
Training will help keep pets out of certain areas of your home, and you should start to work on this as soon as possible. Even cats can understand some levels of training. If you are having trouble with training your pet, you can also get a pet gate to keep them out of areas of your home where you do not want them to be.
Clean Regularly
It can be annoying to have to clean all the time, but cleaning is essential to keeping your allergies at bay. Every day you should be putting in the effort to clean your home, with the minimum being vacuuming every day. Try to find cleaning supplies, like a vacuum, that are specifically designed to handle pets. This will help remove the most allergens from the surface and prevent them from spreading back into the air.
Something important to note is that pet allergens can spread even if the pet does not enter a room. Make sure you are cleaning all rooms, including the ones that are pet-free. To limit the spread of allergens to pet-free rooms, make sure that you keep the doors closed and limit the number of transported between rooms. Take off shoes and socks before entering the pet-free room.
Should you notice that your allergies start to act up during the cleaning, you should consider wearing a mask while cleaning. After you are done cleaning, make sure to wash your hands before touching your face. Some vacuums may kick up allergens if they don’t have a proper filter or full, thus resulting in the reaction you are noticing.
Get an Air Purifier
An air purifier can remove pesky allergens from the air, especially one with a high-quality filter. With advancements in technology, it isn’t hard to find affordable options for every part of the home. Make sure to read the air purifier’s specifications to find one that can purify the same square footage as the area you are placing it in.
Air purifiers have filters in them that need to be cleaned. Checking on these filters regularly will help to ensure that most allergens are removed from the area.
Most HVAC systems will already have a filter installed. If you already have an HVAC system and it has a filter, but you are experiencing allergies, it is time to check the filter. Make sure that the filter is clean and in a good state. It may also be that the HVAC filter is not significant enough to remove the allergens, and you can look at upgrading the filter.
Groom Your Pet Regularly
Regularly taking the time to groom your pet can reduce the number of allergens released into your home. One of the most effective parts of grooming includes bathing your pet regularly. Studies have shown that regular baths help reduce the number of allergens released by your pets. Regular brushing can also help to remove allergens before they spread around your home.
Bathing applies to more than just dogs. Cats can also be bathed, and while it may not be as effective as bathing a dog, it will help.
If you can, have a friend or family member perform the grooming to not take a toll on your allergies. Should you have to be the one to perform the grooming, wear a mask and glasses while you are doing the grooming. After the grooming, make sure to wash your hands and change clothes as you will likely have allergens all over you.
Clean Their Spaces
All pets have someplace in the home that they call their own personal space. For a dog, it might be a kennel or bed. Cats may have something similar. Hamsters and birds have their own cages. These personal spaces are great for your pets, but they are also a harbor of allergens. Clean them at least one time a week. Cleaning instructions vary greatly, even for beds. Make sure that you are following them.
With rodents and birds (and kitty litter), ensure that you are cleaning out pellets, bedding, and other material to ensure that they are fresh. Regular cleaning of bedding material will also help ensure that smells are non-existent or kept to a minimum.
Talk To A Doctor
Pet allergies are very frustrating, especially when pets are so cute. There are several medical solutions to pet allergies, with one of the most common being allergy medication. Allergy medications may completely relieve your allergies, but at the very least most people notice reduced allergy symptoms. Even with reduced symptoms, it can be much easier to live in your home.
Allergy therapy is another option that a doctor might be able to work with you. The process is long-term and involves shots, so not everyone likes it. Allergy shots are administered for usually no less than 3 years, and they work to help build your body’s immune system to your allergies. This process is also known as immunotherapy and may or may not be covered by your insurance.
For minor pet allergies, you may be able to use Benedryl or a similar allergy medication that you can buy at any grocery store. It is still a good idea to talk with a doctor, though, as you want to ensure that long-term use does not have any negative side effects.
Pets are a key part of life for many people. In fact, studies have shown that the death of a pet can have the same effect as the death of a close loved one. Just because pets are a key part of life doesn’t mean that they can’t cause problems. Allergies can be difficult to deal with, especially if you have a pet in the home. Take a look at each of these tips and start to combat your allergies now.
