Pets

LIVING WITH PETS

There are more people in America with a pet(s) than children. Pets can bring joy to a household and in fact, studies have shown having a pet to love can reduce your blood pressure; however pets aren't always the best roommate.

Healthy Home Living with Pets

Here are 5 easy ways to make your home healthier when living with pets:

  1. Keep Bedding Clean — Your pet's bed, blanket or pillow will need to be washed regularly in hot water to remove dander, dirt, odor and dust mites. If your pet sleeps with you on your bed, be sure to wash the bed linens at least once a week. This will keep your home and pet's sleeping quarters fresh wherever they spend their 22 hours out of the day sleeping.
  2. Mop & Dust — Shorthaired or long your pet's hair, dander, and fur will settle on the tables, floors and other furniture. By using a damp mop to clean your floors, and a damp dust cloth to clean your hard furniture surfaces you reduce the pollutants that build-up causing household odors and dust bunnies, which can lead to the onset of allergies or even asthma.
  3. Vacuum As Needed — Vacuuming once a week is good as a general rule, although if you own a pet that sheds, vacuuming several times a week or more is recommended. When you vacuum using a HEPA filter you will obtain more effective removal of dust, dirt and dander that have fallen into your carpets. By failing to vacuum you could be jeopardizing your homes indoor air quality by having the particles go airborne. Poor indoor air quality will eventually affect you and your family's respiratory health.
  4. Steam Clean Carpets — Even with regular vacuuming, if you own carpet, hair, oils and odors will accumulate. A few times a year have your carpets steam cleaned. You can time the cleaning around holidays or special occasions to get the most bang for your buck. In the past, hiring a professional or renting a cumbersome machine was the only solution. Recently, vacuum manufacturers have brought more affordable steam cleaning options to the marketplace. See if one suits your needs, but whether you intend to hire a professional, use your own machine, or rent a machine, make sure the cleaning agent is pet safe and environmentally friendly.
  5. Use an Air Purifier — For continued control of odors and airborne dander, hair, fur, feathers use a HEPA air purifier. Look for the HEPA models that do not produce ozone. The air purifier will not only alleviate pet issues but reduce other household hazards such as aerosol sprays, candles, cosmetics and cleaning supplies and that can lead to poor air quality.