Royal air: 7 tips to protect your home from pet allergies

BY DIANE MCCORMICK

Kristen Zellner has seven pets, a pet store, and a lifelong allergy to animals.

“The bond you have with your animals makes it worth it,” says Zellner, owner of Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, Harrisburg.

For allergy sufferers who, like Zellner, can’t imagine life without Ziggy or Luna, these changes to your home can improve indoor air quality, and your family’s quality of life.

Get to know pet allergies

Constantly congested? Maybe you’re allergic to your beloved pet. “Kids go to college and feel better,” says Penn State Health allergist Dr. Timothy Craig. “Then they come home with their laundry, and their symptoms flare. That’s how they realize it’s the dog or cat.”

Proteins from pet’s dead skin cells stick to furniture, walls, counters, and bedding. Those proteins irritate airways and eyes, and they travel by sticking to your skin and clothing.

You need a bigger washing machine

You spend up to one third of the day in the bedroom, breathing in all those airborne and surface allergens. Encase the pillows, mattress, and box spring in allergy covers. Wash them weekly, plus the blankets and bedspread. For bulky bedspreads, consider allergy-proof duvet covers that match the décor.

Those allergens lurk in saliva, too, so throw pet toys in the laundry or dishwasher. Zellner also regularly washes the pet bedding and towels.

Harden your house

Replace carpeted floors with hardwood, vinyl, or tile. If that’s not possible, clean carpets regularly, and dry steam clean annually. If you prefer a covered floor, discover the convenience and style of washable rugs. Also, hang blinds or lightweight, washable window treatments. Choose easy-clean leather, wood, metal, or plastic furniture, and encase upholstered pieces in washable slipcovers. Declutter by clearing out knickknacks. Give furniture arrangements lots of space for thorough cleaning.

Off the couch

Create pet-free zones by limiting pets to spaces with hardened or easy-clean surfaces and furniture. It’s not easy, but try training or an indoor boundary system. Even if it breaks your heart, don’t let them share the bed. Some experts advise regular brushing or bathing pets every week, but be careful of overbathing that can dry out their skin. Sprays that claim to denature allergy-causing proteins aren’t backed by convincing data, notes Craig.

Hungry, hungry HEPA

Run a HEPA-filter vacuum weekly, and clean countertops, floors, walls, and windows regularly. Don’t give cleaning chores to the family’s allergyprone members. “I give women certificates saying that because of their allergies, their husband has to do all the cleaning,” jokes Craig. If the allergic one must do the cleaning, wear a high-quality mask. And from Zellner, keep that mask handy for cleaning the litter box, and use a low-dust kitty litter.

Clear the air

HEPA-equipped air purifiers can extract pet allergens from the air, but invest wisely, says Jack Soost of Jack Soost Associates (indoor air purification services), Lancaster. Room air purifiers can help, especially in the bedroom, but consider investing in a whole-house air purifier, and avoid purifiers that create lung-damaging ozone. Soost’s Photox units come with a reassuring two-week free trial. Zellner’s Alen air purifiers at her pet store and home “work like a charm.”

Breathe easy

Even when you don’t need heating or cooling, keep air circulating by running the fan 24/7, says Soost. Install air duct filters, and replace them regularly according to manufacturer’s instructions. If filters for air ducts and furnaces are MERV-rated instead of HEPA, go for MERV 11 or higher to be sure you’re trapping pet allergens.

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