How can you improve indoor air quality in a home with pets?

If you love your furry friends, you may not love the effects they have on your indoor air quality. Pets can shed hair, dander, saliva, and urine, which can trigger allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. They can also bring in dust, pollen, and bacteria from outside, which can worsen the air quality in your home. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to improve your indoor air quality and breathe easier with your pets.

1 Keep your pets groomed

One of the best ways to reduce the amount of pet allergens in your home is to keep your pets clean and well-groomed. Regular brushing and bathing can remove loose hair, dander, and dirt from your pet's coat, which can otherwise end up in your carpets, furniture, and air. You can also trim your pet's nails to prevent them from scratching and damaging your floors and walls. Make sure to use pet-friendly shampoos and conditioners, and dry your pet thoroughly after washing.

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Guilherme Damasceno

Gestor ambiental | Analista Ambiental | Monitoramento Ambiental | Especialista Sustentabilidade |Gerenciamento de Resíduos | Auditora Interna ISO | SGA
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Melhorar a qualidade do ar em casas com animais de estimação é crucial para o bem-estar de todos. Comece por manter uma boa ventilação, abrindo janelas regularmente. Além disso, escolha materiais de revestimento que minimizem o acúmulo de pelos e poeira. Aspire e limpe regularmente, usando filtros de alta eficiência no sistema de ar condicionado. Lave as camas e brinquedos dos animais com frequência. Considere também purificadores de ar, especialmente os com filtros HEPA, para remover partículas finas. Ao adotar essas práticas, você contribui para um ambiente mais saudável e confortável para todos na casa.

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2 Vacuum and dust frequently

Another important step to improve your indoor air quality is to vacuum and dust your home frequently, especially in areas where your pets spend a lot of time. Vacuuming can remove pet hair, dander, and other debris from your floors, rugs, and upholstery, while dusting can wipe away dust and allergens from your surfaces and furniture. You should use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, which can capture up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. You should also change or clean your vacuum filter regularly to prevent clogging and reduce emissions.

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Pierrine Miclo Rayssiguier

Cofondatrice EcoFrenchLab: Le Marketing olfactif au cœur des stratégies de marque🌿Expérience client enrichie🌿Marketing sensoriel adapté aux hôtels, magasins, bureaux, professionnels de santé🌿Luxe et responsabilité
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Utiliser un aspirateur presque quotidiennement est le quotidien des amoureux des animaux. Mais pour lutter contre les mauvaises odeurs, c’est parfois insuffisant. Une astuce est de parfumer les sacs d’aspirateur avec quelques gouttes d’huiles essentielles afin de lutter efficacement contre les mauvaises odeurs.

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3 Change your air filters

Your HVAC system can also help you improve your indoor air quality by filtering and circulating the air in your home. However, if you have pets, your air filters can get dirty and clogged faster than usual, which can reduce their efficiency and increase your energy costs. You should check your air filters every month and change them every three to six months, depending on the type and quality of the filter and the number and size of your pets. You should also look for air filters with a high MERV rating, which indicates their ability to trap small particles.

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Guilherme Damasceno

Gestor ambiental | Analista Ambiental | Monitoramento Ambiental | Especialista Sustentabilidade |Gerenciamento de Resíduos | Auditora Interna ISO | SGA
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Melhorar a qualidade do ar em casas com animais de estimação é crucial para o bem-estar de todos. Comece por manter uma boa ventilação, abrindo janelas regularmente. Além disso, escolha materiais de revestimento que minimizem o acúmulo de pelos e poeira. Aspire e limpe regularmente, usando filtros de alta eficiência no sistema de ar condicionado. Lave as camas e brinquedos dos animais com frequência. Considere também purificadores de ar, especialmente os com filtros HEPA, para remover partículas finas. Ao adotar essas práticas, você contribui para um ambiente mais saudável e confortável para todos na casa.

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4 Use an air purifier

Another option to improve your indoor air quality is to use an air purifier in your home. An air purifier is a device that uses a fan and a filter to remove contaminants from the air. There are different types of air purifiers, such as mechanical, electronic, or hybrid, and they can vary in size, capacity, and features. You should choose an air purifier that suits your needs and budget, and that has a CADR rating, which measures its clean air delivery rate. You should also place your air purifier in a strategic location, such as near your pet's sleeping area or where you spend most of your time.

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Joey Zhang

PhD, EIT, LEED GA | Water Engineer @ Micron Technology
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I'm allergic to cats but I have 2 cats living with me every day. I can assure you that an air purifier could totally change your life if you are in the same situation as me. I have the air purifier run 24/7 in auto mode and once or twice a week I will turn it to the max power for 1 hour to do a thorough cleaning. Remember the hair is never the cause of your allergy, the dander is. And it can attach to hair, dust or just airborne, and you cannot really see it.

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Pierrine Miclo Rayssiguier

Cofondatrice EcoFrenchLab: Le Marketing olfactif au cœur des stratégies de marque🌿Expérience client enrichie🌿Marketing sensoriel adapté aux hôtels, magasins, bureaux, professionnels de santé🌿Luxe et responsabilité
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On adore nos animaux à quatre pattes mais parfois ils amènent avec eux des odeurs déplaisantes. Afin de préserver votre habitat, n’hésitez pas à purifier les espaces avec des appareils de diffusion. Vous pouvez optez pour un spray d’ambiance pour rafraîchir l’ambiance olfactive en un geste rapide. Et bien sûr aérer autant que possible.

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5 Control the humidity

Another factor that can affect your indoor air quality is the humidity level in your home. Too much or too little humidity can create problems for you and your pets, such as mold growth, dry skin, or respiratory infections. You should aim for a humidity level between 30% and 50%, which can provide comfort and prevent health issues. You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home, and a humidifier or a dehumidifier to adjust it accordingly. You should also avoid using humidifiers that produce mist, as they can increase the risk of bacterial or fungal growth.

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Guilherme Damasceno

Gestor ambiental | Analista Ambiental | Monitoramento Ambiental | Especialista Sustentabilidade |Gerenciamento de Resíduos | Auditora Interna ISO | SGA
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Manter a umidade adequada é vital para a qualidade do ar em lares com animais de estimação. O nível ideal está entre 30% e 50%, evitando problemas como mofo, pele ressecada e complicações respiratórias. Use um higrômetro para monitorar e ajuste com um umidificador ou desumidificador, evitando modelos que liberam névoa para prevenir o crescimento de bactérias e fungos. Manter a umidade na faixa correta cria um ambiente saudável e confortável para todos na casa.

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6 Limit your pet's access

Finally, you can improve your indoor air quality by limiting your pet's access to certain areas of your home, such as your bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom. This can help you reduce the exposure to pet allergens and odors, and keep your personal space clean and fresh. You can use gates, doors, or crates to restrict your pet's movement, and provide them with their own bed, toys, and bowls in a designated area. You should also wash your pet's belongings regularly, and avoid sharing your bed, couch, or pillows with your pet.

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Pierrine Miclo Rayssiguier

Cofondatrice EcoFrenchLab: Le Marketing olfactif au cœur des stratégies de marque🌿Expérience client enrichie🌿Marketing sensoriel adapté aux hôtels, magasins, bureaux, professionnels de santé🌿Luxe et responsabilité
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Même si on adore son animal, il est évident que certaines pièces doivent lui être interdites pour des raisons évidentes d’hygiène. Au delà des odeurs parfois déplaisantes liées à la pluie, la boue, la poussière, il est important de délimiter les lieux de vie de chacun dans la maison.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Pierrine Miclo Rayssiguier

Cofondatrice EcoFrenchLab: Le Marketing olfactif au cœur des stratégies de marque🌿Expérience client enrichie🌿Marketing sensoriel adapté aux hôtels, magasins, bureaux, professionnels de santé🌿Luxe et responsabilité
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Une astuce complémentaire est de nettoyer tous les accessoires de son chien. Il va de soi que les affaires et accessoires de votre chien prennent son odeur. Il est donc important de les nettoyer avec soin de façon régulière. Chaque jour, lavez soigneusement ses gamelles avec du liquide vaisselle et du vinaigre blanc. Une fois par semaine au moins, lavez ses jouets, ses coussins, ses couvertures ou autre avec du vinaigre blanc dilué dans de l’eau pour désinfecter les objets et éliminer les odeurs. N’oubliez pas de soigneusement rincer à l’eau claire.

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How can you improve indoor air quality in a home with pets?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Keep your pets groomed

2 Vacuum and dust frequently

3 Change your air filters

4 Use an air purifier

5 Control the humidity

6 Limit your pet's access

7 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Engineering

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How can you improve indoor air quality in a home with pets?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Keep your pets groomed

2 Vacuum and dust frequently

3 Change your air filters

4 Use an air purifier

5 Control the humidity

6 Limit your pet's access

7 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Engineering

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