They say that being a pet owner can help improve your quality of life.
For one, your fur babies provide companionship. Second, they give you a sense of comfort.
No wonder it is believed that having pets is good for the health.
On the other hand, pets can compromise indoor air quality. And we all know what can happen when we are constantly exposed to poor indoor air quality.
As such, we have listed six actionable tips on how pet owners can improve indoor air quality.
Keep Your House Clean
Maintaining home cleanliness is one of the simplest ways to improve indoor air quality, especially as a pet owner. To do that, here are some home cleaning tips to keep in mind:
- Use a lint roller to a handheld vacuum
- Keep a towel and shallow container by the door
- Keep your pet's toys and collar clean
- Deodorize your carpet with vinegar
- Clean your pet's bed using baking soda
- Scoop and clean the litter box often
Here's the thing: It can be tricky to have a clean home when you have pets. Nonetheless, there are quick and actionable tips that you can do to ensure that your house will not turn into a fur kingdom.
Practice Proper Pet Grooming
As a fur parent, it is imperative that practice proper pet grooming. Mind you; regular fur brushing can help minimize fur shedding. And minimal shedding means fewer particulates in the air.
But more than that, cats and dogs can develop mats and skin problems if not groomed regularly. It is like having an itchy scalp and dandruff when you forgot to wash your hair for a day.
Another thing you should do is to trim your pet's nails regularly. For one, it is uncomfortable for pets to have long nails. And when your dogs are uncomfortable, it can be challenging to groom them.
Nonetheless, you should be patient when grooming your pet. Your fur babies can sense your stress, which can set them off when you want to wash them. Hence, stay calm and relaxed while bathing and grooming your pet.
Use UV Lights
To improve your home's indoor air quality, we suggest using UV lights.
You may groom your pets regularly, but they can still carry a multitude of germs. A quick play in the yard is enough for them to pick up microorganisms. These microorganisms can be transmitted on the surface and through the air as soon as your fur baby is back inside.
A UV light can help eliminate these particulates, ensuring that your indoor air quality is not compromised.
If you have an HVAC system at home, inquire whether the manufacturer offers UV installation in your area.
Inspect Your HVAC System Regularly
Speaking of HVAC, inspecting your system's ductwork regularly can also help improve indoor air quality.
In case you are unaware, ductworks are hotspots for mold growth. Plus, this is where pet dander and fur often accumulate.
If you do not do anything about it, it can damage your HVAC system's ductworks. This can reduce the system's efficiency in improving indoor quality.
Luckily, you can include ductwork inspection and maintenance on your regular HVAC system tune-up.
Check Your Filters Often
Aside from your HVAC system ductworks, you should also check and clean your air filters regularly.
Here's the thing: The air filters sift air particulates. This includes pollen, dust, pet dander, and fur. If your filters are filled with accumulated debris, you are breathing in polluted indoor air.
You are also preventing your HVAC system from picking up allergens. As such, you are compromising your respiratory health.
That said, you should clean your air filters regularly. We suggest doing it once every 30 - 45 days if you are a fur parent.
Wash Your Pet's Bed Regularly
If you are a first-time fur parent, we suggest that you buy a pet bed with removable covers. That way, cleaning them would be easy as a breeze.
Nonetheless, the key to keeping pet beds clean is to use regular detergent and mild soap. To deodorize it, you can add a cup of baking soda.
In case you do not know, baking soda can help neutralize odor and is also an excellent antibacterial agent.
Moreover, wash your pet beds on a hot cycle. Doing so helps kill all the germs and microorganisms that may be present in the bedding. This is ideal, especially if your fur baby is infested with fleas.
Conclusion
Many factors can improve or compromise indoor air quality.
If you are a pet owner, this can be fur and dander. These particulates can be dispersed through the air, which can cause breathing difficulty. Another is that it can damage your appliances and equipment like the cooling and heating system.
That said, you should ensure that your indoor air is free of particulates. And following the tips listed above can help you achieve that.
About the Author:
Jacky Xu is the Chief Operating Officer at Maid Sailors Cleaning Service Chicago. Maid Sailors takes pride in providing unparalleled cleaning services at affordable prices and will help transform your house into a home
