My husband, author and artist, says that one’s deepest understanding comes from the most trivial of all matters. And what can be more trivial than dander.
Everyone knows that getting rid of dander in your home can help you live a healthier, happier life. But getting there has always been a bit of a challenge. My great grandfather, grandfather, dad, and me, all had/have animals to one degree or another; yes, they were farmers. In fact, my great grandfather had cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and the like all living with him and his family in a small shack.
We have come a long way since then, but the problem has always been the same – how can we create a healthy home environment when animals are living among us.
I never gave a thought about this before, but after daddy’s death, I was sort of pushed into this reality when I inherited his cats. I say pushed, because both of dad’s cats have thick dense fur. Not like the short thin fur that my other two cats have, but rough and thick. Therefore, after the first week of having them in our house, I found, vacuums clogged and dander accumulated. Not that I was not cleaning, but the normal cleaning that I had always done, was no longer doing the trick.
Therefore, in the beginning, I felt that by adding two more to our household, created, what felt like, an insurmountable situation. In fact, I never realized how much dander can accumulate after just a couple of days in a small 1400 square foot household. And adding to this, I, was now 60 years old; which did not help the situation either. But one must do, what one must do. Afterall, I did promise my dad and mom and I would take care of the ones that they loved in their declining years.
Ok, so let’s get to it. There obviously was some adjustment that had to be made; cleaning schedules, more advanced cleaning tools, daily brushing/combing, to name a few. In fact, my nights are often filled with a challenging routine that seemed to work in keeping the dander down. And once you realize that nobody is perfect, and you will never win the war, it became easier to do the necessary things that one must do in order to live in a more healthier environment. Pet dander is tiny, even microscopic. All animals, including humans, shed flecks of skin; triggering allergies and aggravate asthma symptoms — you will never get rid of it.
So here is my Throw Down the Gauntlet of Pet Dander advice.
- Order Husband /wife … to take a shower at least once a day.
- Go natural. In all seriousness, add an assortment of allergen reducing plants to the household. Keep them high out of reach of cats. Make sure they are not poisonous to the pet. If you have plants that are low and available to cats, spread aquarium gravel over the dirt to help contain mold and keep pets out.
- Purchase items that help in your daily cleaning. I had to purchase more commercialized cleaning systems; i.e. mop with rolling bucket, small 1 gallon hepa handheld vacuum, hepa filtered large powerful vacuum for pet hair, rug cleaner, wet and dry vac, high energy washer/dryer, etc. These are essentials when cleaning your house of dander.
- Wash bedding / Clothes frequently. Pet dander quickly sticks to soft surfaces, so it is important that you wash pet bedding, throw rugs, and any blankets your pet uses regularly. I have found it easy to just use a towel over the pet beds to help with cleaning. Just rip the towel off and replace with a new one. If your pet sleeps in bed with you, make sure you wash your bedding frequently as well. Hot water is best for killing allergens. Encase pillows, mattresses and box springs in dust-mite-proof covers. Wash sheets, pillowcases and blankets at least once a week in water heated to at least 130 F (54 C). Remove, wash or cover comforters. Replace wool or feather bedding with synthetic materials.
- Groom Your Pet Daily. Pets groom themselves naturally, but they need your help to control the shedding of dander. If you have a dog, regular bathing can significantly reduce the amount of dander. Don’t go overboard, bathing once a month should be sufficient for a dog. Always use a pet-approved shampoo for the best results. Some are specially formulated to reduce dander and soothe the skin. For cats, regular brushing will limit dander. Brush your cat, if possible, daily, on a rug or other vacuumable / washable surface. I use a grooming glove to remove loose fur and skin. I found this worked better than the brush. You can groom while petting the cat. A two for one.
- Air Purifiers: You can invest in an air purifier specifically designed to reduce pet dander, however, I found that the best filter is one made by my husband; a box fan with batting on the back (used for quilts). Just replace the batting as needed. It does a great job in purify the air in high-traffic areas where your pets spend most of their time. Just place your air filters in high traffic areas and adjust the ones in the bedrooms to filter air towards the head when asleep.
- Keep litter boxes clean. Believe it or not, litter boxes contain dander. Therefore, if you have a cat, rabbit, hamster or other small pet, remember to clean litter boxes, cages and bedding regularly. I clean my boxes every other day. It is important to place litter boxes in well-ventilated areas.
- Flooring. To keep the area free of dander, it is best to have hardwood or linoleum flooring and washable area rugs. Carpeted floors hold dander and is hard to get out — even with steam cleaning. If that isn’t an option, use low-pile instead of high-pile carpeting and vacuum every three days with a vacuum cleaner that has a small-particle or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Shampoo the carpet roughly every four months (or once a quarter).
- Windows, Curtains, And blinds. Use washable curtains made of plain cotton or synthetic fabric. Wash at least every couple of months. I have to wash mine more frequently as we have a bay window and the cats hang there looking outside at the birds. Clean dander, mold and condensation from window frames and sills frequently as cats hang in windows daily.
- Furnishings. Choose easy-to-clean chairs, dressers and nightstands made of leather, wood, metal or plastic. When possible, do not use upholstered furniture.
- Clutter. Simplify your life. Remove the clutter. Remove items that collect dust, such as knickknacks, tabletop ornaments, books and magazines. Store children’s toys, games and stuffed animals in plastic bins.
- Refrigerator. Most people forget to clean around the bottom of the refrigerator. This is where dander, dust and mold gets trapped. Regularly empty and clean the dripping pan and clean or replace moldy rubber seals.
- Cabinets and counters. Clean cabinets and countertops with detergent and water. You do not know where your cat(s) roam each night while you sleep. Store food — including pet food — in sealed containers. Keep feeding areas clean. I use a large plastic tray for my feeding area as it is easy to clean.
As you can see, it is no easy task to keep dander down. In saving my soul, I had to come up with daily, weekly, and monthly schedules to help with keeping dander at bay. I can’t stress the importance of having a written schedule at first, until it becomes a habit. But, know, that even I, am still learning — and schedules can change depending on the habits of ones pets.
Regular cleaning of your space is important as pet dander will settle into rugs, upholstered furniture and anything cloth like. Try to avoid chemical cleaners, if possible, as it will make your pet shed dander more as it could be an allergen to them. Dust all your surfaces with a damp cloth, not a dry one, because this way, the dander won’t spread but will rather be removed.
All in all, when you adopt these strategies, you’ll find it gets easier to eliminate pet dander, improve your air quality overall, and create a healthier environment; not just for yourself and your pets, but also for your family and friends. Good Luck!
Leave comments on your techniques.