If you have a pet, you’ll likely have a harder time maintaining good indoor air quality in your Hope Mills, North Carolina, home. This is especially true during winter, when you and your furry friend spend more time indoors. Hair, dander and saliva from your pet can contaminate your indoor air and make your family more prone to allergic reactions. Below are some measures you can take to improve the air quality in your pet-friendly home.
Clean Your Home Frequently
Cleaning your home frequently is a necessity when you have a pet living with you. Make sure you vacuum your entire house regularly as it helps to get rid of loose hair and dander from your pet. Also, it’s important to wipe all surfaces thoroughly because contaminants from your four-legged friend can settle on all kinds, even those in areas with little or no traffic. Regular cleaning is one of the most affordable yet effective ways to enhance indoor air quality in a pet-friendly home.
Set a Regular Pet Grooming Schedule
Similar to human beings, pets need to be cleaned and groomed on a regular basis. Keeping your pet clean can reduce hair, dander, and bacteria in your home and make your animal companion feel better. It’s recommended that you brush your pet once every two days and bathe it at least once a week. Consider using an antibacterial pet shampoo to bathe your pet, which can help control the levels of harmful bacteria in your home. Also, you can use special pet dander wipes to remove dander from your pet instead of allowing it to circulate in your indoor air.
Clean the Litter Box Daily
Your pet’s litter box is one of the dirtiest and most contaminated areas in your home. As such, you have to clean it as often as possible. During winter, you should clean the litter box at least once a day because your pet will be spending more time indoors. If you have multiple pets using the same litter box, it’s best to clean it twice a day.
Wash Your Pet’s Bedding Regularly
Your pet spends a significant amount of time on its bedding every day. As a result, it’ll leave a lot of hair and dander there. If you don’t wash the bedding regularly, the hair and dander will circulate in your indoor air and get tracked throughout your home. Make a point to wash your pet’s bedding at least once a week. If your pet spends a lot of time on a particular piece of furniture, vacuum it and apply upholstery cleaner.
Change Your Air Filters More Often
Changing the air filter in your HVAC system can go a long way in improving the air quality in your home. The filter traps dirt, dust, and other contaminants to prevent them from getting into your HVAC unit and circulating throughout your home. If it becomes clogged, it’ll reduce airflow in your home, resulting in poorer ventilation and increased concentrations of contaminants. Air filters in homes with pets often become clogged at a faster rate. As a pet owner, you should replace your filter at least once a month.
Clean Your Ducts
Over time, hair and dander from your pet will get into your air ducts. As a result, the contaminants will be distributed throughout your indoor space and wreak havoc on those suffering from allergies. If you see dirt accumulating around your vents or someone in your home experiencing allergic reactions, you should immediately contact an HVAC contractor to check your ducts.
The air quality in your pet-friendly home can easily reach harmful levels in the winter. By taking the aforementioned steps, you can significantly improve your indoor air quality and keep your family healthy and happy. If you’re looking for a reputable HVAC company that provides top-notch indoor air quality products and services, get in touch with the friendly staff at Bass Air Conditioning Company. Call us today at 910-778-1536.
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