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I value cleanliness and appearance in my home, but with five pets, it’s not always simple to maintain! Our unwanted “pets,” unsightly animals made of dirt, animal dander, fur, food particles, dead skin cells, and bug parts, frequently cause a lot of the trouble. These “dust bunnies” pose a threat to all pet owners. Despite the fact that you can’t completely prevent them from gathering in your house, there are a few tips I’ve learned to lessen the likelihood of this happening.
Provide your pets a good diet.
Despite the fact that most pets shed, those who eat high-quality, balanced diets have healthier coats and shed at the right rates for their particular breed. If your pet sheds a lot, speak with a veterinarian. If the problem isn’t diet- or breed-related, there can be a health ailment at the root of the fur loss. Asking at routine veterinary visits never hurts.
Play with your pets outdoors.
When I play with my dogs indoors, I’ve noticed that they shed a lot. After a vigorous rub or pet, my dogs shed a lot of fur. Spend a little more time cuddling and petting your pet when you lie with them outside to encourage shedding. Mother Nature is unconcerned.
Get a good pet brush or comb.
Fur accumulation in your home can be removed by grooming your pet. To begin brushing my dogs and cats, I like to use a metal pet comb to get rid of extra hair, skin, and sometimes even flea eggs. I give them a soothing sensory brushing after that with a soft-bristled brush. After each use, remember to clean your pet grooming supplies.
Wash your pet.
Cats kept indoors typically shed all year long. You can give your cat a warm, wet washcloth bath instead of a bath because most cats don’t really enjoy them. Dogs should be shampooed every six weeks, while cats should be wet wiped every week, especially if they are outdoor pets.
Shake couch cushions and pet beds outdoors.
The quantity of skin cells and dander that resides on your delicate surfaces is unknown to you. Beat your rugs, cushions, and pet beds outside to prevent a snowball effect of dust mites!
Change bed sheets weekly.
You might even be rubbing up against those unpleasant mites if your pets are like mine and jump on the bed while you sleep. Weekly cleaning of your linens will assist to lessen the accumulation of skin debris, which eventually finds its way into the flooring and into the carpet.
Vacuum often and use a long hose attachment to get in hard to reach places.
I frequently see dust bunnies’ hidden lairs when playing with my kids on the floor. To get the furballs that are difficult to reach, I like to use the long nozzle of my vacuum. They are in every part of my house, I assure you!
There will undoubtedly be dust bunnies and furballs jumping around your home if you have one or more animal friends. But there is no justification for settling. To live in the cleanest home possible, use the above foolproof advice. You deserve it, as does your family.
Why is my dog-filled house so dusty?
Dogs and cats
Even those with short hair frequently shed both fur and skin flakes. Pet dander is a component that can increase the amount of dust in a home, especially if you have multiple furry friends. Make a commitment to brushing your pets at least once a week to get rid of loose hair or hire a groomer to do it for you. If your cats and dogs have lengthy hair, you can also benefit from daily vacuuming.
Leaky windows and doors let dust in.
Gaps around windows and doors are a major source of energy loss, but every time the wind blows, exterior dust and pollen can also enter the house. Living close to a gravel or dirt road can make things worse. Fortunately, the answer is straightforward: To prevent dust from blowing in, caulk the cracks around windows and replace damaged weatherstripping around doors.
You might need to improve your dusting technique.
Regardless of how frequently you dust, if you don’t do it properly, you risk unintentionally spreading the dust rather than eliminating it. If you choose to use a rag, make sure to dampen it just a little since this will also help capture dust. Make sure the cloth or duster you choose is made of microfiber because this will help trap most of the dust and prevent it from recirculating. Always dust top to bottom, beginning with the higher surfaces. Keep in mind that dust can cling to vertical surfaces as well, so wash down walls once a month with a moist cloth.
Obtain free, no-obligation project estimates from nearby house cleaning providers.
How can a dog be kept clean and free of dust?
Whether or not the dogs are allowed to clamber up to join their human family for a little rest, upholstered furniture serves as a fur magnet in the home. To keep the furniture fresh rather than hairy, vacuum it frequently. In an emergency, a rubber glove, a sticky lint roller, or a piece of packaging tape wrapped sticky side out on your hand work well for picking up wayward hair. Maintain a dogs-only blanket on the dog’s preferred couch spot to keep the fur contained, reducing the amount of fur and dust on dog-friendly furniture. Wash the blanket and all other dog bedding in the house on a regular basis. Additionally, this will lessen odors.
How can you prevent dog hair and dust from entering the air?
How to Reduce Dust & Dog Hair in Your Home
- As often as your veterinarian advises, give your dog a good brushing and a good bath.
- Rooms like the bedroom, kitchen, and dining area should be blocked off if you don’t want your dog to go there.
- Install a filtration system for the air.
- Each day, vacuum.
Canines produce dust?
Since more and more people are working from home, pets around the country are gladly spending more time with people than ever.
Despite the fact that we are all spending more time at home, pets still offer us excellent company and unconditional affection, but they also have a reputation for leaving behind undesirable extras like fur, fluff, and pet dander.
There is now a pet air purifier that can assist in resolving the issue of pet dander reduction or even prevent the issue of allergies, letting you enjoy your pets in the house without worrying about unfavorable effects.
Skin fragments from cats and dogs known as “pet dander” can cause allergies in people who are prone to them. For many years, pet hair and fur were blamed for causing these allergies, but in reality, the dander is frequently to blame.
People who have an immune system that wrongly interprets pet dander as a dangerous chemical or an invading agent that has to be resisted experience allergic signs and symptoms. As a result, the body responds by producing antibodies. This reaction’s typical signs and symptoms are categorized as allergies.
People who have hay fever or allergic asthma may be more prone to cat and dog allergies.
- Skin itch
- moist eyes
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- breathing that is labored or wheezing
- hives or a skin rash
- deterioration of already-existing medical disorders including eczema and asthma
Pet dander allergies are selective; not every member of the family may become allergic, and allergies might manifest even after repeated exposure to a particular animal.
85 million homes in Europe have at least one pet as of 2019, and the average percentage of cat and dog sensitization is 26.3% and 27.2%, respectively, however there is significant difference across the various member countries[A1].
10% of people in the UK are said to be allergic to domestic pets. With 8.5 million dogs and 7.5 million cats, according to data from the Pet Foods Manufacturers’ Association, there are a lot of people who suffer from bothersome allergies.
Perhaps the issue wasn’t as severe in the past, when there were often fewer companion animals in households and settings were frequently colder and draftier due to a lack of double windows and central heating.
Herald the emergence of the hypoallergenic dog and cat breeds of the twenty-first century, which are reportedly gentler to those who have pet allergies. These include forms like the Bichon Frise, the Poodle, and for cats, the Cornish and Devon Rex. However, anecdotal data suggests that this isn’t actually the case with these breeds, which are all believed to lessen discomfort brought on by pet hair.
There are techniques to lessen pet dander, including keeping the house impeccably clean, but even the most stringent dusting and vacuuming routines won’t be able to remove all of the pet dander.
Sadly, even a spotlessly clean house will still have signs of pet dander in the atmosphere and airborne allergens as a result since pet dander is in the air within the house and moving all around the residents.
While limiting pets to specific areas of the house or forbidding them from lying on upholstered furniture may lessen the problem of pet hair, it won’t address the problem of pet dander. The suffering of a pet allergy can make this a genuine option for some individuals, but taking medication or antihistamines doesn’t really address the basis of the issue, and getting rid of animals is not something most people want to consider.
Many people believe that the only options are to find a new home for the animal or to take massive doses of anti-histamine, however there is actually a relatively unknown solution called an air purifier.
Two streams are created from the clean air flow, and it has been found that these streams are much more efficient at dispersing the high-quality air. Remove pet dander, dust, and any other pollutants or contaminants that may have an impact on the quality of the air inside your home.
Utilize the most recent air purifiers and specialty filtration systems to enjoy your pet’s company and affection at home without sacrificing air quality or the control of allergies.
How can I maintain a dust-free home when I have pets?
Most domestic issues may usually be resolved by starting at the root. Without plastic-wrapping every surface, it is impossible to address the origin of dust in the home. The best option, short of purchasing a truckload of plastic wrap, is to keep as much dust outside and routinely remove the rest. How? Read on.
Wear House-Only Shoes
Although it’s customary to take off your shoes when entering someone else’s home in various regions of the country, there are always others who object to the idea of a no-shoe policy. They would probably change their minds if they learned that up to 80% of household dust ends up on people’s shoes. (Related: How to Maintain Clean Carpets.)
This does not imply that you must tolerate a mounting pile of shoes at the entrances. Family members’ shoes can be left on a boot tray at your entryway so they know where they belong. Additionally, it will catch any drips or muck to prevent a mess from falling onto your floor. So that no one has to struggle with cold feet, you might even have a little basket of slippers nearby.
Stop Dirt at the Doors
People can wipe their feet before entering your home by placing sturdy mats at each entry. Even if people remove their shoes indoors, that behavior alone will greatly reduce the amount of dust tracked indoors. You’ll see a noticeable reduction in dust if you shake the mats outside or vacuum them every couple of days. Dust penetrates through carpeting and mats to the floor below, so while cleaning them, make sure to vacuum or rinse all sides.
By preventing dust from being pushed into gaps around your doors, weatherstripping can help lower indoor air quality. If you live in an arid or rural area or if a drought has left your lawn dry and barren, this is a particularly important step. Ensure that your windows are properly closed and that they seal tightly as well. Then, caulk any cracks along the window frames.
Don’t Blow Dust Around
The majority of manufacturers recommend changing your HVAC filter every three months, but doing so more frequently will greatly reduce the amount of dust in your house. Use disposable, low-cost filters, and change them every 30 days. Setting a recurring reminder on your phone or calendar can help you remember things. Additionally, sweep or clean the area close to your furnace. Additionally, if you have an outside condenser unit, you should thoroughly clean it every spring. Here is a YouTube video that demonstrates.
Clean the Air Ducts
When was the last time you opened your floor register’s vent cover and looked inside? You may find quite a few items in the vents if you have children or animals. You’ll notice less dust floating around if you keep the vents and ducts clean. The initial cleaning of each vent takes around five minutes, and subsequent cleanings take less than a minute each. To get you started, here’s how to clean your air ducts. Remember to wash those dirty wall vent covers and floor registers!
Control Dust Mites in Your Bed
Everybody has heard the commercials warning about the accumulation of dust mites, dander, and dead skin flakes in mattresses over time. They also accumulate in cushions and bedding. Reduce this by frequently washing your bedding and vacuuming your mattress on a seasonal basis. This entails washing your pillowcases and sheets once a week, your mattress, duvet, or uncovered comforters once a month, and the rest of your bedding once a season.
Vacuum Effectively
The number of people who live in your home will determine how frequently you should vacuum. Every room should be thoroughly vacuumed once a week, with high-traffic areas getting attention every other day. However, it involves more than just slowly moving the vacuum back and forth while using overlapping strokes. Most people vacuum too quickly, which prevents the machine from having time to collect all the debris. After cleaning the entire room from wall to wall, turn 90 degrees and repeat the process. When you vacuum your floors properly, you’ll remove a lot more dust.
Use the Right Equipment to Clean Dust
Although feather dusters are adorable and vintage, they are terrible at cleaning dust. The dust will escape the feathers as you move around the room, even if you heed the advice to stroke the surfaces rather than “tickle” them. The soft-bristled dusting attachment on your vacuum can be used to clean baseboards, mini-blinds, and drapes or curtains. Use a damp microfiber cloth and dust properly for anything else, including hard surfaces like tabletops and shelves.
Use the Dryer Sheet Trick
Even when the furniture in the immediate vicinity remains largely dust-free, some hard surfaces operate as dust magnets. Particularly Rubberwood does this. Run a dryer sheet across the top of tables and shelves after wiping with a moist towel; the anti-static coating will help keep them dust-free for longer.
Humidify Your Home’s Air
You’ll notice more dust in your home the dryer the air inside is. This is because dry skin releases flakes as a result of dry air. In addition to evaporating moisture from your furnishings, dry indoor air can also cause paint to start to peel and crack. If you have a whole-home humidifier, make sure it’s in good operating order and use it frequently as the weather becomes chilly. If necessary, cool mist room diffusers can replace or supplement a whole-home humidifier by adding humidity. Diffusers and humidifiers can also aid in reducing static electricity in your house.
Minimize Clutter
You’ll notice less dust in your home the less stuff you have lying around accumulating it. Therefore, address the clutter issues first in order to control the dust issue in your home. Clear your counters of anything you don’t use every day. Give things you no longer want or that don’t fit your style or personality away or donate them. Maintain your closet floors clean so that you can vacuum them by hanging up any clothing you are not wearing. The floor directly under your bed is also a terrible dust magnet. (Need more direction? The Golden Rules of Decluttering are listed below.)
Tumble the Dust Out
Dust tends to accumulate on soft furnishings. Cleaning your curtains on a regular basis with a vacuum cleaner or washing them is an excellent method to cut down on dust. But another quick method to remove dust is to run it through your dryer. This method also works on textiles like silk that cannot be washed. Put the garment in your dryer after removing any curtain rings, zippers, or other hardware. Select a fluff or no-heat setting, then let the piece tumble for a while. While the dryer vent removes the dust from your home, the tumbling movement of the fabric releases it. So simple!
Replace Your Old Carpets
Even the greatest vacuums can’t completely eliminate the dirt that carpets collect beneath the pad over time. While properly shampooing or steam cleaning your carpet is beneficial, doing so too frequently will hasten the wear and tear on your carpet. The dust in your house is then supplemented by glue and pieces of carpet fiber. Replace your carpets with hard flooring if you can. Cleaning up is so much simpler.
Groom Pets Outdoors
Dogs and cats lose fur and dead skin flakes, which produces a tremendous amount of dust. Regular grooming reduces the amount of pet hair, particularly if you brush your pet outside, when any dandruff or other fluff will stay outside of your home. Brush them on top of an old towel spread out on the bathroom floor if you are unable to do it outside. The towel should be collected, shaken outside, and then cleaned.
Clean Your Air on Cleaning Day
Ironically, cleaning your home makes the air in your house more dustier. Put your home’s HVAC to work to prevent it from settling back down on your furnishings and floors. You can accomplish this at any time of year by just turning on your system’s fan while you clean. Once you’re finished, leave it running for another 15 minutes. The enthusiast “Any dust you stirred up while cleaning will be removed if you blow the air through your home’s filter. Your furniture will remain dust-free for longer if you turn it off.
It takes time to control the dust issue in your home, but if you persevere, it is feasible. To eliminate dust in your home, start by using one or two of these strategies. Then, as time and money permit, add more.
These quick, daily emails highlight quick housekeeping tasks that may be completed in a matter of minutes each day. It’s they who “The trick to making your house properly clean or finding your cleaning motivation again if you’ve lost it amid the chaos.
