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How Pet Owners Can Improve Air Quality Indoors – Top Tips
As pet owners we can get used to the fur and dander pets leave on furniture and carpets. Yet pet owners can improve the environment in their homes by following a few simple steps on a routine basis. In this article we offer some top tips on how to improve the quality of air indoors when we live with pets. Read on to learn more.
How Pet Owners Can Improve Indoor Air Quality
Pets really do make a house a home. Between companionship, comfort, and laughter they provide endless entertainment. But pets also have an effect on your indoor air quality. Dander, fur, and odours can accumulate quickly. However, there are easy steps you can take to help reduce poor indoor air quality. In fact pet owners can improve indoor air quality with a few simple strategic steps.
How Pets Impact Indoor Air Quality
Pets of all kinds shed. Dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits all release small particles into the air as they shed. Pet dander consists of tiny flakes of skin that come off of your pet. It’s one of the most common indoor allergens and can cause sneezing, watery eyes, and asthma attacks.
Pet fur can also impact your air quality. Fur gets stuck on furniture, floors, and even your HVAC vents. As fur accumulates, dust, mold spores, and bacteria collect on top of it. This makes the air quality in your home worse.
Photo credit – Ron Lach
Pets can cause odors in your home as well. Wet fur, litter boxes, and accidents all contribute to unwanted smells in your home. Odors aren’t just bad, they can also be harmful. Bad smells mean there are bacteria and particles in your air.
Easy Steps so Pet Owners Can Improve Indoor Air Quality
Regularly Groom Your Pet
Improving your air quality can start with grooming your pet. Brushing your pet gets rid of loose fur before it has the chance to spread. It also helps minimize the amount of pet dander in your air.
Brush your pet outside if possible. That will prevent loose fur and dander from getting inside your home. If you have to brush them inside, brush them in one location. Clean the area immediately after brushing your pet indoors.
You should also give your pet baths. Washing your pet helps remove excess dander. Most dogs will do fine with a bath every few weeks. Cats groom themselves so they typically don’t need baths. But you may want to give your cat a bath now and then as well. Be sure to use pet-friendly shampoo.
Photo credit – Yaroslav Shuraev
Vacuum and Clean Floors Regularly
Because pets spend so much time on the floor, fur and dander end up there quickly. Vacuuming is one of the best ways you can keep your air quality clean. NHS mentioned to us you should be sure you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. These filters trap particles instead of returning them to the air.
Vacuum your home at least twice a week if you own pets. Spend extra time vacuuming where your pet likes to spend time. Rugs, carpets, and furniture should be focused on when vacuuming.
After vacuuming, mop hard floors. Mop floors to pick up particles the vacuum missed. Always use a damp mop instead of a dry mop. Dry mops recirculate particles back into the air.
Don’t forget about your pet’s bedding. Pets love to cuddle up in blankets and beds. Beds and blankets collect fur, dander, and bacteria. Wash your pet’s bedding once a week in hot water to remove allergens.
Replace Your HVAC Filters
Your HVAC system pushes air throughout your home. Dirty filters cannot trap pet fur and dander. This sends those particles back out into the air you breathe.
Change your filters every 30-60 days if you own pets. You may need a filter with a higher MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Aim for a filter with a MERV rating between 8-13.
You should also consider having your ducts cleaned every few years. Pet fur and debris can collect in your ducts. Cleaning your ducts removes this debris and allows your HVAC system to run more efficiently.
Get an Air Purifier
Air purifiers are an excellent investment if you have pets. Air purifiers remove allergens such as pet dander, odors, and some bacteria from your air. When buying an air purifier, look for one with a HEPA filter and activated carbon filter.
The HEPA filter will capture particles, while the carbon filter will eliminate odors. Place your air purifier in the room your pet spends most of their time. Leave it on during the day for maximum efficiency. Some air purifiers are made for large rooms. Others are better suited for small rooms. Purchase an air purifier that is appropriate for the room size.
Clean Litter Boxes Daily
If you have cats, you’ll need to pay special attention to litter boxes. Dirty litter boxes can release ammonia into the air. Ammonia in the air can cause headaches and respiratory irritation.
Scoop litter boxes daily and change the litter once a week. Make sure your litter box is in a well-ventilated area too. Put the litter box away from where your family spends time if possible. Consider running an air purifier near the litter box as well.
Open Your Windows
Opening your windows allows fresh air to circulate through your home. Open windows for at least 15-30 minutes per day. Fresh air will flush out the old stale air filled with pet dander.
But be careful of opening your windows when pollen counts are high. You don’t want to trade one set of allergens for another. On days where the pollen count is high, keep your windows closed and run your HVAC and air purifier.
Wash Your Hands and Clothing
Always wash your hands after playing with your pet. Don’t touch your face until after you wash your hands. Pet dander loves to collect clothing as well. Change your clothes if someone who has allergies visits your home.
Pet hair can also transfer to your clothing. Keep a lint roller somewhere convenient. Run the lint roller over your clothing before you leave your house. This will remove fur and limit the amount of dander you take to other areas.
Choose Hard Flooring -It’s Preferable
When it comes to flooring, carpet is the worst when you own pets. Hardwood floors, tile, and vinyl don’t hold onto pet dander and hair like carpet does. If you can, replace your carpeted areas with hard surfaces, they are easier to keep clean and it is one way pet owners can improve their home environment with pets in the home.
Hard surfaces are easier to clean and won’t harbor allergens. If you can’t replace your carpet, steam clean it every few months. Steam cleaning kills bacteria and removes stubborn dander that vacuuming can’t reach.
You don’t have to sacrifice your indoor air quality for your pets. There are many things you can do to keep your home smelling fresh and clean. Regular grooming, frequent cleaning, proper HVAC maintenance, and air purifiers go a long way.
Case Study: Improving Indoor Air Quality in a Pet-Friendly Home
The Challenge
A family with two dogs and one indoor cat noticed increasing allergy symptoms, persistent pet odours, and excessive pet hair throughout their home. Family members frequently experienced sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion, especially during the evenings when everyone gathered in the living room.
The Solution
To improve their indoor air quality, the family implemented several changes:
- Groomed their pets weekly and brushed them outdoors whenever possible
- Vacuumed carpets and furniture twice per week using a HEPA-filter vacuum
- Washed pet bedding weekly in hot water
- Replaced HVAC filters every 60 days with MERV 11 filters
- Installed a HEPA air purifier with activated carbon filtration in the living room
- Cleaned the cat’s litter box daily
- Opened windows regularly when outdoor pollen levels were low
The Results
After three months, proving that pet owners can improve their home environment, the family reported:
- Noticeably fewer allergy symptoms
- Reduced pet odours throughout the home
- Less pet hair on furniture and floors
- Improved airflow and fresher indoor air
- Better overall comfort for family members and visitors
Key Takeaway
Pet owners can improve indoor air quality significantly by combining regular pet grooming, consistent cleaning habits, proper HVAC maintenance, and high-quality air purification.
F.A.Q.s
Pets can contribute to indoor air pollution through dander, fur, odours, and allergens. However, with proper cleaning and maintenance, pet owners can improve their home environment and maintain healthy indoor air quality.
Look for an air purifier that includes both a True HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter. HEPA filters capture pet dander and fur particles, while activated carbon helps remove pet-related odours.
Homes with pets should typically replace HVAC filters every 30 to 60 days, depending on the number of pets and the amount of shedding.
Regular grooming, frequent vacuuming, washing pet bedding, using HEPA filtration, and maintaining your HVAC system can all help reduce pet dander levels indoors.
Hard flooring such as hardwood, tile, or vinyl is generally better because it does not trap pet hair, dander, and allergens as easily as carpet. If carpet is present, regular vacuuming and occasional steam cleaning are recommended.
Yes absolutely. Pet owners can improve their home environment by asking whomever is petsitting and resident in the home to keep up the cleaning routines around the home, and especially around the pets living areas.
Further Reading
At HouseSit Match we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs useful, including this one on how pet owners can improve their home environment and indoor air quality.
Top 10 Housesitting Protocols for First Time Homeowners
Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money
What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities
Top dogsitting tips for beginners
