Are Your Pets Polluting the Air in Your Home?

Our pets are our babies, and they can do no wrong. (This is a proven fact. Don’t question us.) However, even the most perfect fur babies in the world — and they are indeed perfect — can be a handful sometimes. Fur everywhere, muddy footprints from playing outside, the occasional accident… hey, it happens! However, these pesky annoyances might actually be polluting the air in your home.


In this blog, let’s talk about how your fluffy companion might be bringing contaminants into your home and what you can do about it.


Pet-related Sources of Air Pollution


There are a few different ways your pets might be bringing undesirable particles into your home. There are two that are especially common.


Fur and Dander


If you have a pet that sheds, then you probably already know that wherever they go, they leave a trail of fur.


Pet fur and dander have a mind of their own and can float through the air. You won’t always see them, but they’re there. Dander, in particular, is likely impossible to spot, but these dead skin flakes are left behind wherever your fur child goes — the floor, your furniture, etc. 


These materials can irritate the respiratory system, leading to symptoms like itchy/watery eyes and sneezing. Your symptoms could be even more drastic if you already have allergies or respiratory issues, like asthma. 


Contaminants From Outside


When your pet goes outside to do their business, they’re stepping in the dirt, all sorts of bugs, pesticides (one of the most common indoor air pollutants), and waste, whether it’s their own or another animal’s waste. If you have a breed of animal with shorter legs, leaving their belly hanging low to the ground, particles can get trapped there, as well.


Plus, regardless of the breed, pollutants like pollen can get trapped in their fur.


Where do you think some of these contaminants end up? In your home! Imagine your pooch stepping in waste and then climbing into your bed.


 

 

The First Steps to Take to Combat Air Pollution From Your Pets


One of the best things you can do is start at the source. In other words, the more you can prevent these air particles from getting out of hand in the first place, the better. Here are some examples of how you can do that, when possible:


  • If you comb/de-shed your dog, try to do it outside. As much as you can control it, deposit the fur into a garbage bag and immediately pitch it. If you need to do it indoors, have a designated room, like a bathroom, where you can close the door during the process. Vacuum and clean that room immediately after.
  • Wipe your pooch’s paws (and even their body) after they’ve been outside and before they come back indoors. Plenty of brands sell gentle cleansing wipes meant for this.
  • On a related note, always pick up your pet’s droppings after they’ve finished using the bathroom. “It’s fertilizer!” you’re saying. No, it’s not. It’s contamination.
  • It’s best to keep your pets off your furniture, especially your bed. Remember, you spend about eight hours (or more!) in your bed every day. That’s a long stretch of time to be exposed to pollutants. If you want your pets to be comfy, consider having designated furniture that they lay on — and only them.
  • Bathe them regularly. This can vary by breed but one bath a month is a good rule of thumb. Even aside from contaminants, consistent bathing is important for your pet’s well-being. The same goes for grooming. Ask your vet or groomer how often your breed needs a trim. Regular maintenance can help cut back on shedding and will also support your pet’s skin health, kicking some of that dander in the butt.

 

 

Now, what about ongoing maintenance? If you follow the above tips, you might, for example, still find fur around the house. Keep these things in mind:


  • Vacuum regularly, even daily, depending on the breed. 
  • If you handle/carry your pets often, don’t re-wear clothes because they’re likely covered in allergens and pollutants. 
  • Wash your bedding weekly, and consider swapping out your pillowcases mid-week. This is smart to do even without pets!
  • Use an air purifier with a medical-grade HEPA 13 filter. The Sans air purifier uses multiple layers of filtration, including HEPA 13, activated carbon, and UV-C light to kill pathogens like viruses and bacteria.
  • A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s, right? No, this is a myth! If your furry friend gives you kisses, disinfect the area afterward with warm water and soap. 

Remember, following these tips offers several benefits. 


    1. Your pet will be happier and healthier.
    2. Your home will be clean, and those stinky pet odors should be drastically reduced. 
  • You will be safer – while it’s not common, there are a few things pets can spread to humans, like ringworm and Lyme disease.

    • Managing the air pollution that your pets are introducing into your home is a win-win-win.


    The Sans air purifier and Sans Mini are an effective and hands-off way to purify the air in your home. Sans runs as needed and provides real-time updates about your air quality. The combination of the pre-filter, medical-grade HEPA 13 filter, activated carbon, and UV-C light means that Sans captures 99.95% of particles 0.1 microns in diameter. Fur, dander, and those outdoor contaminants won’t stand a chance.


    The design is lightweight and portable, so you can easily place your purifier wherever you’d like in your home. It’ll alert you when it’s time to change the filters so that the purifier can continue running optimally.


    Our pets aren’t the cleanest creatures in the world, but we love them to pieces. With air purification technology, we can live harmoniously with our four-legged friends, side by side.