Spring Cleaning: Creating an Allergen-Resistant Home for You and Your Pets

As spring blooms, so does the annual tradition of spring cleaning. Households arm themselves with mops, brooms, and the unyielding belief that this year, they’ll finally beat the battle against dust.

However, for pet parents, spring cleaning also means launching a strategic offensive against invisible adversaries that can trigger allergies in both pets and pet parents: pollen, fungal (mold) spores, dust mites, flea bites, wool, fabrics, and pet and human dander (dead skin cells). Yes–while humans can be allergic to pet dander, pets can be allergic to human dander!

But fear not, brave warriors of cleanliness. By following these tips, you can reduce the suffering caused by allergies by making your home a reliable sanctuary for both you and your furry family members without having to don a hazmat suit every time you cuddle with your pet.

If a human or four-legged family member has been diagnosed with atopy, the battle will be intense, constant and not just in the springtime. Atopy is a genetic predisposition to develop allergic reactions, due to an exaggerated immune response to allergens in the environment. Itchy skin, asthma, and disruptions to daily life, sleep, and emotional well-being are common in people and animals with atopy.

Because dander is microscopic and jagged in shape, it easily floats and sticks to everything, including walls! It forms alliances with dust mites and other allergens, creating little dust bunnies and big tumbleweeds that roam your floors. The first step in your cleaning crusade is to arm yourself with a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t just suck—it conquers.

Look for vacuums with HEPA filters that trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. The average sizes of the enemy: pet dander 5 to 10 microns; human dander 40 microns; pollen 25 microns; and dust mites 350 microns; HEPA filters catch dander, pollen, and even the dreams of dust mites trying to escape.

Flea and dust mite allergies are not due solely to flea bites and living dust mites. Humans and their pets can be allergic to the disintegrated body parts of dead fleas and mites (yes, this is disgusting). Vacuum bare floors, carpets, upholstery, curtains, and pet bedding at least once a week, or more often if your pet is a heavy shedder or you or your pet are particularly sensitive to allergens. Consider vacuuming walls too.

If flea infestation is common in your household and you or your pet have allergies to flea bites, consider cutting up a new flea collar and putting the pieces in your vacuum canister or bag to kill larvae and eggs when you are vacuuming. After vacuuming, put the vacuum bag in a sealable airtight bag.

Bedding is like a nightclub for allergens: it’s where they hang out and have a good time at your expense. Washing your pet’s bedding, blankets, and any washable covers every week in hot soapy water and also using the highest heat setting on your dryer can break up this party before it even starts.

The same goes for your bedding, especially if your pet has VIP access to your bed. You spend one-third of your time in your bedroom, where a bare floor is best. If you have pet allergies, it is wise not to allow your pet into your bedroom.

But why stop at the bedding? Your clothes are unwitting accomplices in the distribution of allergens such as human and pet dander throughout your home. Regular washing of any garment with significant pet contact will help reduce the spread of allergens. And for those who’ve made lint rollers their best friend, consider it a badge of honor, not just a tool.

Plan ahead for when it is time to replace old carpets, rugs, mattresses, pillows, and cloth furniture. Use washable furniture covers. When removing carpets, replace with bare floors (especially in the bedroom). Protect your mattress and pillows from dust mites with allergen-proof covers that have zippers. Bed skirts look nice but are rarely cleaned, so you might want to skirt those skirts!

Wall-to-wall carpet harbors dander and other allergens. If carpet is necessary, low-pile carpets are best, or washable throw rugs.

Your home’s air filters are the unsung heroes in the fight against airborne allergens. Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filers and replacing these filters every 1-3 months. (HEPA) filters can significantly reduce the amount of dander floating around. Think of it as setting up a defensive perimeter; only a little gets through, and what does is met with swift justice.

Remember, while spring cleaning might seem like a Herculean task, especially with pets, the rewards—a healthier, happier home for you and your furry family members—are well worth the effort. Allergies are no joke– they can cause serious misery. So remember what you are fighting for, and don those rubber gloves and wield your vacuum like a sword!