Yahoo Lifestyle Spring Cleaning for Cat Owners to Prevent Allergies
If you share your home with felines, you’re likely familiar with the tumbleweeds of fur that can collect in corners and cover surfaces. Spring is prime time for cats to shed their winter coats, leading to even more hair and an uptick in potential symptoms for those sensitive to cat allergens. Luckily, Carolyn Forté, our resident cleaning guru and the executive director of the Good Housekeeping Home Care & Cleaning Lab, has tips on how to cut down on allergens associated with cat fur and dander as well as ways cat owners can keep their homes clean all year.
Start with the air
The key to reducing household allergens is to keep pet dander and hair, dust and other particles from becoming airborne. Forté suggests that people with any type of allergy vacuum often with a high-quality sealed-system HEPA vacuum cleaner. “These machines pick up and trap allergens instead of spewing them back into the air,” she says. Also, a vacuum cleaner with a bag is preferable to a bagless version because disposal of a bag with allergens in it is cleaner than emptying the dust cup of a bagless vacuum. For additional peace of mind, “run several high-quality air purifiers in different locations around the house,” Forté advises. This will help keep allergens out of the air and allow everyone to breathe more easily.
Minimize allergen havens
To reduce allergen exposure, Forté encourages cat owners to keep cats off furniture and out of the bedroom (or at least off the bed). Just be sure to provide cats with an alternate way to elevate themselves — getting up high is a source of comfort and security for felines. Cat trees or wall-mounted cat climbing shelves are great ways to allow cats to jump and climb while staying off furniture. Forté also encourages cat owners who are allergy-conscious to “eliminate throw pillows, blankets, throws and other hard-to-wash items that trap allergens, and wash bedding frequently.” By reducing excess fabric, you’ll eliminate surfaces that can trap fur and dander.
Be smart with supplies
To keep cat allergens low, Forté recommends deep-cleaning at least monthly, if not every other week. She also advises that it’s best for cat owners to avoid dry dusting wood and hard furniture surfaces. “This just spreads dust around,” she says. Instead, use furniture polish or dusting spray and cloth or a microfiber duster, which are available in disposable and reusable options.
Clean thoroughly
One simple way to reduce allergens is to clean or replace heating, air conditioning, air purifier and vacuum cleaner filters as recommended. “Dirty filters can’t do a good job,” says Forté. Also, pay special attention to easily overlooked areas where dust and cat dander can quickly build up such as the tops of ceiling fans and bookcases as well as heating and cooling vents. Regularly remove fur from upholstered furniture, wash bedding weekly and use protectors on mattresses and pillows to prevent allergens from getting into these soft items that you spend significant time exposed to while sleeping.
Try grooming
Brushing a cat is a great way to bond with your pet and reduce the fur and dander floating around your home — and it doesn’t have to be difficult. Work up to grooming your cat at least once a week by keeping sessions short and pairing them with praise and treats.
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