The majority of households in the United States own a pet. This will come as no surprise to some of us.
Pets bring a lot to a household. Not only are they soft and adorable, but also smart, sweet, and often quite funny.
Like all things, though, pets come with downsides. The biggest of these is pet dander and some unpleasant smells.
There are plenty of ways to manage pet dander and other issues so that you can fully enjoy life with your buddy, and we’ll talk about some of them below.
1. Use Baking Soda
Those dealing with odors on a regular basis may be at their wits’ end. Scented candles and air fresheners only mask the odor, but that smell is still there when it wears off.
However, commercials and advertisements make the issue of odor feel tougher than it is. The truth is that you probably already have a great solution nestled away in your cupboard.
Baking soda is great at removing various kinds of odor, including pet-related odors. The reason for this has to do with chemistry.
Most odors are caused by a form of acid. In the case of pet urine, that acid is Uric acid. Baking soda, on the other hand, is a base, and bases neutralize acids.
Thus, through a simple process of chemistry, the odors in your home are gone. Keep in mind that you should vacuum up the baking soda after several minutes.
Replace Your Air Filters
Baking soda isn’t the only way to get rid of pet odors. Another thing you might try is a new air filter. Perhaps, even one that’s designed to reduce odors. An air filter’s entire function is to clean the air by separating out certain contaminants that come in with the air.
Unfortunately, air filters tend to clog over time, making it harder for them to filter out anything. Making it a point to replace them regularly will help with this.
How often is enough, though? The truth is that it depends.
If you have one pet, it should be enough to replace the filter every two months. Those with multiple pets should make it a point to replace their filters monthly.
Clean Pet Supplies
Sometimes, the best way to deal with pet orders is to clean everything your pet uses. This includes toys, beds, litterboxes, food bowls, and anything else for your pets.
It’s also best to clean your own things if your pet used them with any regularity. Many of these things are small enough to clean in the washing machine. Other things will need to be vacuumed or cleaned in some other way.
If your pet sleeps on your bed, it’s best to wash your sheets and blankets frequently. Many sources recommend at least once per week.
It’s also best to clean anything you may have washed or otherwise cleaned your pets with.
Brush Your Pet
We’ve talked about odor almost exclusively so far. Now, let’s focus on dander.
Dander is made up of tiny particles that are shed from the skin and hair of mammals. While vacuuming can get rid of pet dander when you find it, pet dander is often too small to see.
Tufts of shed hair are very visible and usually accompany pet dander.
The good news is that there are ways to control some of the dander. Brushing your pet’s fur will help reduce your pet’s shedding and dander output. Plus, you’ll know where the dander is so you can vacuum it up later.
Brushing can help you get closer to your pet, and we all want good relationships with our pets.
Not all pets demand the same level of grooming. Animals with less or shorter fur, you’ll probably be fine grooming them only once per week. However, longer-haired animals should be groomed every day.
Many brushes are specifically designed to pick up loose hair. If you’re not a fan of having to pick up pet hair from the floor, this is a worthy investment.
De-clutter and Upgrade
De-cluttering is an essential part of almost any kind of cleaning, and cleaning dander is no exception. The fewer things your pet can interact with, the less you’ll have to clean.
While this isn’t an excuse to stop giving your pets toys and other things to play with, you can keep your pet happy while also tucking away some of the various things you have lying around.
This will make your house not only more pet-friendly but also more attractive. Who doesn’t like a clean home?
Harder surfaces can also help control dander. They won’t stop your pets from shedding, but they can make it easier to clean up.
Oftentimes, dander and other small materials can fall into carpets and get lost. It’s a lot harder to miss things on a hardwood floor or similar surface. This can be very useful for those who have allergies or live with someone who does.
How to Get Rid of Pet Dander and Odors
If you’re a pet owner, you understand the issues that pet dander and odors can cause. There are a lot of ways to deal with these problems, though.
We’ve talked about some of our favorites in this article, but we encourage you to do more research if you’re interested.
If you need a filter to control pet dander or pet odors, we have a filter designed specifically for each of those tasks. Check out the AIRx Allergy Filter for dander control and the AIRx Odor Filter for odor control!
