Pet Owners’ Guide to Maintaining Good Indoor Air Quality

Air Quality

Your furry friends are beloved members of your household, but they can also introduce unique challenges to maintaining good indoor air quality (IAQ). 

Dander, hair, odors, and even tracked-in dirt can contribute to allergens and pollutants in the air. For Chicagoland homeowners who prioritize the health of their families and pets, keeping indoor air fresh and clean is especially important. Poor air quality can exacerbate allergies, asthma, and respiratory issues — and not just for people, but for your beloved pets as well.

Maintaining a clean and healthy living environment while enjoying life with your pets is vital for homes that have experienced damage from events like a fire, flood, or mold. Let’s dive into some steps you can take to protect your family’s and your pet’s health and create a happier home for your loved ones.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for You and Your Pets

Most people assume the air inside your home is fresher and cleaner than outdoor air, which could be contaminated with exhaust fumes, wildfire smoke, smog, allergens, and more. 

According to the American Lung Association, the average person spends 90% of their time inside houses, offices, schools, and other buildings, where the quality of indoor air can be 2 to 5 times worse than outside. 

Common causes of musty, stale, or dangerous air inside your home include:

More than 82 million U.S. households own a pet, from dogs and cats to reptiles, birds, and fish, per the 2024 APPA National Pet Owners Survey. While we consider our pets to be an integral part of our family, they can also help contribute to bad indoor air quality.

Tiny flakes of skin shed by animals (dander) can trigger allergies and respiratory problems. Their fur and hair accumulate on surfaces and become airborne, spreading particulates around your home. Taking your pets for daily walkies or play dates in the park can introduce pollen, dirt, and mold spores to their paws and coats, which typically then have contact with your furniture and bedding. Yuck!

In addition, human activities like cleaning, smoking, or cooking/ heating with combustion appliances release carcinogens that can cause mesothelioma, and bladder, lung, and nasal cancers in dogs.

Neglecting these factors can lead to compromised air quality that impacts everyone’s well-being, aggravates chronic conditions, and affects your home’s overall environment.

Effective Strategies for Health-Conscious Pet Parents

One of the simplest ways to reduce airborne allergens is to start with your pet. Regular grooming minimizes shedding, reduces dander, and keeps their coat clean of contaminants.

  • Brush frequently: For dogs and cats, brushing their coat a few times a week can dramatically cut down on loose hair and dander.
  • Bathe as needed: Too much bathing can dry out your pet’s skin, but regular baths (using a pet-friendly shampoo) are essential, especially if they have been playing in mud or stormwater, which can be highly contaminated.
  • Wipe those paws: Keep a damp cloth or a special mat near the door to wipe down paws and fur after outdoor adventures. This helps prevent pollutants from being tracked into your house.
  • Do regular laundry: Wash pet bedding, toys, and your own bedding frequently to reduce allergen buildup and kill bacteria that may be lurking.
  • Stay alert: Dirty litter boxes are not good for your cats, and expose you and your loved ones to diseases like toxoplasmosis.

Utilize the power of baking soda or pet-safe air fresheners to neutralize smells in areas where pets sleep, eat, or go potty. Activated charcoal filters or odor absorbers can also help eliminate unpleasant smells from your surroundings. 

Use HEPA Filters in Your Home

Investing in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters is one of the most effective ways to trap pet-related pollutants. These filters capture up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pet dander and hair.

Consider purchasing a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter, which is proven to reduce allergens and help improve your indoor air quality by removing microscopic particles, nanoplastics, airborne viruses, and allergens. Carpets easily trap contaminants, so vacuuming frequently is crucial.

Hard flooring should be swept and mopped regularly. Use pet-safe cleaning products to avoid harmful residues and VOCs. 

Chicagoland homeowners with pets should also replace their HVAC filters more frequently than recommended for non-pet households. You may want to upgrade to performance filters with a MERV rating of 9 or higher to trap pet dander more efficiently.

Proper Ventilation is Key

Keeping the air moving helps dilute indoor air pollutants and bring in fresh air from outside. However, it’s important to ensure that the incoming air doesn’t exacerbate issues by introducing outdoor allergens.

When outdoor quality is good, open windows for 10–15 minutes to refresh the air. Kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans can help remove moisture and odors. Use vent covers with built-in filters to prevent pet hair from circulating through your HVAC system.

High humidity levels can encourage mold growth, while low humidity can exacerbate dry skin in both humans and pets. Indoor humidity levels should be maintained at 30-50%. In areas like basements or laundry rooms, where moisture levels may be higher, a dehumidifier can prevent mold and mildew. Prevent excess moisture by regularly cleaning pet water bowls and quickly mopping up spills in feeding areas.

PuroClean is Here to Help

Being aware of potential indoor air quality issues is crucial for pet owners in Chicagoland. If you or your pets experience increased allergies, trouble breathing, or other symptoms, you should seek medical care and consider getting your indoor air quality professionally tested.

Homeowners who have experienced a fire, flood, biohazard, or mold infestation frequently experience elevated levels of indoor pollutants that could contribute to serious health problems for the entire household. 

The skilled and compassionate experts at PuroClean of Evanston are here to help you ensure a healthier and safer environment for your family and pets. Reach out to us today!

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