How to Remove Pet Dander from Your Property
Allergy Tips for Home Buyers
Unless you purchase a brand-new property, chances are high that a pet has lived in that otherwise perfect house, cottage or condo. As Shirlee and Larry Kalstone, the makers of Allerpet, explain on natallergy.com, people are not allergic to animal hair, but to dander—microscopic particles that float in the air and cling to surfaces. So, even if you can’t see any hair, you can be sure the previous owner’s pet left its mark, and it's important that you remove the allergens before you move in.
Is This Home Really Pet Free?
If you’re moving into a condo building or duplex, there are likely animals in the complex, in other units. Consider whether the air from those homes will enter yours. Will central heating draw air and redistribute it throughout the whole building? Where do the bathroom fans lead? If they blow air out near your windows, other people’s pet allergens will drift into your home.
Once you determine that the unit is self-contained, set up a cleaning plan. Give yourself time to finish the work before you move in—you don’t want your furniture absorbing mementos of the previous owner’s kitty.
Don't Do It Yourself
Trying to clean the place yourself will only make your allergies worse. Hire professionals to clean the walls, ceilings, floors, cupboards, fireplaces, windows and windowsills, shelves and bathrooms. Ian Flower of Calgary’s Absolute Ceiling Cleaning explains that while some people recommend painting the walls and ceilings, that only traps hair and dander. It’s less expensive and more hygienic to hire a company that specializes in removing such pollutants. Once the dander’s gone, then paint, if you wish. Your bathroom fan should be vacuumed out. Your furnace’s filter must be changed, and the furnace and ductwork professionally cleaned.
Hidden Nooks and Crannies
Even professional cleaning companies can miss some of the spots where dander likes to hide. Make sure they clean your light fixtures, inside your closets and behind and inside your oven, fridge and other appliances. Even the bottoms of your appliances need a good wiping. If you have baseboard heaters, have your cleaners remove the covers and vacuum inside—and make sure the company uses Hepa-filter vacuum cleaners; otherwise, dander will blow out the back of the machine and back into the air. If drawers are removable, make sure they’re removed and cleaned—you’d be surprised to see the dust back there, and where there’s been a pet, the dust is full of dander. Unfortunately, cleaning companies claiming expertise have been known to forget about small spaces like the dividers between windows and screens, so double check everything.
Some Things can’t be Cleaned
Don’t try to clean carpets or curtains. You’ll need new ones—and if you have allergies, it’s best to replace those carpets with wood, vinyl or tile. Never buy or accept used furniture that’s been around an animal—upholstery, cushions and mattresses have to go. So do any paper or cleaning products left behind by the previous owner.
Do Tasks in Order
Think about the order in which you’ll decontaminate your new home. Since pulling out the carpets will fill the air with dander and dust, remove them first, and then clean before putting in the new flooring so it doesn’t go down on top of allergens. Flower recommends cleaning the walls and ceilings a day before the rest of the house, since particles will likely take that long to settle onto surfaces.
Maintenance
Even after you’ve replaced fabrics, cleaned surfaces and sought out the hidden dander holds, dander lingers—it can take months to eliminate dander completely after a pet is gone, according to asthma-safe-homes.com. So vacuum (with a Hepa-filter vacuum cleaner) and dust often, and equip your home with Hepa-filter air purifiers.
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Health & Wellness
Latest Articles