How Do I Remove Pet Dander from Upholstery?

Are you struggling to remove pet dander from your couch and carpets? I am happy to tell you that you are not alone. It’s a common problem for pet owners on how to remove pet dander from upholstery and other furniture because it enters small portions of spaces and occupies most areas where our beloved furry friends play.

Luckily, there are ways on how to gradually yet effectively remove this dander and make our residences more comfortable while also keeping ourselves safe. It is good to be aware of how we can alleviate pet dander to have cleaner and fresher air at home.

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WHAT IS PET DANDER?

Pet dander comprises the microscopic specks of skin shred by our pets. Most dander comes from cats, dogs, birds and other animals with fur or feathers and these tiny bits cause some respiratory infections or pose health risks to feeble individuals as it triggers allergic reactions. The allergens from dander are usually mixing with dust in the air which we can unknowingly inhale later on. As a result, we experience runny or itchy noses and eyes, which could later progress into some serious disease if left untreated.

WHAT CAUSES PET DANDER TO BE A PROBLEM?

Some individuals are allergic to pets or suffer from asthma as a result of exposure to pet allergens. Breathing animal allergens can exacerbate respiratory symptoms and impair lung function. The amount of an allergen necessary to trigger a reaction varies substantially from one to another. 

Allergens from pets are very light and minute. They hang around in the air for a long time, far lengthier than dust mite allergens. Pet dander adhere to furniture, bedding, textiles, and many other items taken into and out of the home because of their microscopic size and snaggy structure. Animal dander easily spreads from the home to public locations such as shopping centers, schools, and even in infirmaries. 

So don’t be surprised if you have pet dander on your clothes, or you experience sneezing and runny nose often because they stick to fabrics easily and you can bring it with you wherever you go. If you have a weakened immune system or a history of asthma and any related illness, you might tend to acquire acute symptoms which may lead to respiratory tract infections.

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REMOVE PET DANDER FROM UPHOLSTERY AND OTHER SURFACES AT HOME

It is best to be safe from the possible adverse effects of pet dander especially for pet owners who keep cuddling with their cats and dogs while letting them roam around the house every time. Here are some practices you should do to be free from allergens:

CLEAN YOUR SURROUNDINGS

I know you know this one. Of course, cleaning is a basic life skill. However, how intensely do you clean? Do you include the hidden posts or areas where a pile of dust can keep and dander can insert, or do you only focus on the surfaces you can easily see? 

Undeniably, when we sweep the floor or hold our vacuum cleaners, we are only preoccupied with what our visitors will most likely grasp and often neglect the parts of our house where we need to tidy up more. Now, dander can take up most fabrics in our home so we also need to clean the furniture or upholstery in our living room, bedroom, kitchen, and any place we can find one – making our way down to the deep-seated dirt.

You will get the benefit of a clean surrounding – a clean air (although not totally) but with lesser dust particles and dander floating around and you will enjoy a cozy space to stay in because you exerted the effort of cleaning intensively.

ORGANIZE YOUR THINGS

While it is convenient to clean your vicinity, it should be necessary that you organize your things. Open your cabinets and storage bins, and let your things out. Also, ask yourself if you need the objects, you just took out. Arrange them according to sizes and uses, then, keep the items that are functional for you. 

Even though letting go of some things we used to have been not an easy process, for the sake of having a well-lit space and conducive home environment free from dander and dust mites, we have to do it the hard way. We can benefit from an eye-pleasing room with fewer animal flakes later on.

GIVE YOUR PET A REGULAR BATH

This is funny, but our pets don’t usually have a regular bath because they are commonly afraid of water – they shiver when you splash a little water on them and can, later on, become aggressive. However, when they could not get off the situation, they will just go with the flow. (Who else would not, right? The same is true of our daily hustle in life.) 

So, when they get the hang of it, we immediately lather their soaps on their fur for a few minutes and the evidence of fear can be seen on their eyes as soon as you rinse them. 

Now, if we keep a schedule of bathing our pets and use soaps or shampoos to eliminate dirt from their fur, we could make our homes free from dander and could lessen the risk of respiratory infections. 

BRUSH YOUR PET’S HAIR OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE

One way of getting rid of dander is to brush your pet’s hair outside your house. If you have a dog, brushing its fur can help eradicate the dead skin which carries dirt and dander all the way. Brushing can also help your dog to produce natural oils that prevent fur shedding.

For cats, while some of them do not like brushing, it is better to do so because it will make their skin condition healthier. 

Always remember to let them off your house if you want to spare some brushing time to keep the dander from spreading evenly on floors.

WASH YOUR CURTAINS AND OTHER FABRIC

The easiest technique to stay away from pet allergens is to wash your curtains, carpets and other fabric you use on your upholstery. You can never go wrong in laundering your textiles regularly. 

Most of our fabrics unceasingly have dander especially when our pets like to go around running in circles around the house. Dander sticks through the walls especially on surfaces of the curtains and carpets, and if you ever think of looking through the microscope, we can see most allergens in those areas. Perhaps we would get sick just by watching it. 

When you use a washing machine, make sure to clean it off afterward. Dander may remain on the laundry machine which may cause trouble in future use. So, take the extra mile to also clean your washer.

USE ALLERGY-FREE COVERS FOR BEDDINGS

Being a fur-parent is a blessing, however, it can be a sort of a curse if you have allergies and your pets are fuzzy. If you have clingy cats or dogs, they will be with you wherever they like – in the garden, sofa, or bed. They just love to be with you to the point that they will be beside you even when you sleep. They will tail you around, spreading their hair freely. 

The good news is that you can use allergy-free covers for your bedsheets. It can reduce the chances of dander sticking to the sheets and you can wake up feeling better. But preferably, not allowing your pets inside your bedroom is a great alternative. 

DO REUPHOLSTER

In some cases, we cannot guarantee that if we wash our fabrics, we can now get away with dander. As much as we want to have a dander-free home, if our couch has gone through history, you might consider reupholstering. 

Although it requires much time to reupholster, the results would be quite pleasing to know. The first thing to do is to familiarize your couch – the stuffing, staples, slipcovers, and cording could be your priority. Write down what needs to be done so you can save time. 

If you don’t want to think of the materials you need, you can hire someone to reupholster for you.

USE AN AIR PURIFIER

Indoor air sometimes contains more pollutants than outdoor air, that is why air purifiers are great investments. Not only it will help eliminate dust mites and dander, but it also has a great way of reducing the chances of airborne diseases. 

Common airborne diseases such as flu and other related sickness are results of unpurified air, so it is best to have air purifiers with HEPA filters to capture the pathogens floating in the air.

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FINAL WORDS

           Needless to say, fur parents always have a knack for letting their pets wander. While it makes you happy being with your hairy companions at home, they can pose immunity infections for you. So, have a habit of removing pet dander on your upholstery or suffer the consequences sooner. Believe this: “Prevention is always better than cure.”