While pets are adorable companions, allergies caused by pet hair are a common problem that many pet owners do face. Symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, and itching can happen when pet fur floats in the air. Because pet fur can carry microorganisms, it can trigger allergies in people with sensitive immune systems. Air purifiers have become a popular solution for clearing out indoor air and combating such pet hair allergies.
Why is Pet Hair Harmful?
Pet hair circulating in the air can lead to several problems in humans, including sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, skin rashes, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Moreover, pet hair can be an allergen for several reasons.
- Pet hair carries allergens such as saliva and dander.
- Grooming or cuddling a pet can easily loosen their hair and mix it into the indoor air.
- Static electricity makes pet hair cling to bedding, curtains, upholstery, and clothing, making it hard to remove.
- When inhaled, pet hair enters your respiratory tract and can cause discomfort and allergies. People with higher sensitivity often experience severe respiratory conditions.
- Pet hair can also trap other airborne allergens, including pollen and dust, which can worsen allergies.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Pet Hair?
Many homeowners consider air purifiers to remove pet hair. So, is an air purifier really effective in removing pet hair from your home? Here’s why it is effective in removing pet hair:
Equipped With a Filter
Premium air purifiers, such as those with High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters, use specially designed filters to trap tiny particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pet hair.
Continuous Filtration
Most air purifiers run continuously to capture every pet hair from the air. These purifiers are especially helpful in pet owners' homes, offering relief from airborne allergens.
Reduces Allergens
Pet hair can carry other airborne allergens, including pollen and pet dander. So when the air purifier captures pet hair, it also removes other allergens.
How Do Air Purifiers Work Against Pet Hair?
You will come across different types of air purifiers from various brands that are specially designed with the right technique to capture dust, pet dander, and germs from the air.
Ozone-Generating Air Purifiers
These purifiers work by releasing chemicals to clean the air. However, this technique is not useful for removing pet hair.
Electronic Air Purifiers
These purifiers are portable for better mobility and release chemicals to react with the charged particles in the air. However, the particles float and then settle on the surface. So, they clean the air but don't remove particles from your home environment.
Filtering Air Purifiers
In this type of air purifier, air passes through a special filter in the machine that captures dust, pet dander, and fur.
How to Use an Air Purifier Effectively for Pet Hair?
While the most important factor is choosing the right air purifier, here are some steps to help you clean the air effectively.
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Prioritize the Areas:
If you use a portable air purifier, run it mainly in the living room and bedrooms, where pet hair is most common.
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Keep Unobstructed Airflow:
Ensure unobstructed airflow by keeping the air purifier away from heavy furniture and walls.
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Runtime Consistency:
Continuous runtime is most effective because pet homes constantly introduce pet hair into the environment.
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Scheduled Maintenance for Filters:
Clogged filters in air purifiers will stop capturing airborne particles. Thus, it is essential to schedule filter maintenance to keep them free of clogs and ensure they purify the air properly.
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Ensure Regular Surface Cleaning:
Regularly clean soft furnishings, wash bedding, and vacuum to keep dirt levels low before running your air purifier.
Choosing the Best Air Purifier for Pet Hair
You may come across several air purifiers, but not all are suitable for removing pet hair from the air. Here are some features to check when choosing the best air purifier for pet hair.
Check Your Requirements
Air purifiers can reduce pet hair in the air but will not remove it completely. Remember that you must pair an air purifier with other methods to maintain a clean environment. At the same time, it is essential to understand your needs when choosing an air purifier. For example, if you have additional problems with mold in the house, you should choose a purifier with UV lights that kill bacteria and viruses, in addition to capturing pet hair.
Pet Breed You Have
You must also choose an air purifier according to the pet breed you have at home. Larger breeds shed more hair. Similarly, houses with multiple pets will have more pet hair floating in the air. So, you'll need a stronger, larger air purifier so the filter doesn't clog as often.
Need for Maintenance
Before you invest in an air purifier, you must check the level of maintenance required by the purifier's filter to maintain effectiveness and durability. Check the filter replacement cost and other long-term expenses for the air purifier.
Check Certifications
While many sleek designs in the market may grab your attention, you must check whether the air purifier is certified or not. Also, you must check whether the purifier has a decent Clean Air Delivery Rate or not. Usually, a rate of 60 is considered low, while a purifier with a 240 rating is considered highly effective at capturing airborne particles.
Check The Ease Of Use
Air purifiers are available in stand-alone systems as well as in portable options. You can choose the right option according to your convenience.
Consider Budgeting
While portable air purifiers can be available at around $200, you may have to invest about $700 for a high-end model. Apart from the machine, the cost of replacing the air purifier filters might range between $20 and $200, depending on the purifier you use. Of course, there are also certain purifiers that come equipped with washable filters.
Other Ways to Reduce Pet Hair at Home
While you can always rely on an air purifier for indoor air, you must try out other ways too to reduce pet hair at home.
Regular Grooming
Pets will shed their fur, especially during the spring season when they do not require the thick coat to protect them from the cold. One of the ways is to regularly groom them to reduce their hair shedding. You can either take them to a groomer or bring supplies to shower and comb them carefully. Weak or damaged fur will shed out when you shower them so that you can collect it and dispose of it properly. A clean and healthy coat and skin will lead to reduced shedding in the air or on surfaces.
Regular Health Checkup
Pets will shed their fur, but you must be aware if the shedding is in large amounts because parasites can be one of the major causes, due to which the pets may scratch or chew on their skin and shed an excess amount of fur. Thyroid is another health issue that can lead to excess hair fall in pets. So, you must get in touch with your vet to find a solution to these issues.
Conclusion
We love our pets, but we cannot ignore their messy fur. The hair particles lingering in the air and on surfaces can lead to several health issues such as itchy eyes, skin rashes, and even respiratory issues for individuals who are sensitive to pet hair. Air purifiers are considered great at removing pet hair from your home. Picking the most suitable air purifier and following the right steps to use it lets you breathe clean air with your pet by your side at home.
