Dog and cat owners are often at odds with the challenge of how to get rid of pet dander in their homes. This allergen is difficult to detect, but accounts for many pet allergy symptoms.
If you’re interested in how to improve your indoor air quality and combat pet dander, here’s what you need to know:
While the common misconception is that pet hair causes allergic reactions, the true culprit is often dander. But what is pet dander, exactly? Dander is the almost microscopic dust made up of dead skin cells shed by your pets during everyday life.
Those with immune systems sensitive to pet allergens can react to the harmless proteins contained in dander, leading to a variety of symptoms. Some of the most common pet allergy symptoms include sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchy skin or eyes.
It’s almost impossible to prevent the spread of pet dander, just like it’s almost impossible to prevent other types of dust from accumulating in your home. However, understanding the ways pet dander can spread can help you limit its prevalence at home.
Some common ways dander spreads are through brushing, grooming and normal hair shedding. Dander accumulates in fabrics and natural fibers, and can be spread around by common cleaning activities like vacuuming or sweeping.
While it might seem like a hopeless fight, there are ways to reduce the amount of pet dander in your home - while still keeping your furry friends. Some great tips to limit and eliminate pet dander are:
Allergies can be an issue for many pet owners, but it doesn’t have to mean giving up your pets. With careful cleaning and strategic use of air filters, you can help everyone in your home breathe more easily.
Teresa's beginnings were at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She was child #5 of 8 and born into an Air Force family that moved all over the United States but usually ended up back in the Washington, D.C. area. Teresa attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and received her bachelor's degree in business from George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. Some of her prior careers include: computer buyer in Fairfax, Virginia; Deputy Clerk at the U.S. District Court in Denver, Colorado; Police Officer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Bed & Breakfast owner in Stowe, Vermont. Teresa obtained her license as a Realtor® in 1998. She has been through many ups and downs in this profession and continues to learn every day. She very much enjoys the real estate profession and the wonderful people she has met and assisted along the way. In order to serve her clients and customers, Teresa continually attends classes and seminars. Some of her Designations and Certifications include:
Teresa has also served and continues to serve on several boards:
In 2007, Teresa was named Vermont Realtor of the Year.Teresa and her husband, a local attorney, moved to Stowe in 1987. They had two sons and Stowe has been their home for the past 36 years. She still feels the Stowe area is a wonderful place to raise a family, there's always something going on. Teresa can often be found behind the lens of her camera documenting the beauty of the area and its many events.As an update, Teresa's older son is now a Doctor/resident at the University of New Mexico's Emergency Management Program. Her younger son graduated from James Mason University and currently resides in Chicago, IL as a supervisor for OKTA.