World Animal Day: tips for a cat and dog-friendly home - Lifestyle

Pets are an integral part of millions of families and an occasion to celebrate them is Tuesday 4 October,

aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of animals.

Established since 1931 in honor of the

the World Animal Day is an opportunity to welcome advice on how to best live with pets, especially in a country like Italy where more than 4 out of 10 inhabitants have a pet and where the culture of respect and care for pets is promoted.

The majority of 'pet-owners' keep their 4-legged friend at home and, therefore, a thorough

become a priority.

Sofas, armchairs and beds are the comfortable and soft corners where 4-legged friends love to spend most of their time in absolute relaxation but where, consequently, most of the hair accumulates: just think that 5 pet owners out of 10 it allows them to sleep on the bed.

In fact, as Alessandro Fiocchi, director of the Allergy Division at the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital in Rome, explains:

(more than the adhesive brushes and the so-called hair removal rollers), because it is the most effective system for eliminating any potentially harmful substance from the environment.

Finally - concludes the allergist - to remove animal allergens (but also any other airborne toxic substance), from furniture, curtains and cushions, there are special accessories to be combined with the vacuum cleaner and specific detergents for upholstery ».

It is a need, increasingly felt also following the Covid-19 pandemic, for which people today are much more attentive to the cleaning and sanitation of the spaces in which they move and live, as emerges from an analysis conducted by Worwerk Elf.

And in terms of cleaning related to animals, one of the most common problems is precisely the allergy to their fur.

However, as the allergist Alessandro Fiocchi explains:

“It is not necessary to remove dogs and cats from the home, as meticulous care of their hygiene may be sufficient to limit their impact on the health of allergy sufferers.

Specifically - continues the expert - it is advisable to wash them at least once a week to remove dandruff and allergens from their fur, and keep them away from mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture that can become the receptacle of irritating agents ".

So, the imperative is to pay attention to the hygiene and cleanliness of the environments for the well-being of the pet owners and their pets, who cannot - and must not - give up their 4-legged friend and everything. love that they give to the everyday life of every pet lover.

since a meticulous care of their hygiene may be sufficient to limit their impact on the health of allergy sufferers.

Specifically - continues the expert - it is advisable to wash them at least once a week to remove dandruff and allergens from their fur, and keep them away from mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture that can become the receptacle of irritating agents ".

So, the imperative is to pay attention to the hygiene and cleanliness of the environments for the well-being of the pet owners and their pets, who cannot - and must not - give up their 4-legged friend and everything. love that they give to the everyday life of every pet lover.

since a meticulous care of their hygiene may be sufficient to limit their impact on the health of allergy sufferers.

Specifically - continues the expert - it is advisable to wash them at least once a week to remove dandruff and allergens from their fur, and keep them away from mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture that can become the receptacle of irritating agents ".

So, the imperative is to pay attention to the hygiene and cleanliness of the environments for the well-being of the pet owners and their pets, who cannot - and must not - give up their 4-legged friend and everything. love that they give to the everyday life of every pet lover.

and keep them away from mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture that can become the receptacle for irritating agents ".

So, the imperative is to pay attention to the hygiene and cleanliness of the environments for the well-being of the pet owners and their pets, who cannot - and must not - give up their 4-legged friend and everything. love that they give to the everyday life of every pet lover.

and keep them away from mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture that can become the receptacle for irritating agents ".

So, the imperative is to pay attention to the hygiene and cleanliness of the environments for the well-being of the pet owners and their pets, who cannot - and must not - give up their 4-legged friend and everything. love that they give to the everyday life of every pet lover.

: before starting with the cleaning of the rooms, it is a priority to keep pets always tidy and well brushed.

Regular grooming, done by a professional, can go a long way in reducing the build-up of hair and dirt around the house.

Pets love to sleep on the sofa at home.

Some types of upholstery are more prone to staining, retaining unpleasant odors, and collecting hair, such as tightly woven or velvet.

: a cleaning system with a high suction power, equipped with a Hepa filter able to counteract the problem of allergies and with brushes that are able to capture even the thinnest hairs.

place the pet's accessories in one room and remember that not only the kennel and bowls, but also the toys and even the leash collect bad smells and must be cleaned regularly.

it is necessary, in fact, to wash the domestic surfaces with special products that, in addition to eliminating stains and odors, can perfume the environment without compromising the health of the dog and cat.

use an air purifier with Hepa filter to capture airborne particles.

The Dyson Global Dust Study, which investigates cleaning habits and behaviors, has revealed some interesting data on the matter: less than half of the Italian respondents place a limit on the movement of their pet at home (45% for dogs, 38% for cats), and there are many who are also allowed to sleep on the bed (46% of cats, 29% of dogs).

On the other hand, awareness of what can lurk in the fur of pets is particularly low, which is of concern.

“The impact of pets in the home goes beyond what is visible to our eyes.

Effectively removing pet hair is important, but there are problems that are invisible to the naked eye, such as saliva-stained animal dandruff, ”explains Monika Stuczen, Dyson researcher in microbiology.

“These microscopic particles can carry allergy-triggering proteins around the house.

Light and tiny, they can remain suspended in the air for hours, or settle on objects ”.

Animals shed much more regularly than humans, so

will prevent hair from settling in the house.

It is better to always carry out this operation in the same area, and then clean immediately with suitable accessories to remove even the stuck hairs.

Like dust, pet hair and dandruff can get airborne and fall to bottom surfaces when moved;

the advice is to always start cleaning from above, without forgetting armchairs and sofas, which can retain, in addition to hair, also dust mites and other allergens.

Washing blankets, pillows and sheets - wherever pets spend most of their time - at 60 ° will help eliminate allergens and reduce the amount of microscopic hair that dust mites feed on .

At the end of the wash, make sure you remove any hair from the drum.

Slow suction Slow suction gives the airflow and brush more time to loosen the pet's hair and remove it from the surface.

Animal hair is more likely to accumulate on carpets or hard surfaces than human hair.

Suctioning little and often prevents excessive build-up;

if you are short on time, using a robotic vacuum cleaner will keep the situation under control between thorough cleaning.

Vacuuming the carpet several times in alternating directions helps to pick up more pet hair and loosen the stuck ones - but not too much: after 2 or 3 passes, there will be no particular improvement.