How good are air ionizers at alleving indoor pet allergies?
April 23rd, 2005 by admin
Andrea M asked:
I’m moving into my own place soon, and I’d like to get a cat. I do have an allergy to cat dander, and I’ve read that cat dander allergies are worse than dog dander allergies because the allergens tend to stick to clothes and fabrics (like curtains and carpets). I understand ionizers work by sucking in air particles and giving the pollutants a negative charge so they “cling” to surfaces and can be cleaned up when the carpet is vacuumed or the drapes are washed. If this is the case, will an air ionizer really help my cat dander allergy at all, since it seems like the allergenic particles wouldn’t necessarily be airborne?
I’m moving into my own place soon, and I’d like to get a cat. I do have an allergy to cat dander, and I’ve read that cat dander allergies are worse than dog dander allergies because the allergens tend to stick to clothes and fabrics (like curtains and carpets). I understand ionizers work by sucking in air particles and giving the pollutants a negative charge so they “cling” to surfaces and can be cleaned up when the carpet is vacuumed or the drapes are washed. If this is the case, will an air ionizer really help my cat dander allergy at all, since it seems like the allergenic particles wouldn’t necessarily be airborne?
- Posted in Pets
April 24th, 2005 at 10:34 am
If this were try, there would be many cat allergy sufferers owning cats.
I am allergic to cats. I found out a year after I got my cat because I just thought it was hayfever (which I also have). I was able to tolerate my cat with the following:
- remove all carpeting - hardwood or tile
- cover beds, pillow, duvets with allergen tight mattress covers
- replace drapery with blinds
- minimize upholstered items through out the house
- keep cat out of bedroom
- clean, clean, clean
- always wash hands and exposed body parts after contact with cat
I lived with my cat for almost 21 years with little problems.