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Tips for Living With a Pet You Are Allergic To

Living with pets you're allergic to isn't impossible - it just takes a bit of forethought and a commitment to regular cleaning.

Despite the fact that they sometimes make us cough and sneeze, we still want them around.

Here are 5 tips to help ensure everyone is safe and comfortable at home.

1. Keep your pet out of the bedroom.

Make your bedroom a pet-free zone to reduce your exposure to allergens.

Your cozy bed is a snug spot for animal dander to settle in.

Tips on living with a pet you're allergic to.

To peacefully live with a pet you're allergic to, you'll need to wash your bed linens at least once a week in the hottest water safe for your sheets.

Your comforter, blanket, and pillows should be washed at least monthly.

Damp-wipe or vacuum your blinds regularly - they're a virtual magnet for animal dander, dust and more.

Dust all the rooms in your home carefully, being sure to hit every nook and corner cranny.

Sweep up pet hair, and vacuum regularly. It's nothing short of amazing how much fur we can't see settles into carpet fibers.

The most effective weapon in the war against allergens when you're living with a pet you're allergic to is a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particle absorbent) filter.

It's expensive, but worth it.

2. Have someone else bathe and comb your pet.

Have a non-allergic friend or family member bathe Fido or Fluffy once a week in a tub filled with lukewarm water and a pet shampoo or your own (mild) hair shampoo to remove excess dander.

A daily brushing will help cut down on dander, too.

3. Keep your pet off the furniture.

Train your pet to stay off the furniture. If it's already used to taking a nap there, cover upholstered chairs and couches with a sheet or towel that will serve to trap animal dander.

Wash these covers regularly.

4. Clean carpets and rugs regularly.

Heard the saying "Snug as a bug in a rug"? 'Nuff said.

Keep allergens and creepy critters far from you breathing space by regularly cleaning (at least once a month) your carpets and rugs.

If possible, remove carpets and rugs altogether and replace with wood, tile or linoleum floors.

5. Keep the air clean.

Use a HEPA air cleaner. Pet dander can become airborne, but it can also easily be removed with a HEPA air cleaner attached to central heating or cooling. Run the filter at least three hours daily.

6. Choose a turtle, fish, or lizard instead of a furry pet.

Choose a Turtle, Fish, or Lizard Instead of a Furry Pet. You're less likely to be allergic to fish, turtles and lizards than to furry cats or dogs.

Finally, don't get sucked in by those "hypoallergenic" pet claims - there's no such thing as a 100 percent hypoallergenic dog or cat.

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About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.

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