Pet dander and hair are responsible for many of us suffering from allergies. Air purifiers can remove all kinds of odors, microbes, dust, and toxic contaminants, but not all air purifiers can remove pet dander and pet hair.
Air purifiers that use a HEPA filter can remove pet hair and pet dander from the air. HEPA filters remove particles as small as 0.3 microns and easily trap pet dander and hair, which are 5 to 10 microns in size. Air purifiers that also contain an activated carbon filter can remove pet odors.
This article is a comprehensive guide on pet hair and dander, and how air purifiers can help get rid of them.
Why pet hair and dander is a problem
According to the National Pet Owners Survey 2022, 70% of us own a pet, with cats and dogs our favorite choices. However, one of the least pleasant things we deal with when living with an animal is fur.
Animals shed hair all year round, and while the fur itself is not a contaminant, it sure serves as a favorable breeding ground for allergens.
Almost 10-20% of the global population is sensitive to cats and dogs, and continuous exposure to pet fur can trigger severe allergic responses in such individuals.
Apart from fur, pets also constantly shed dander. To be precise, dander is dead microscopic skin cells from pets.
Being light in weight, it mostly floats in the air and is often inhaled during breathing. Like pollen, mold spores, and smoke, pet dander can also cause breathing problems, especially in patients with respiratory tract disorders (asthma, emphysema, etc.).
Some of the symptoms of pet allergies are:
- Itching
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Redness in eyes
- Rashes on face and neck
- Facial pain
- Hay fever
Only 15-30 minutes of exposure to pet hair and dander can trigger shortness of breath and severe allergic response, making it important to take precautions against the fur or hair if you own a pet.
While practicing general hygiene around the home helps, using air purifiers that remove pet dander are ideal.
How Air Purifiers Help With Pet Hair, Dander and Odors
Certain air purifiers can remove pet hair, dander and odors. However, different filters are needed for pet hair and dander, compared to odors.
Air purifiers with HEPA filters can remove pet hair and dander, but an activated carbon filter is needed for pet odors.
Air purifiers work by drawing in polluted air and trapping the pollutants, before sending pure, fresh air back into the room.
The actual mechanism of air purification is from two main components, a rotating fan (that draws in air) and a filter or set of filters that capture the pollutants.
Each type of filter is capable of trapping a particular type and size of contaminant. For example,
- A carbon filter removes many gasses or volatile organic compounds, and chemicals
- UV lights kills microbes
- Fabric filters removes large solid particles.
Air purifiers need to have a filter compatible with the size of pet fur and dander to remove them. The only compatible filter for pet fur and dander is a HEPA filter.
It’s also important to note that an air purifier can only remove hair that floats in the air (and not the ones settled on hard surfaces).
Air purifiers that have an activated carbon filter can remove pet odors from the home.
Pet odors are distinct smells that come from urine, bacterial secretions, and natural body oils. The sharp odor is uncomfortable and, at worst, an irritant for nasal passages and skin.
Activated carbon filters use adsorption to collect gasses and volatile organic compounds, both of which are the root causes of the odor.
The other options like HEPA or UV filters are not effective against odors. The former can capture fine particles, and the latter can kill bacteria, but none of them can clear the odor-causing agents from the air.
Since pet smell is a problem for all pet owners, it’s better to look for an air purifier that has both HEPA and activated carbon filters.
This will guarantee pet hair, dander and odors are removed from your air.
Why Only a HEPA Filter Is Effective Against Fur and Dander
An air purifier must have a HEPA filter to remove pet fur because pet hair is very thin, and dander has a microscopic size, measuring approximately 5 to 10 microns.
Generic filters are only suitable for large particles like dust and insects. Whereas, HEPA filters have a pore size of 0.3 microns and can easily catch microscopic particles.
Only invest in units with HEPA filtration if you are buying an air purifier specifically for pet fur and dander.
How Long Air Purifiers Take To Remove Pet Dander
Air purifiers start working instantly after turning on. The time taken to clean the air varies depending on the pollution, room size, and unit capacity, but generally, you’ll notice a difference in the air quality in 30-45 minutes.
Since pets shed hair and dander all day long, and we recommend running your air purifier 24/7, especially if someone in the home has pet allergies.
However, this does not apply to air purifiers that generate ozone for sanitizing the environment as ozone is a toxic gas and poses serious health hazards. You should vacate your home when an ozone generator is running.
How Often You Should Change Filters To Ensure Efficient Removal Of Dander
HEPA filters have many subcategories, each offering a specific efficiency. Medical-grade H13 and H14 HEPA filters can remove more contaminants than those marketed as True HEPA filters.
Most companies don’t recommend cleaning HEPA filters in their air purifiers; instead, you need to directly replace them after a year. This is the same for all types of HEPA filters.
If your unit runs continuously, inspect the filter condition every six months (not just 12 months), and change it if it’s swollen.
As for activated carbon filters your purifier, you need to ideally replace them every 18-24 months and clean them once in 3 months. Refer to your unit’s user manual for specific cleaning instructions, as some companies strictly advise against rinsing them.
Best Air Purifiers For Pet Hair and Dander
Here are our favorite air purifiers for Pet Hair and Dander – they’re easily available on Amazon or on each brand’s individual website:
PureZone™ 3-In-1 True HEPA Air Purifier
The PureZone air purifier by Pure Enrichment has an optional UV-C light, which provides an extra level of air purification by removing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
This purifier features a pre-filter, activated carbon filter and true HEPA filter, ensuring pet dander, hair and odors are removed from around the home.
The PureZone also features a filter reset indicator which illuminates when it’s time to change the filter. It cleans medium sized rooms, up to 200 sq. feet
Alen FIT50 Air Purifier
The FIT50 air purifier by Alen purifies 900 sq. ft. of area in 30 minutes.
We like this air purifier by Alen because of their Fresh Filter. It’s a Medical Grade H13 HEPA filter that’s been combined with carbon. So it can easily remove microscopic particles from the air as well as nasty pet odors.
This filer improves the air quality and particularly helps with congestion, coughing, watery eyes, and sneezing from airborne allergens.
The air purifier is also equipped with smart technology that gauges the air quality and indicates it using three colors on the power button;
- Blue for excellent
- Orange for fair enough
- Red for extremely poor air quality
It’s also compact, with a slick design making for a classy addition to any room.
Medify MA-125
The Medify MA-125 air purifier is compact in size and massive in terms of its capacity. It’s a corded unit that can filter a 1,000 sq. ft room in an hour after turning on.
The unit offers HEPA H13 filtration that can filter particles up to 0.1 microns in size and is hence perfect for smog, allergens, dust, and dander.
One of the best features of this unit is minimal noise. The noise levels while the unit is in operation range from 35dB to 51dB, which is much lower than other air purifiers. It also allows you to set everything from the fan speed to timer, sleep mode, child lock, etc., making it convenient to use.
All in all, it is a great option for pet allergens, hair, odor, and dander.
Want more options? Plentiful Air has this complete list of air purifiers that remove pet dander, hair and odors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about pet dander and hair:
How Can I Reduce Dust and Pet Hair In a Room?
Dust and pet fur are light in weight and mostly mix in the room’s air. Air purifiers are an excellent appliance for cleaning the debris and contaminants in the air, running a unit 24/7 can keep dust and pet hair from the room. Regular vacuuming and wiping is important for the removal of dust and hair settled on rugs and other surfaces.
Fur and dander from pets and general pollutants like dust concentrate in the air and pose a serious threat to health. AQI (air quality index) needs to be less than 100. In order to remove the dander and maintain the air quality, placing an air purifier in the room is crucial.
But air purifiers can only filter out the particles that accumulate in the air. For the contaminants that settle on the various surfaces in the room, here are some tips you can use:
- Vacuum regularly
- Keep your pet clean
- Use a pet brush or comb
- Dust the hard surfaces like floor and tables with a dampened cloth
Do Dyson Air Purifiers Remove Pet Dander?
All Dyson air purifiers guarantee 99.95% removal of allergens and pollutants, including pet fur and dander. Dyson units use activated carbon and HEPA filters that remove chemicals, airborne particles, and pet fur.
Dyson air purifiers are equipped with voice control and smart features and are also compatible with Alexa. Their units are effective for pet hair and dander and also help remove any odors.
Dyson have a range of air purifiers available on Amazon.com.
