Carpets, Cats and Asthma

We don't have asthma issues but we do have allergies and animals we don't want to part with and lots of carpet. We have a Rainbow Vaccuum. They can be kindof pricy but worth it cause they last forever. My parents bought a new one and gave us their old one (at least 20 years old) to try to see if it would help with our allergies. It still works better than my regular vaccuum, and yes I did see a difference in our allergies since we started using it. The vaccuum sits on a water base so the dirt that you vaccuum up goes into the water and is not filtered back into the air. You could possibly find an older one of these on Ebay or Craigslist, etc.

OMG - sorry about that crazy lady. I kinda rolled my eyes when I read "don't throw anything at me" - and then I saw what that nut wrote - maybe it was just her idea of a joke. Are folks actually that mean to you? (I mean other than the crazy lady?) Next time someone gives you a hard time, just say "The Civil War is over, Y'ALL!" (And if they're REAL jerks, add "And the South lost!")

ANYWAY, I've got 4 cats and an allergic husband, too, so I know what a pain allergies can be. Keeping the cats out of the room you sleep in can help - but the allergens that are already there stick around for MONTHS.

But honestly, I think you're gonna be fighting a losing battle until you can figure out a way to get rid of that wall-to-wall carpet. Maybe you can try just one room at a time, and if you do it yourself, you can do it cheaply. (Especially if you count how much you spend on allergy medications, or fighting colds, or vacuuming. Or washing the cats!!! Good grief - I think I'd start living in a tent in the backyard before I washed all 4 cats every weekend. Talk about lowering your quality of life. And don't think the cats will be any happier about it, either!)

Now, I have just been re-doing my kitchen floor, which I have HATED for almost 10 years now, but I could never afford to replace it. Finally, I was at Home Depot or Lowes and I saw some great-looking peel-and-stick vinyl tile - for around $1.00 a square foot, and I decided I just couldn't take that floor anymore. (I mean, the seams had been coming apart and were held together with duct tape - and they'd had duct tape for 10 years! Every now and then, we'd spiff the place up and put down shiny new duct tape. :-\ )

Vinyl flooring really does look so much nicer these days,
not at all like the cheesy ones we had in the 70s. They even have ones that look like long wood planks, in oak, hickory, and one that I really liked looks like reclaimed wood.(I ended up going with a square tile that I swear looks exactly like travertine. Maybe it was $1.30 a sq. foot.)

OH! And IKEA has flooring these days, too! Good looking stuff, and of course, super super cheap. Gotta love IKEA!

One last tip, I have a friend who has allergies to pollen and plants and whenever he's on a trip, he stops by a grocery store and picks up some local honey. (I mean, I pick him up at the airport and he immediately makes me stop by the grocery store.) He says when he has a tablespoon or so of local honey, it helps his allergies. Sounds a little new-agey to me, personally, but he swears by it. This might work because it's a quick way to get acclimated to a new place - since you're living here and not just here on a trip, it may not work as well. And of course it won't help much with cats, but I figured a bit of honey can't hurt.

I also have 2 cats and an allergic husband. Check out www.achooallergy.com. They have a lot of great products and are located off of Peachtree Industrial Blvd in Doraville, so you don't have to pay shipping unless that's an inconvenient area for you. I recently purchased pillow case covers, dust mite laundry additive and Dust Mitex (I think that's what it's called - you mix the powder in a spray bottle and spray it on your carpet). Additionally, I purchased some air purifiers from Walmart (Holmes brand) at about $40 each for the rooms that we use the most. My husband is MUCH less snotty (forgive the expression) since I implemented these things.

Hi there E.,
I used to work for a Chiropractor and she ordered many items from National Allergy Supply. I have also purchased air purifiers from them and they are a great company. They carry many home cleaning products that may help with cleaning your carpets thouroughly. Here is a link to their web site.
http://www.natlallergy.com/cat/7/home-dust-mite-allergen-...
I hope that helps a little.
A.

First, I have allergies, as well as my daughter, I have two large dogs, which both shed, so I understand about the pets. The best thing I have found, is to vacuum as much as possible, using a bag that has a high filtration level, which helps the dust, hair, etc from getting back into the air, and I have two air purifiers in my home, one large one that I can use for the house, but I have a personal one in the bedroom. Since I used the one in the bedroom, our allergies are much better. Oh, and the response from Helen, just disregard, it was out of line.

I was allergic to everything as a child....I was told to get rid
of my cats we didn't funny I'm not allergic anymore to be honest I think there can be a few things that trigger allergies but you can be allergic to more then a few. At this point in my life it's pine trees...like I can get away from them in Ga. I would look into alternative medicine you'd be surprised at what canhelp that all those pills and shots don't always do.

Just moving from up North to down here can cause anyones allergies to go nuts!! Trust me, my daughter and I came from Indina and it was hell for the first year here!! But it's gotten better over time (over 4 yrs living here now). Tree, grass and weed pollen run rampt down here. My hubby is also allergic to cats and we have 2 of them that are indoor. This is what I do to help keep the allergens at bay.......change my air filter on the first of every month. I use the pleated kind since they do the best of keeping the dust and dirt traped on it. I change our bed sheets (the cats sleep on my side of the bed) once a week. I break my vaccuming down a room or two a day but the living room/dinning room gets done about 2 times a week on average. I also try to do the baseboards, blinds, air vents and hard to reach areas once a month. I also vac the couch and loveseat about once a month too.

Other than that, not too sure what all can be done. Hope some others can give you some ideas!!

S.

The carpet has to go!

E.,
Having been a life-long allergy sufferer and animal lover I have tried a lot of stuff to alleviate the symptoms. What I have found to work are much like some of the many things the others have suggested. We move frequently enough - carpet replacement is NOT an option in most places. I vacuum daily with an "old fashioned" bag-using vacuum. My new one has a hepa filter system, but the one I had for 13 years prior was a regular old Hoover. Rainbows are great, but expensive & in a smallish house you could almost put down laminate floors for the cost of that machine. I would not recommend bagless vacuums for dust, dander, & pollen allergy sufferers - they are so messy to empty, stuff goes flying and you just have to deal with it again. Just my personal experience, I know folks who love them, but they make my eyes water and my congestion and breathing difficulties return. The heavy-duty filters for your air conditioner are a huge help, as are the additional use of the cut-to-fit ones you put in the vents (I hose them off every few months and put them back). Not only do I not have to dust as often, but we all feel so much better. Something else that we have found makes a tremendous difference is changing/washing the pillow-cases every other day, and showering before bed instead of in the morning, at least to rinse out the days pollen and such from the hair. This way you are not transferring the pollen and such from your hair to your pillow and breathing it in all night long. The only other thing we try do is to quarterly clean the carpets - not shampoo them. We use a rug doctor-type machine with no detergent, just water. Go over the carpets until the water runs clear. Do not open the window to "help the carpet dry." Then the pollen will get stuck in it.
Hope you find something that works.

I would get the carpets cleaned--call CitruSolution because they use a buffer which spins and pulls fur out of the carpet and backing which could help the allergy situation and the solution is made of delimamine (found in citrus peels) so hopefully there wouldn't be any reaction there.

The other thing that may sound crazy is getting the cats bathed every so often. Yes there are groomers that do it if you don't want to--Tail Waggers in Decatur does for sure

Best wishes!

Hi E.,
Sorry I got on this so late. I dont know what the rudeness was about but I sure am sorry you had to deal with that. This site is to help people and it usually does until you get the bad apple! Sorry again. My advise is to seek a chiropractor. I am a chiropractor and I assure you it can help your family with allergies! If your skeptic, dont worry, I used to say they were only quacks too. It wasnt until one literally saved my life that I became a believer. A good multivitamin can help too. Best of luck to you :)

Hey E. -

Welcome! You sound like my kind of girl (I have fot-in-mouth disease, but really, it's better than being dishonest). So, about allergies - are you sure it's indoor? I do nt personally suffer from allergies, but a lot of my family members do, and when we made the move to the South (yes, I'm no native, either, so I will not be throwing anything!), their sinuses went crazy! Where are you located? I would suggest seeing a specialist to find out what is bothering them. If it's outdoor, add local honey to the daily diet. It will take awhile, but eventually it helps. If it's dander, consider alternative diets for the cats. I know of food for dogs that is amazing - seriously, I don't have dogs, but I know a breeder/trainer, and his outside water-loving retrievers are so soft and shiny and NOT smelly, I asked him how often he bathes them, he said NEVER! It's the food! It's called EVOLVE. It may come for cats, too, I don't know, but when we get pets, we're using it. It's pricey, but so are meds and vet visits, which are minimal with a good diet. The only other things for indoor allergies are those expensive air purifiers or a really good vacuum every day. Good luck! I suspect it's the relocation - hopefully, because that would be the easiest to address.

Have you tried an air purifier? Those can actually help a lot. My mother-in-law has one that she sits in the corner of the living room. She also vacuums every day and is a very thorough cleaner. That helps me a lot when I visit her (weekly) since she has a cat, which I am allergic to. I know how miserable allergies to cats can be. I am surprised that you won't consider finding the cats another home. You should also try keeping the cats out of the bedrooms and not letting them be in the same room at the same time as the people with allergies. A few years ago we gave away our dog because my young children started having asthma and allergy issues. It was hard but worth the sacrifice. Good luck.

E.,
thank you for posting. This is a problem for an increasing amount of people! There are a couple great resources that I have made note of- thanks ladies!

I would also try going to the health food store and finding out about a homeopathic remedy that will help. They are not toxic like the over the counter drugs you may be taking. My daughter has never had over the counter drugs EVER! I love homeopathy!

Also, if you are burning paraffin wax candles, STOP! There are 12 known carcinogens in paraffin wax! It is the left over sludge from a barrel of oil, chlorinated and then textured with more chemicals! Nice, eh? Here is a link to an article on paraffin http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Illuminating-t...

All the best!
C. Hiebel
www.abundantlight.info

there is something that you can feed your cat to reduce the proteins that cause the allergies in your family... i've heard of it, but can't find it even on the internet. ask your vet if they might know what that is..

good luck to you! i know how pets can become such a part of the family!!

Sorry to say, get rid of the cats, and both your husband and daughter will thank you.

For sure the carpets are a problem for allergy sufferers. Maybe a long term plan -- switching to flooring? In the meantime, I've heard of a carpet cleaning service that leaves no residue -- ZeroRez, or something like that. Also, maybe have your air system cleaned. And change filters every month. If you see an allergist, he/she may recommend allergy shots. I have no personal experience with them but I know people who have.

I wouldn't get too bent out of shape from that rude response you got. To give it "brain space" is to give it credence. There are all types out there, you know?

Loved your story. Thanks on NOT getting rid of the cats, there is a solution out there. I am sure you have considered the shots that adapt your immune system to what is causing the issues? And remember allergies are the body's OVER REACTION to the irritant. Have you guys gone to an allergist to find out what to allergy is to? (sorry about grammar!)
And try local honey- the pollen in it will help a system adapt. Local honey only.

Heard wonderful things about The Rainbow vacuum. And if you wash the cats, no running water, that's the trick, the still water they don't mind nearly as much. Then have a glass of wine after.

Ohh and about Helen? Please, Helen honey, time for a little nap.

Hi E.,

My husband and son both have allergies and asthma. I've tried Arm and Hammer Allergy Formula Carpet Fresh. We don't have pets, but both my husband and child noticed that they could breathe easier. Remodeling the carpet areas isn't in our budget just yet either, this gave us a great result with minimal cost.

I know that you said you were allergic to Febreeze, but have you tried their allergian reducer? That may not have an allergic reaction for you. I use that on soft surfaces in the house in addition to the carpet freshener.

Air purification systems are also great. We have two, one for our bedroom and another for our son's. We use them in the evenings before bed and keep them on all night. Changing air filters monthly has been a great help too!

Good luck,

T.
PS
I forgot that you might just want to try baking soda on the carpet. It's natural and has no chemicals so you might not have an allergic reaction to it.

I don't know how open you are to alternative therapies, but there is a therapy for allergies called NAET. You can research it online and find a doctor who practices it. It may help clear the allergies. Good luck!

Hi, E.

My daughter had the same problem. You might want to try a company that "dry cleans" the carpet. We did until we removed all the carpet in the house. Hughes DRY ###-###-#### or www.hughesdry.com My husband uses him for his customers.
I have 4 indoor cats. They are family!!
Oh-- being from the North... too many of us down here to worry about that! formerly a W.N.Yorker :o)

Hi E.,
I have asthma/allergies and even a 20-minute visit to a person's house with cats risks sending me to the hospital so I don't have too much advice other than what's already been shared. I did want to mention two things: (1) I'm so sorry you received that RUDE comment -- we are not all like that down here (though I'm a transplanted Yankee too -- moved down here when I was 11) and (2) have you considered chiropractic care? It may seem unrelated, but I've actually noticed my regular allergies (pollen, weeds, etc.) are much less bothersome when I'm under care. Just something to think about.
Karen

Yes. We have tried them and they gave us marginal results. We are right there with you on the carpet budget. I've heard from many that an air purification system has helped them. They are quite expensive, but less than re-carpeting your house.

Also as someone else stated. We change our heating/air filter's often and use the expensive ones. As we have a completely wooded back yard that drives us crazy in the spring/fall. Also you may want to try eating locally produced honey it has some sort of immunity effect.

you can try several things that may work if done together.Like a air pur.,vacuuming often,steam cleaning often or getting a special brush for cats to keep the shedding to a min.

My youngest son has asthma and seasonal allergies as well. I steam clean our carpet with an allergen reducer made by Hoover. We also have a air purifier in his room that we run a while before bed and during the night.

You could try bathing your cats with an allergen reducer shampoo. You can also buy wipes with an allergen reducer in it. Do you have leather furniture? I would also suggest not letting the cats in the bedrooms AT ALL. Their dander is still there even after they leave the room. Try a litter that isn't too dusty, I like Fresh Step. Change your air filter at home often and you can get an air purifier for the rooms. Good luck.