How to Maintain Clean Air in a Home with Pets

by Lisa Selvaggio

Published: December 14th, 2025

When you have pets, your indoor air might suffer because of odors, dander, and hair. Even if you aren’t allergic, it’s important to tackle the particles and allergens in the air you breathe—doing so can help keep everyone in your family, including your pets, healthy. Sure, grooming your pet on a regular basis is part of the process, but there are other ways to maintain clean indoor air, and we’ve covered them below.

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Use a High-Quality Air Purifier

Air purifiers help keep the air in your home cleaner by trapping allergens, dust, dander, pet hair, odors, mold spores, and pathogens like viruses and bacteria, especially when they have HEPA filters.

They aren’t all created equal, though, so select one based on your needs. Some air purifiers are larger and more expensive than others, and some can work on bigger spaces, so read product specs carefully to make the right choice.

Consider air purifiers made with pet parents in mind, like the Dreame AP10, which features multi-stage filtration, four smart modes (pet, auto, sleep, turbo), and a hair collection compartment. It catches dust, dander, large particulate pollutants, and hair, and filters fine particulate matter. Plus, the dual-layer activated carbon filter fights odors. Your cat can even rest on top of it!

how to maintain clean air in a home with pets

Tip: If you want to purify the air throughout your entire home, consider whole-house air purification that works with your HVAC system—that way, you won’t have to buy multiple air purifiers for separate rooms.

Open Windows for Airflow

A free and easy way to get the air circulating in your home is by opening windows. Make sure you have intact screens on all of your windows so your pets will be able to look outside and enjoy the fresh air without risking them getting out.

Of course, opening windows can be impossible when it’s really cold or hot out, and that’s when indoor air purification systems are even more helpful. But the simple act of opening windows allows for airflow throughout your house. Let fresh air in, get much-needed ventilation, reduce odors, and get rid of stale, stagnant air.

Note: If allergies are a problem for you or your family, opening windows might let allergens in, so keep that in mind especially during allergy season.

Maintain Your HVAC System

Keeping your HVAC system as clean as possible is ultra-important, whether or not you have pets. And when you have pets who shed a lot of hair, your HVAC filter can get clogged more quickly, reducing the system’s ability to function optimally.

Consider hiring experts to perform an inspection and clean out the air ducts on a regular basis, such as yearly. This can help keep the system running properly, and can help ensure your family is breathing healthy air.

Also, replace air filters often and on a set schedule to further help keep clean air flowing throughout your home—you might need to do this monthly if you have multiple pets.

Clean Floors and Surfaces Often

The surfaces and floors throughout your home can have an effect on the quality of your air, so keeping them clean could make a difference, especially if you have pets who are shedding hair and dander.

Sweep and vacuum your floors regularly. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter can trap allergens, dust, pollen, dander, etc. more effectively. And don’t forget to vacuum upholstered furniture, too. Do this at least weekly. Vacuum and machine-wash your pet’s bedding on a consistent basis as well because doing so can remove allergens, hair, and odor.

Letting dust, dander, fur, and other debris accumulate on furniture, ceiling fans, light fixtures, photos, artwork, etc. can impact the quality of the air you breathe, too. So, dusting surfaces is another weekly task that can help keep your air cleaner.

To make cleaning easier, use products like the Dyson V11 Vacuum, which is cordless and comes with multiple attachments to tackle floors and surfaces. It even traps 99.99% of microscopic particles, and detangles pet hair.

Avoid Toxins

To keep your indoor air as pure as possible, avoid the use of cleaning products with harsh ingredients (e.g., bleach, ammonia), VOCs, and strong fragrances. When shopping for cleaning products, stick with those that contain natural, non-toxic, organic, and pet-safe ingredients, and use them only as directed. Or, use everyday items to make DIY cleaning solutions that are better for indoor air.

Avoid scented products like plug-in air fresheners, air freshener sprays, candles, incense, essential oils, etc., which can reduce air quality and even be harmful to pets. Instead, aim to clean your air and tackle odors naturally using strategies like those discussed above.

Of course, it’s also a great idea to quit smoking, or at least only smoke outside, for your health and the health of your fur babies.

Note: Some indoor plants help improve air quality, but there are many plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. Before bringing any plant home, research if it’s safe for pets. Then, place plants in areas that are out of reach of pets so they won’t be chewed on or knocked over.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality for Yourself and Your Pets

The air you breathe inside your home can have an impact on your health, as well as the health of your animals, so take daily steps to ensure your indoor air is clean.

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Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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