Skip to content
Woman sitting on couch with three dogs and hugging one

Do Air Purifiers Help with Pet Dander?

You know when the sun is shining perfectly through the living room window and you sit on the couch or chair only to see an explosion of pet dander enter the atmosphere? Makes you feel kind of gross, right? If you struggle with pet allergies due to pet dander you’re probably here to see if an air purifier is a good solution, and thinking to yourself “will an air purifier help with pet allergies?

With about 10% of the U.S. population allergic to pet dander, the battle to keep it at bay is top of mind for many households. If left unkept, pet dander can have a significant impact on your indoor air quality, which can lead to serious pet-related allergies and even asthma in the future. So, it’s vitally important to maintain clean air in your home to prevent it.

The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce the amount of pet dander in your home and improve indoor air quality at the same time.

In this article, we’ll cover:

So let’s get started!


How Do HEPA Filters Remove Pet Dander?

HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are a popular choice for pet owners looking to reduce the amount of pet dander and other allergens in their homes. But how exactly do these filters work to remove pet dander?

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, pet dander is made up of tiny flakes of skin shed by cats, dogs, and other animals. These flakes can be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye, making them difficult to remove from the air. However, HEPA filters are specifically designed to capture even the smallest particles, including pet dander.

Air purifiers utilize HEPA filters by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps particles as small as 0.3 microns. This means that pet dander, which typically ranges in size from 2.5 to 10 microns, is easily captured by the filter. Once trapped, the pet dander is removed from the air, resulting in cleaner, healthier air to breathe.

But HEPA filters don't just trap pet dander. They can also capture other common indoor air pollutants like dust mites, pollen, and mold spores. And if you’re wondering, “do air purifiers help with pet hair?” They can help with that too!

Woman lying on the couch reading a book with an air purifier cleaning the room

Do Air Purifiers Help with Dog Dander?

Dog dander can be a real challenge, especially if you or someone in your house suffers from allergies or respiratory issues. Air purifiers are a popular solution to reducing dog dander and other airborne allergens in your home. But do air purifiers help with allergies to dogs?

Yes, air purifiers are highly effective in reducing dog dander which helps with allergies to dogs. They accomplish this by using a fan to pull air through a filter to continuously capture and remove dog dander from the air. Giving you fresh, clean air to breathe.

However, it's important to note that not all air purifiers are created equal. Models specifically designed to remove pet dander and pet-related allergens often have HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, which are specifically designed to capture small particles like dog dander.


Pro Tip: When searching for the best air purifier for pets it’s important to know that quality air purifiers will use a combination of filter types to solve a pet dander problem. For example, the Austin Air Healthmate Plus uses a combination of a HEPA filter to remove dog dander and an activated carbon filter to remove pet odors from the air to give you a whole-home solution.


Finally, remember that air purifiers are not a complete solution to reducing dog dander in your home. Regular vacuuming, bathing your dog, and minimizing their access to certain areas of your home can also help reduce the amount of dog dander present.


Will an Air Purifier Help with Cat Dander, Too?

Air purifiers have become increasingly popular as a proven way to reduce cat dander in your home. However, while air purifiers can certainly capture particles from the air, the effectiveness of an air purifier in reducing cat dander will depend on a variety of factors.

Firstly, it's important to recognize that cat dander is not just fur or hair. According to PetMD, it’s rather a combination of dead skin cells, saliva, and urine. These particles are incredibly small and can easily become airborne, making them difficult to capture and easy for you to inhale.

When searching for an air purifier for cat dander, it's important to choose a model with a HEPA filter, which is specifically designed to remove particles as small as 0.3 microns. Cat dander typically ranges in size from 2.5 to 10 microns, so it’s easily captured by the filter. However, not all HEPA filters are created equal, and it's important to choose a filter that is specifically designed to capture pet dander.


Pro Tip: When searching for an air purifier for cat dander it’s important to know that air purifiers will use a combination of filter types to solve a pet dander problem. For example, the Airpura V700 Air Purifier uses a combination of a HEPA filter to capture cat dander and an activated carbon filter to soak in cat-related odors to give you a fully-encompassing solution.


Finally, it's important to take other measures to reduce and prevent the amount of cat dander in your home. Regular cleaning and maintenance, such as vacuuming with a HEPA filter, bathing your cat, and wiping down surfaces, can help a lot in reducing the amount of cat dander present in your house.

Air purifier in middle of the room with a cat sitting next to it

Do Air Purifiers Work on Pet Dander? Yes!

Air purifiers can be a great tool in the fight against pet dander. They are designed to capture and remove tiny particles like pet dander from the air and can help improve the overall air quality in your home. However, it's important to keep in mind that air purifiers are not a magic solution, and you should take additional steps to reduce pet dander in your home, such as regular cleaning and grooming of your pets.

Another important thing to think about is the size of the air purifier in relation to the size of the room it will be used in. If you choose a small air purifier that isn't rated for the square footage of the space, it might not be strong enough to capture all the dog and cat dander in a larger room. So, to be on the safe side, it's a good idea to go for an air purifier that's rated at least 1.5 times larger than the room it'll be used in to get the best possible results.

Ultimately, the decision to invest in an air purifier for pet dander is a personal one. But if you or someone in your household suffers from allergies or respiratory issues like asthma, an air purifier could make a significant difference in their quality of life. So, whether you're a cat person or a dog person, it's worth considering how an air purifier could help you and your furry friend breathe easier.


Want to purchase an air purifier for pet dander, but don’t know where to start? Check out our latest list of the best air purifiers to find the perfect unit for you.

Still, have questions? Speak with our team of world-class air purifier experts at (877) 791-8083 or send us an email at support@wellnesjunction.com and we’d be happy to help.

Previous article Do Air Purifiers Help with Cat Smell?