Ask a House Cleaner, Allergic to Pets, Savvy Cleaner

Allergic to Pets – Tips for House Cleaners

Are you allergic to pets? I know how you feel. I was the cleaning lady allergic to dogs and would get a headache. But you still have to clean even if you’re allergic to pets. 

We Ask a House Cleaner about maids and pet allergies, airborne allergens and what to do if your nose itches. Or is it watery eyes and a hypersensitivity to pet dander? House cleaning is no fun when you’re allergic to pets.

Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares tips on apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. End that sneeze, wheeze, cough and flu-like symptoms. Your air filters, (lungs) and immune system will thank you. 

Today’s sponsors are Savvy Cleaner Training (for house cleaners and maids.) My Cleaning Connection (a hub for really cool cleaning stuff.) And HouseCleaning360.com (a hub where you can list your house cleaning business and customers can find you. 

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Hey there, I’m Angela Brown, and this is Ask a House Cleaner. This is a show where you get to ask a house cleaning question, and I get to help you find an answer.

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Question: Allergic to Pets – Tips for House Cleaners

Allergic to Pets allergic womanToday’s question comes from a house cleaner who is allergic to pets. 

And she says “Angela, how can I go clean a house? I am so allergic to pets that I can’t survive.” 

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Answer: Speaking from Experience – I Too Am Allergic to Pets

Allergic to Pets dog furI too am allergic to pets. Cats and dogs.

And when I get to people’s houses and they say “Oh, my dogs don’t shed.” And I can look with my eyes and I can see their big balls of fur underneath their couch.

I’m thinking “Yeah, about that.” Because people will always tell you “Well my dog doesn’t give off allergies.”

Yeah, they do. I can tell because my eyes water and my nose itches and I just feel miserable and blah.

Keep Your Filters Clean

So, if you are allergic to your client’s pet, how do you cope when you clean house? Well, it’s maintenance.

The first thing that you have to realize is that what you breathe filters through your body. 

So, you have to keep your own filters clean. So that when that stuff comes in you have the antibodies that you can fight that off with.

Most Clients Have Pets

Allergic to Pets four dogsI’ve been cleaning houses for 25 years and I’m still allergic to pets. I never figured out the exact ratio but I would say about 85% of my customers had pets.

And I would go bid homes and they have no pets. And I’m like “YES! No Pets!”

And then I’d go back to clean and they’re like “Hey, we got four dogs.” I’m like “great… awesome.”

My Solution

Allergic to Pets water bottleOkay, so in order for you to deal with that, I have a simple solution.

The simple solution it’s not free, but it’s next to free. Take a bottle of water. 

I just use the 16-ounce bottle.

I drink it down so there are about 4 ounces missing out of the bottle.

Apple Cider Vinegar (With the Mother)

Allergic to Pets mother vinegarThen I take some apple cider vinegar (with the mother). You’ll be able to tell because there’s usually a little bit of muck at the bottom.

I don’t know what the mother is other than it supposed to be good for you.

So, get the apple cider vinegar with the mother.

There are many brands on the market but its apple cider vinegar with the mother that’s what you want to make sure of.

Lemon Juice

Allergic to Pets lemon juiceThe next thing is you can use raw lemons or you can just buy lemon juice. I use lemon juice from the bottle, but it’s 100 % real lemon juice.  

So I top the water with about two ounces of the apple cider vinegar, and I fill about two ounces with the lemon juice. I just shake it up and it is a nasty drink. But I drink it every day.

The Results

Allergic to Pets drink recipeAnd what happens is this; it clears out the sinuses.

It clears out all the mucus is in your head. This mucus is what catches dog hair, fur, pet dander, and dust.  

This is all the stuff that you deal with when you go inside to clean a house.

You Are the Face of Your Business

Allergic to Pets hangoverYou are the biggest asset to your company when you are the one out there cleaning. 

And so, if you show up at a customer’s house. And your eyes are bloodshot and you just look exhausted. It’s not because you’re tired, it’s because you have allergies. But you don’t look healthy.

So you go into a customer’s house to be bringing healthful and helpful solutions. Instead, you look like you have a hangover or something! 

This Doesn’t Work

Allergic to Pets allergic to dogsSo, that’s not good at all. And it’s not good for you to be sneezing and itching and whatever because here’s the catch.

Even though you’re wearing gloves while you’re cleaning, you still touch your eyes. Now you’re transferring the chemicals that you’ve been touching your eyes.

If you have to scratch your nose or your face you’re putting all those chemicals up there. And it’s unrealistic to take your gloves off and put them back on every time to do that. It is just unrealistic and it wastes time.

Prevention is Key

So, the thing is you don’t get to do that while you’re house cleaning. You don’t get to like to scratch your face.

This little cocktail is not FDA-approved, it is just something I came up with. It has been working for me for years. 

But it prevents sickness. It keeps all the germs at bay. I don’t know why I can’t explain it, I’m not a scientist. I’m not a licensed certified anything that can give you health advice. I’m not.

The Grand Poohbah of Tricks

Allergic to Pets the grand poo-bahWhat I have found for me in housecleaning this is the Grand Poohbah. This is the drink that does the trick. 

And it keeps me from getting sick so that I’m not calling in sick canceling on my customers. Because I feel great.

And we know that time is money. When I cancel because I’m sick I lose a whole week’s worth of work or so.  

 

 

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About the Show

Learn how the show came to be, interesting facts about the show host, and other frequently asked questions about the show.

Resources For This Episode

How to Start Your Own Cleaning Business – http://startyourownhousecleaningcompany.com
American Pet Products Association – http://www.americanpetproducts.org/

Solid Citrus Air Fresheners – http://amzn.to/1ZQUi13

Apple Cider Vinegar – http://amzn.to/1Ss8aJJ 

Real Lemon Juice – http://amzn.to/1RRsolz

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Show Sponsors

SAVVY CLEANER – House Cleaner Training and Certification – https://savvycleaner.com

MY CLEANING CONNECTION – Your hub for all things cleaning – https://mycleaningconnection.com

HOUSECLEANING360.COM – Connecting House Cleaners with Homeowners – https://housecleaning360.com

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