This post is a cry for help, so if you leave any suggestions I’d really appreciate it.
I’m 20F and live with my boyfriend 22M. So far we’ve lived in our 850 square feet, 1 bedroom apartment for 2 years.
We have 2 cats that shed a great deal and I will admit, we are not the best at brushing them on a weekly or daily basis.
My partner seems to sleep just fine, but recently I am having horrible sleep. My nose is super itchy and dry, I get really congested in one nose and it switches from time to time. I have a horrible runny nose, itchy throat, and frequent sneezing. My eyes tend to be dry whenever I wake up. At first I thought it was typical spring allergies, but it doesn’t seem to be the case.
I looked up my symptoms and I have no doubt about it being dust mites.
Since we moved in, I’ve realized I have relied on a low quality vacuum for way too long.
As a cat parent, I know I need to be better about grooming my cats. I also need a vacuum that specializes in picking up as much cat hair as my cats shed. I feel like this is my biggest battle I struggle with.
I need a vacuum with good filtration and no leakage. I’ve looked at a couple previous reddit posts of good vacuums with HEPA filters, I was curious if anyone knew of a vacuum that could fulfill both jobs of cat hair control and dust/dust mite elimination. Or whether I should pursue a separate cat hair vacuum, and HEPA filters vacuum entirely.
I am also contemplating purchasing a new mattress. If anyone has recommendations for an allergen cover, that would also be great too.
I’m planning on taking a weekend to deep clean as much as I can by:
Vacuuming
Damp Cloth Dusting
Carpet Wash Deep Clean (Rented)
Grooming my cats twice every week.
Hot Washing Sheets
I already have an air purifier and I think I will end up looking for a dehumidifier as well. We live on the 3rd floor of a 3 story apartment. It tends to get humid pretty quickly.
For the price range of the vacuum, I am willing to spend anywhere for $200-$400. If there is a vacuum that is out of this price range, I’m willing to look/buy and consider it if the quality is worth it.
I am very grateful for any and all recommendations/ suggestions, I get. Thank you for taking the time to read this. : )