How To Get Rid Of Pet Dander In Carpet
Carpets and pets dont go together for several reasons, and pet dander is one of them. Ideally, allergy sufferers will have limited carpet in the home since it traps allergens that can build up over time.
Other than ripping out the carpet altogether, the best solution to get rid of pet dander is regular cleaning. These tips will help you get rid of more pet dander every time, so break out the vacuum.
While youre at it, you may want to use the vacuum cleaner on the floor rugs, curtains and pet bedding. Better yet, put them in the washing machine if they are machine washable.
What Exactly Is Cat Dander
Dander refers to the microscopic pieces of dead skin that animals with fur or feathers shed into their surrounding environment. Since its defining characteristics are being tiny and lightweight, dander has no problem remaining suspended in the air for long periods of time. Its rough edges allow it to easily latch onto the surfaces in your home, especially those that are softer like bedding and upholstery.
Since dander can glide through the air and hook onto clothing without much difficulty, it can even spread to places where no cat has been before.
One of the reasons that cat dander is a major allergen is because of a protein called Fel d 1, which is commonly found within the skin, urine, and saliva of cats. Research shows that male cats produce less of this protein than female cats, so if youre a first-time cat owner, it may be in your best interest to adopt a Mrs. Sparkles instead of a Mr. Sparkles.
Siberians, Balinese, and Russian Blues are low shedding cats that would all be good options for those with severe allergies because they produce less of the Fel d 1 protein.
My cat has dandruff
To treat dandruff, you can follow the same first two steps to reduce dander in your home, so keep on reading!
Keep Pets Out Of The Bedroom:
One of the biggest mistakes people make is to allow their pets into their bedrooms. The reason for this is that most people spend a large amount of time in their bedrooms, and its an easy place for pet dander and hair to accumulate. If you let your pets sleep with you, they will track cat dander into the house, which can cause serious allergy problems.
Read Also: My Cat’s Pupils Are Different Sizes
Solution 4 Media Air Cleaners/air Purifiers
An air cleaner can catch many particles in your air, including dander. In addition to those microscopic air contaminants, it can also catch fur. Fur is not actually nearly as much of an allergen/irritant as dander, though it is certainly the most obvious.
An air purifier is the easiest solution, because there is just an upfront cost and very little maintenance involved. However, Garner Heating and Air Conditioning recommends combining an air cleaner with thorough cleaning to really experience an enhancement in indoor air quality.
Sweat X Free And Clear Detergent
In addition to pet allergies, I am very sensitive to dyes and perfumes. The Sweat X Free & Clear Activewear Detergent is the first detergent ever to be certified by the AAHA. It is non-toxic and biodegradable and free of any brighteners, dyes, or perfumes.
Ive tried this detergent over the past month and I have had no allergic reaction to it. Best of all, it removes sweat, body odor, any strong armpit smells, and really keeps clothes looking their best. It is tough on odors and stains but seems gentle enough to for sensitive skin like mine.
Things I Like
- Gets rid of tough stains like dirt, mudh, wine, and paw marks
- Feels gentle on clothes and doesnt irritate the skin
- Rinses through even the most tightly woven fabrics
- Washes away odor-causing bacteria without masking perfumes
- Safe to use on pet apparel, blankets, and bedding
Things to Consider
Also Check: Irregular Pupil Shape In Cats
S To Reduce The Level Of Cat Dander & Allergens Indoors
So unless no one will ever pass from the basement apartment into the upstairs of the building, it is likely that at least some cat dander will enter the home by that route. Here are some suggestions that should help reduce the allergenicity of your home if cats are living in the basement:
Getting Rid Of Pet Dander: Reduce Your Pet Allergies
If you are someone that has a pet allergy, you know terrible and debilitating it can feel when it strikes.
Your nose feels like a leaky faucet, your eyes are puffy and watering, your chest feels tight and it makes you feel like crap.
Maybe you just moved in with a partner that has a pet and you are trying to see how to manage your pet allergies.
Or it is even possible to develop an allergy to your pet after years of exposure to the allergens.
Whatever the case, our job is to show you how you can manage your pet allergies and live in harmony with your pet.
The most important thing is getting rid of the allergen dander.
You May Like: At What Age Can A Kitten Be Declawed
Removing Feline Fur From Your Home
For some people who are allergic to cats, their symptoms may seem so extreme that even if they love cats, they cant bear to suffer the symptoms that come on when they are near their pet. Although cat dander can be a nuisance to those with Fel D1 sensitivity, it doesnt have to be a deal breaker. Especially when buying a home, these danders can be unbearable. Mild allergy sufferers can remove some of the dander, present in their home through a variety of methods.
It is obviously important to keep a generally clean homeregular dusting, vacuuming, and washing laundry are some good practices to follow in order to lessen the amount of dander present. If seasonal outdoor allergies are not an issue, opening windows for ventilation and dilution are a good additional measure to take. Even following these guidelines, however, wont be able to remove all of the cat dander.
Clean Behind Large Appliances
You may be surprised to find that cat dander can also find its way behind large appliances. If your new home has a cat dander problem, take a day or two to move and clean behind large appliances such as the refrigerator, stove, laundry machines, and any radiators or heaters.
To do this, you can use a mop or a soapy washcloth to remove any dander, dust, and debris that may be lurking beneath these appliances. Also, consider cleaning those hard-to-reach areas, including the top of kitchen cabinets and high shelves in the closets.
Don’t Miss: Cat Pee Stain Wood Floor
Clean Your House To Rid It Of Pet Dander
If you currently live with a cat but suffer from allergies, you’ll want to take special care to remove the dander from your furniture, the carpet, and walls. Obviously, the more you clean, the more you reduce allergens in your home.
- Wash your walls and ceiling with hot soapy water.
- Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and vacuum everything. This is especially important in crevices where dander becomes trapped such as around baseboards, windowsills, draperies and even lamp shades. Don’t forget to vacuum your cat’s bedding and play area.
- Operate an air cleaner with a HEPA filter in your bedroom and main living areas.
- Steam clean carpets and upholstery periodically.
- Use an anti-mite product such as X-Mite to remove mites and dander from upholstery and carpets.
- Use anti-mite covers on your bed.
- Change/clean your furnace filters every three months.
- Add a layer of cheese cloth over the furnace vent in your bedroom to provide additional filtering of dander from your furnace. Launder the cloth at least once a month, depending on the severity of your allergy.
- Choose a dust-free cat litter over clay litter.
- Wear gloves and a facial mask when cleaning the litter box, and handle the task outside whenever possible.
Can An Air Purifier Work On Pet Dander
Depending on the technology, an air purifier that uses a filter to remove particles can have a significant impact on the amount of pet allergens. These tiny particles can suspend in the air for long periods of time, even if your pet is not present in the home. Removing as much of them as possible may help with allergy symptoms.
Recommended Reading: Wood Pellet Sifting Litter Box
Reply: You Can Reduce But Not Eliminate Cat Dander Allergy Problems In A Home Where Cats Are Present
Presuming that by “downstairs” area you refer to a basement apartment that is isolated from the rest of the home, all of the steps you suggested are in our OPINION, all good ones, but in our experience it is just about impossible to completely eliminate cat dander from non-cat areas of a building.
In sum, animal dander such as cat or dog dander that is concentrated in the portion of a building to which the animal is physically restricted will nevertheless migrate to other building areas. Dander particles move in air flow, via HVAC systems, ventilation systems, and attached to the shoes or clothing of people moving between building areas.
Cat dander migration example: in testing an office where a worker complained of cat allergies and suspected high levels of cat allergens, the most significant reservoir of cat dander we found was on a sweater draped over a worker’s desk chair. The worker lived in a home with cats. The chair itself was the second highest source of cat dander particles in that work area. The cat had never been in the office space itself!
Keep The Pet Out Of The Bedroom
This is the most important step and one that can be a game-changer for allergy sufferers. Do not allow your pet into your room at all.
The bedroom is where you spend a good 6-8hrs and the last thing you want is to spend the whole night breathing in dander and waking up feeling like crap.
Dogs are easy to train when teaching them about rooms that they cant enter. Cats on the other hand can be a bit more challenging.
You can check out our article which shows you how to train your cat to not enter a room.
Also Check: Do Cats Like Pellet Litter
Hear What People Are Saying About Us
I suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and it has worsened over the last year. I found OdorKlenz through Debra Lynn Dadd and began to research their mobile exchange unit. I have now had the unit for over 6 months and it has been a true-life saver. I no longer worry about odors or fragrances from adjacent apartments in my building and I can now sleep safe and sound with my OdorKlenz Mobile.
T. Booth
We use this unit to control odors from our 4 cats litter box, although we do our best to keep it cleaned and changed that can be very tough when having to work and manage 4 young children. Our OdorKlenz machine helps keep the odors down and from spreading throughout our home and for that I give it 5 stars!!
Karen. H
We rent a space where one of our roommates is highly allergic to cats and we happen to own three!! We were worried we would have to move because of the issue that the cat dander was causing to our roommate friend, we purchased this air purifier and leave it in the living room where the cats spend the most time in. I can honestly say that since we have turned on the system our air is a lot cleaner and there is literally no hair to be found anywhere and best of all our roommate can bow actually tolerate being around our cats. I would highly recommend using this unit for those who have allergies or need to control odors and dander.
Barb. H
Make Sure To Brush Your Pet Regularly
Most pet stores carry pretty much every pet grooming supply you need. Brushing a pet helps spread healthy oils on their fur and skin to the rest of the body. As a result, your pets skin and hair stay healthy, and that often means reduced shedding.
Its a bad idea to brush your dog inside your home. All the dead skin and hair would end up on the floor only to get kicked into the air later.
Whats the best brush for grooming a shedding dog to reduce pet dander? According to Pets.WebMD, its crucial to match the brushing tool to your pets coat type. Bristle brushes are the all-rounder choice for all coat types. For short-haired pups, use a brush with stiffer bristles and a long-bristle brush if theyre long-haired. As for pets with a curly or wooly coat, use a wire-pin brush. And if you own a short-haired dog who loves massages, go for a rubber comb.
This video teaches how to brush a dogs coat correctly.
Can you brush a cats fur? Yes, you can even though cats are naturally great groomers. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, brushing a cats coat removes dirt, grease, dead hair, and skin flakes the skin. Whats more, cat coat brushing promotes blood circulation while improving the health of the skin over the long term.
Recommended Reading: Funny Cat Names Lovecraft
How To Remove Cat Dander When House Cleaning
Related Articles
Pet ownership has many wonderful benefits, but exposure to cat dander can lead to a variety of health problems for allergy sufferers. Whether you’ve recently moved into a home where a cat lived or you’re trying to manage symptoms caused by a beloved household pet, the best way to feel better is to eliminate dander from your surrounding environment. A few simple techniques help remove cat dander during house cleaning for healthier, happier living.
What Is The Best Pet Dander Air Purifier
Airborne cat dander is one of the biggest culprits to triggering uncomfortable allergy symptoms. Therefore, the best thing to do to alleviate those symptoms is to remove the pet dander from the air. Although many standard filters and HVAC systems are designed to trap allergy-causing substances like pollen and pet dander, they dont effectively remove the riskthose particles are unfortunately often just recycled back into the air. The best solution for removing cat dander in your home is the OdorKlenz Mobile Air System, a portable odor eliminating air purification system that not only traps particles in the air like dander or other irritants but also breaks down and neutralizes the odors that they produce as well. OdorKlenzs unique technology breaks down these substances in a way that other filters do notdander is not only trapped but pet odors are also removed from the source.
The OdorKlenz Mobile is convenient for use in the home because it comes with wheels that make it easy to move from room to room. With three different settings, users can customize the filtration process depending on their need. This system is unlike any other air purifying system. Users with cat allergies are able to notice a difference within only days. It is by far the best solution for those who suffer from dander allergies, but who dont want to have to give up their pet because of it.
Read Also: What’s The Cats Name On The Smurfs
Drastic Solutions To Get Rid Of Cat Dander
Sometimes, simply cleaning your house thoroughly is not going to do the trick. This is especially true for non-cat owners who end up living in a home that was previously owned by cat-owners. If your find that even with your best attention, your allergies are still acting up, you may need to take more drastic measures.
- Repaint the interior of your house every few years.
- Replace or completely remove carpeting whenever practical.
- Consider replacing any fabric furniture with furniture in leather or vinyl. Fabric tends to trap dander, and vinyl and leather are easier to clean.
- Have your furnace and duct work professionally cleaned twice a year.