How to Get Rid of Cat Dander on Furniture, Cabinets, and Floors

For those with allergies to cats, contact with cat dander can cause sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, itchy eyes and hives. The dander, or skin flakes, can get all over your furniture, cabinets and floors. Clean up the dander to help reduce allergy symptoms while living with a cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Vacuum with HEPA filter
  • Electrostatic cleaning cloths
  • Room air purifier
  • Warm water
  • Castile or dish soap
  • Vinegar
  • Bucket
  • Mop
  • Electrostatic sweeper
  • Lemon essential oil
  • Carpet and upholstery steam cleaner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Vacuum all carpets using a vacuum with a special HEPA filter. The HEPA filter removes all particles of dander --- some less than 1 micron in size, --- from the carpeting. Do not use a non-HEPA vacuum as this can actually worsen the problem by causing the cat dander particles to become airborne for up to 8 hours after vacuuming. You can vacuum hardwood or tile floors as well to thoroughly clean away any pet dander particles.

    • 2

      Steam clean carpets with a solution of 3 quarts hot water, 1 cup vinegar and 2 teaspoons castile or dish soap. This will will wash away any dander embedded in the carpet that you did not vacuum up. The natural ingredients in the solution will not only clean and freshen the carpet, but will not worsen allergies.

    • 3

      Clean hardwood or tile floors with a sweeper that uses disposable or washable electrostatic cloths to clean away dander. Follow up the cleaning by mopping the floors with a solution of 1/8 cup castile or dish washing soap, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 2 gallons warm water. For wood floors, use only a slightly damp mop. Repeat this routine weekly to keep dander at a minimum.

    • 4

      Dust tables and cabinets with an electrostatic cloth to catch dander. Lightly wet the cloth with a solution of 1/2 cup warm water and 5 to 6 drops of lemon oil. Wipe down all cabinets thoroughly to remove dander with the damp cloth and repeat using a dry cloth to remove any moisture. You can use this method inside cabinets as well to remove any dander.

    • 5

      Shampoo upholstery on couches and chairs to remove dander. Use the same solution described in Step 2 for carpets since this all-natural solution works on upholstery as well. Cover them with washable furniture throws or slipcovers so you can remove and wash them weekly without having to shampoo your furniture so often.

    • 6

      Wipe down leather or vinyl furniture using a slightly damp electrostatic dusting cloth using the water/lemon oil solution from Step 4. Wipe down leather furniture with a dry cloth afterward to prevent any moisture from ruining the leather.

    • 7

      Use an air purifier to reduce the airborne dander in the room that get on furniture, cabinets and floors to reduce allergy symptoms and cleaning.