How to Get Rid of Cat Dander in the Home

Vacuum your carpets using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Using a vacuum without a HEPA filter may make the dander airborne (in the vacuum's blow back), worsening your allergies. Vacuum furniture, bedding and bed mattresses, to remove traces of cat dander. Repeat this process weekly to keep dander levels at a minimum.

Steam clean your carpets using an anti-allergen solution to neutralize the cat dander. These products will not only remove the allergens by washing them away, but also negate the harmful effects on those allergic to them. You can also use a natural, enzymatic pet solution in your carpet steamer that targets organic material, stains and odors. Use the steam cleaner on your upholstered furniture and any other surfaces you cannot remove and wash. For those who own cats, you will want to do this at least once a month.

Wash curtains, drapes, slipcovers, table coverings and bedding items in hot water with a mild detergent or an anti-allergen laundry detergent. Do the same with pet bedding, blankets and any other items your cat regularly sits on. For pet bedding, use either a mild detergent or enzymatic pet cleaner. Clean all washable items once a week.

Dust all surfaces, including furniture, in your home with electrostatic cloths to pick up the cat dander. Dampen the cloth slightly with a spray bottle filled with one cup of water and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Use a dime-sized amount of olive oil on a cloth to shine wooden surfaces after removing dander.

Wipe down walls and baseboards with a solution of two parts water and one part anti-allergen cleaner or one part vinegar to two parts water. Airborne cat dander can stick to any surface in your home, including the walls.

Mop floors with a mixture of water and an anti-allergen floor cleaner or one part vinegar to two parts water. For wood floors, use a slightly damp mop so you do not saturate the wood, and use a wood floor cleaner.

Clean mirrors and windows with a glass cleaner or with one part vinegar and three parts water. Use the vinegar solution on kitchen surfaces and granite.

Change your air conditioning or furnace filter with one specially designed for those with allergies, such as an electrostatic filter. You can use permanent or disposable filters, but remember to change disposable filters every two to three months.

Line air vents with cheesecloth to prevent the buildup and dispersion of cat dander in your home. Change or wash the cheesecloth monthly to remove dander buildup.

Wash your cat with a mild pet shampoo and brush its fur daily to keep dander at a minimum. Confine your cat to a bathroom or in a kitchen sink to prevent it from running away while bathing.