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How to Remove Pet Allergens From Your New Home

How to Remove Pet Allergens from your New Home

You found it: the perfect apartment, condo, or house, at just the right price. Then the landlord mentions that the last tenants had a cat. Your heart sinks a little, because you know what that can mean for your allergies.

We get these calls a lot, especially near the end of the month when people are getting ready to move. So here's the reassuring part. You can clean up the pet allergen a previous owner left behind. It takes some time and planning, and a few friends help, but it's very doable.

Why Pet Allergen Lingers

Pet allergy isn't about the hair. It's a reaction to proteins from the animal, carried on dander (tiny skin flakes) and saliva. As the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) puts it, time with pets means exposure to dander and saliva. Those particles are light, and they settle on walls, carpets, furniture, and everything in between.

That's why they stick around long after the animal is gone. In a home that had cats, ACAAI says cat allergen may take 20 to 30 weeks to fall to normal levels. A quick vacuum or a carpet shampoo usually isn't enough. Our post on how pet allergens spread through your home explains where it all goes.

What Speeds Things Up

ACAAI suggests three steps that help the most. Replace carpet with hard flooring, remove upholstered furniture and drapes the former owners used, and clean the walls. If you own the home, flooring may be an option. If you rent, focus on cleaning.

A Room-by-Room Plan Before You Unpack

It's much easier to clean an empty home, so do this before the boxes arrive if you can.

Walls and Hard Surfaces

Wipe down walls, baseboards, door frames, window sills, countertops, and cabinets. ADS Anti-Allergen Spray is made for these surfaces. It denatures allergen proteins so your immune system is far less likely to react. Spray it on a cloth, wipe from top to bottom, and test a hidden spot first. Yes, pet allergen really does end up on walls, as we explain in Does Cat Dander Stick to Walls?

Carpet

Vacuum first to pick up loose dust. Then apply X-Mite Carpet Powder, following the label directions, and vacuum again. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which ACAAI's dust allergy guidance recommends so particles aren't blown back into the air.

Fabrics That Stay

For built-in window treatments or any upholstery that came with the home, use ADMS Anti-Allergen Spray, which works best on fabrics.

Air

Change the heating and cooling filter before you move in. A HEPA air purifier from our Air Purification collection in the bedroom can help clear allergens that get stirred up during the move.

Many Hands Make Light Work

This is a big job for one person. Invite a few friends, ideally ones without pet allergies, and make an afternoon of it. If you're the one with allergies, wear a mask while you clean.

For more on living comfortably with pet allergies, see What Is Pet Dander and How Do You Get Rid of It? and our Practical Guide to Allergy-Free Living.

Your next step: Put "clean before unpacking" on your moving checklist, and order your supplies now so they arrive before your move-in date.

Wishing you the best of health,
Cheryl

Sources

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider — such as an allergist or your primary care physician — before making changes to your allergy management plan, starting new treatments, or if you have questions about a medical condition. In the event of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately and use an epinephrine auto-injector if one has been prescribed.

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