Does cleaning carpets work to remove cat dander?

Question

Hi. My husband and I are considering buying a house that we like very much, but it has a problem: the current owners have a cat to whom I am very allergic. It's really, really bad: even taking allergy medication and using my asthma inhaler ahead of time didn't really help. Here is what I am wondering: would getting the carpets professionaly steam-cleaned work to address this issue? Or would I more likely need to actually replace the carpeting itself? Also, what about adding a whole-house air purifier to the HVAC system? Is it likely to make much of a difference?

If you could please let me know your thoughts, that would be great. We love this house but not if it will keep making me sick. Thanks!

P.S. There is no cat ODOR per se -- you'd never know there was a cat until you saw it. It's the poor cat's dander that is making me allergic, not an odor or anything like that.

Answer 1

Cats hair is almsot impossible to get rid off, why not tile the house instead, i am asthmatic and am allergic to cats but with tiled floors i am able to even have my own can ( given its not on the furniture) you seem highly allergic so maybe even tiles wont work... if the house is as good as you say then just try the carpet cleaning... i dont know

Answer 2

At the Home Depot there is this new kind of carpet called Puresque and it's an "odor eater" carpet. The material used absorbs dirt and odors. Maybe that could help. If not, try Capture Carpet Cleaner, it's a miracle.

Answer 3

Steam cleansing the rugs and furniture will help. do not forget approximately to vaccuum (utilising one with a hepa filter out) the partitions, curtains, and the rest left by means of the former tenant. you additionally can get a twig that does a dicent interest of taking the allergens out of the air, be useful to vaccuum in a while.