Dander

Dander includes a number of substances shed by household pets, such as scales of skin, oils and dried saliva.

Regular brushing and grooming is the first line of defense against excessive pet dander in your home. Consider buying a pet rake at a pet supply store. The more you comb out loose fur, the less it will become embedded in rugs, carpets, and upholstery, or land on other surfaces. There aren’t any hard and fast rules about this – in general, though, the longer or heavier the coat, the more shedding will be likely. Some pet breeds are relatively tidy, while others shed fur constantly.

If you live in a dry climate, consider dampening the brush or comb slightly before grooming your pet. This helps break the static-electricity bond that hinders removal of loose strands of the animal’s coat.

You’ll have to vacuum rugs and carpets more frequently thanks to both dander and the stuff that Fido and Fluffy bring inside on their paws and in their coats. Vacuum daily if your pet is being treated for fleas, and keep doing so for at least a week after treatment ends. This helps reduce the chance she or he will suffer a re-infestation following treatment.

Damp cloths or sponges remove fur well from hard surfaces, and they’ll help with the upholstery, too, if vacuuming doesn’t seem to get it all. Simply remove excess fur by wiping the surface with a damp cloth, discard the fur in the trash, rinse the cloth and keep working. Don’t rinse large amounts of fur down drains since they may clog.

Lint rollers are also effective; janitorial suppliers now offer long-handled models for applying the adhesive-covered roller to carpets and rugs. In a pinch, you can also use wide strips of adhesive tape and rub the adhesive side over soft surfaces. Any inexpensive masking or packing tape will do the trick.