Did you know that cat litter, also called kitty litter, is an excellent moisture absorbent and can be used as a dehumidifier for bathroom?
Honestly, you can use it as a dehumidifier anywhere inside and outside your home. You can even put it in your car to remove extra moisture and deal with odor (if there’s any). So people who is still thinking if you should install dehumidifier for your bedrooms; they can consider cat litter. But as easy as it might sound, turning your cat litter into a dehumidifier requires you to take note of certain things.
You will have to find the right containers to store the cat litter so that it can absorb unwanted moisture and keep the air dry. Also, you will need to replace it often so that its absorbing capacity is always top-notch.
If you want to know more about the steps to follow, read on!
Can Cat Litter Be Used To Absorb Moisture?
For absorbing excess moisture in a room, you will need desiccants or a dehumidifier. These involve materials having properties that allow them to absorb moisture present in the air.
Keeping your room free of moisture is essential as it helps prevent condensation on windows and increases the longevity of electronics. There are many materials that can be used for dehumidifying. And you would be surprised to know that your kitty litter works as a great desiccant as well.
Kitty litter is mostly made of clay and comes with a high surface area, which gives it drying properties. You can even consider adding silica gel to the litter to enhance its moisture-absorbent capacities. Once added, you can rest assured that the air in your room will feel dry and devoid of excess moisture.
How To Make Silica Gel Kitty Litter?
There are plenty of ways in which you can make silica gel cat litter. You can get an apparently cheap kitty litter from the market and add potassium permanganate and silica gel to it. The silica gel in the mix will absorb all the moisture in the room, while the potassium permanganate will prevent mold and mildew from forming.
In order to make this dehumidifier, you will first need to get your hands on an airtight container. Then mix equal parts of the two elements into your cat litter, and you are good to go.
When it is not in use, it is best to store it in a dry and cool place. And if the cat urine turns too smelly, you can add a few drops of essential oil for odor control.
How To Make A Regular Cat Litter Dehumidifier?
To make a cat litter dehumidifier, you will first need to find shallow open containers. How big the container should be, depends on the space that you have. A small container will do that job if you want to keep it in a closet. However, if you are going to place it in a medium-sized room, it is best that you use at least a 2-gallon container.
Pro tip: Try to find containers that go under the bed to avoid storage hassles.
After finding the right container, place it right in the middle of the space where you plan to keep it and fill it with cat litter. You can even add silica cat litter to it.
After a while, you will notice that the litter box will start to smell, and the crystals will appear damp. That’s when you should replace the content; otherwise, it will no longer be able to absorb moisture.
If you are planning to make a dehumidifier for small spaces like your drawers or closet, get a pantyhose or cotton sock and put the cat litter in it. Just make sure that you tie it well so that the content does not come out. This is great for absorbing moisture in tents and sleeping bags too!
Now, in case you are wondering- "does a dehumidifier help dry towels in the bathroom?" Let us tell you that it cannot entirely at once. If you want to make sure that dehumidifiers absorb excess moisture in the bathroom, you will have to install a bathroom fan as well.
Confused about where to place dehumidifier in bathroom? We suggest placing it close to the source of moisture. Honestly, placing it near the shower is the best idea.
Can Cat Litter Help Stop Condensation?
You have most definitely noticed water droplets forming on the inner side of the windows. This is called condensation, and it happens when hot air hits the cold surface of your window. While it might not seem to be a big problem apart from reducing visibility, it can cause severe damage to your home over time.
If left untreated, it can lead to mold and mildew growth. And we have one unusual tip to help you deal with this problem. No points for guessing, but you can use kitty litter as it absorbs water. You can consider putting a layer of clay litter around your window sill to help prevent condensation and keep the glass surface dry.
This is a great and inexpensive method to keep your rooms, especially the windows, moisture-free.
How To Use Cat Litter For Outdoor Moisture Control?
You would be surprised to know that you can use a cat litter box for moisture control outside the home. What we are saying is that it can save you from garage spills or moisture issues in RVs, boats, and so on. You can simply put cat litter in an open container and place it strategically.
Because these are open spaces, it is best that you use a few open containers and not just one. The cat litter will reduce humidity and damp issues in your RV while making sure it does not smell bad.
However, in case your area is receiving heavy rain, cat litter will not be able to absorb excess moisture if it has been there for a while. To avoid this issue, it is best that you replace the litter from time to time to ensure that it is effective.
How To Use Cat Litter For Indoor Moisture Control?
As we have mentioned earlier, you can use cat litter to remove high levels of moisture inside your home.
Sometimes, you might notice that the bottom of your trash cans is getting moist. Consider putting a layer of cat litter at the bottom of the cans in that case to see immediate results.
When humidity is excessive, like in your basement, it is best that you use open containers and store cat litter in them to trap moisture. You can also consider putting a small container of cat litter in your refrigerator to remove odor and excess moisture.
How To Use Cat Litter As A Dehumidifier Final Words
That's all we have for you today!
We have listed down all the ways you can use cat litter to deal with moisture issues inside and outside your home. And we hope the suggestions are of help to you. But before we bid you goodbye, we would like to tell you that cat litter can be used in other interesting ways too.
For example, you can put it in your shoes to trap odor and moisture. And you will never have to worry about smelly feet. You can also use cat litter to absorb fresh spills in driveways. This is a handy and inexpensive option that will keep moisture troubles at bay.
Until next time!