Much like any good relationship, my relationship with all of you is not a one-way street. It’s an exchange of ideas and information that goes both ways! Every so often, I receive emails or comments from readers who are willing to share their own tips and tricks with me, and I love that! I learn so much from all of you, and I think we make a great team. :-)
Speaking of reader emails, I recently received an excellent one from a reader named Caroline sharing the brilliant method she used to deodorize some oriental rugs she’d inherited. After various other attempts had failed to remove the strong smell of cats from her expensive rugs, Caroline finally honed in on a solution that worked: cat litter!
I gave Caroline’s method a try on one of my own less-than-fresh rugs at home, and it worked like a charm! I think this brilliant tip could be a real life-saver in certain situations, so that’s exactly what I’ll be sharing with you today!
Why Use Cat Litter to Eliminate Odors?
Cat litter makes an excellent deodorizer because it contains odor-eliminating ingredients, such as baking soda or activated charcoal. Continuously neutralizing litter box odors is no small feat, so just imagine what cat litter could do for other household odors!
Another advantage of using cat litter is that it is highly absorbent. (It has to contend with cat urine, after all!) Unpleasant odors are often related to dampness and moisture, and cat litter can help draw out any moisture that might be contributing to the odor.
When you take both the deodorizing and absorbent effects of cat litter into consideration, the idea of using it to fight odors on other surfaces suddenly doesn’t seem quite so far-fetched! :-)
What Can I Deodorize with Cat Litter?
One of the best applications for this method is to freshen up items that you can’t wash in your washing machine. It’s also useful for eliminating odors from items that are technically machine-washable, but that shouldn’t be washed very frequently.
For example, I try to avoid washing my rugs too frequently because I’ve found that the backing eventually starts to peel away after a certain number of washes. So cat litter is a great option for keeping those types of items fresh between washes!
Here are some other things you could deodorize with the help of cat litter:
- Rugs
- Furniture cushions
- Curtains
- Heirloom quilts
- Lace
- Shoes
- Pet beds
Here’s how it’s done, so you can try this method at home for yourself!
How to Use Cat Litter to Eliminate Odors
You’ll need:
- Cat litter (any odor-eliminating variety will work)
- Large trash bags
Directions:
Take the item that you want to deodorize and put it into a large, sturdy trash bag.
Pour a generous amount of cat litter into the trash bag. (You can’t really add “too much” cat litter to the bag. Use at least a few cups of litter, or more for larger items.)
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Tie the trash bag so it is sealed up tightly, and let it sit for 1-2 days, or up to a week. (If your item really smells, leave it alone for a full week.)
When the wait is up, remove the item from the bag and shake off any excess cat litter. Then use your vacuum to remove any lingering litter dust, and you’re done! The item should smell fresh and clean.
So there you have it! I just want to give another quick shout-out to Caroline for sharing this brilliant tip with us. I’ve already benefited from learning about it, and I’m sure you will find it just as useful! :-)
What’s your best tip for eliminating unpleasant odors?
“Cat litter makes an excellent deodorizer because it contains odor-eliminating ingredients, such as baking soda or activated charcoal.” Not ALL kitty litters do. Odor-eliminating litters may be fine for deodorizing things you can’t wash, just DON’T use them in your cat’s litter box!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What would work to get mold smell out of paper? The humidity has been really high and gotten into our fire safe box we keep all our important papers in. I tried adding the desiccant packages but it didn’t change the smell. Any ideas of what would help?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jennifer, I would first remove the papers and let them dry out in a dry, well ventilated area. If the documents are delicate, place them in an open box with baking soda and activated charcoal. Clean the safe with a mild bleach solution and let dry, completely. To prevent mold from growing again, I would suggest putting activated charcoal along with the desiccant packages. You can even put some cat litter in the safe. Good luck :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee, I see this was asked in 2019 in the comments – clumping or non-clumping. It should always be the non-clumping variety. While it’s true the clumping type will work, the risk is that moisture causes the litter to turn into “clay cement” on your item – just like wet clumping litter does in a catbox. I wouldn’t risk it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sue, thanks for adding this tip. This will be very helpful for others. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Caroline is a “Gad why didn’t I think of that?” genius!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Crumpled up newspaper works as a great deodorizer. You can stuff it into musty drawers, smelly boots, etc,. Leave it for a day or two, or longer for stronger odors. Then just throw the newspaper away. It will have absorbed the odor, without leaving any other scent.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I swear by a product called ODERMUTE, available at some pet places or (best price) Amazon. I is made for ORGANIC smells, pet accideents, human accidents, mold, etc. It is an ENZYME, you mix up the solution (sandy powder, or I think there is now a liquid version) and use. Can use on a sponge, in your washer, pail, etc. We do wild animal rehab and a long ago vet suggested this, it was what they deodorized pet areas with. The important thing is LET IT DRY NATURALLY, not in the dryer. Hard or soft items. Have been using this for 40+ years!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you think this would work on a dog urine smell (no stain, just odor) in my carpet? If so, what would be your suggestion on how to apply it? I’d be forever grateful if it works!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hey, Jilllee! This is a great tip. When I was still a teenager, scat I was babysitting peed on a pile of my clothes. I was afraid I would have to throw them away. At the time I was dirt poor so had to use my shampoo to wash them. After the wash, no smell. Then after they were dry, I had my mom and several friends smell them to make sure. They were shocked to learn what happened- well, my mom knew of course. It was cheap shampoo too! So now I know a way for things that can’t be washed. Thank you! Hopefully I’ll never have a cat do that again though.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My male cat decided to urinate on some dirty laundry, and I managed to get the smell out by washing with vinegar. My cat is a sweetheart, but he’s not known for his cat brains so I now keep dirty laundry in plastic hampers with lids. I discovered a long time ago that plain clay litter doesn’t work at all well for male cats, but fortunately most litters sold now have built-in deodorizers.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.try ‘nokout’ you can find it on line. it takes out ANY smell. we once moved into a temp rental and it was awful, it had been cleaned but the tile floor around the toilet still smelled. used this product and no more smell! it works on fabric, wood, and so much more!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Pervasive urine odor around a toilet is a ‘replace the wax seal’ warning.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.there is a product called ‘nok out’ that is great and easier to use than doing the cat litter thing. you just spray it on. it doesn’t take much, and can be used also on furniture and a lot of other items in your home. it is a bit pricy, but over the long run it can be used on so many things it pays for itself.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.and it gets even the works on cigaret smoke! even skunk!
When I throw out leftovers, I use the same bag to clean the kitty litter box, but I never thought outside the “box.” I am definitely doing this to my husband’s work boots! Thanks, Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I refuse to buy rugs with the rubber backing on them. They eventually crumble from drying out or whatever it is that happens to them. I have used baking soda to deodorize things, but never thought about using cat litter. Great post. Thank you for sharing
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a large wooden kitchen trash can and I keep a layer of newspaper on the bottom with a layer of cat litter on top of it. I also put a scoop into each new trash bag as it goes in – it’s helped so much to keep kitchen odors down and from absorbing into the wood.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use unscented silicon cat litter to keep the inside of my car windows from frosting up in the winter. I have a large sedan so I pour about 4 cups in an old sock and stash it underneath a seat. I haven’t had to scrap my inside windows in years.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That is so interesting!!! I’m going to try that in the RV we have stored for months at a time.
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