We have two indoor cats here, so of course we go through a ton of cat litter. There was a sale going on recently at one of the stores so I stocked up big time and it got me thinking of all of the other things that you can do with cat litter, besides the obvious. Think outside the box!
I thought I’d share a few of the neatest alternative uses today, just for fun.
Yes, these are the kind of things that are fun for me. 🙂
Sprinkle it in the bottom of trash cans
A thin layer in the bottom of a trash container can deodorize and absorb any leaks that might happen if your garbage bag gets a hole in it. Just pour it out and replace it with a little bit of fresh litter every few weeks to keep everything clean and fresh.
De-must old books
If you have a collection of old books with a stinky, musty smell, just place them in a shallow, lidded container of cat litter for a few days to get all those gross old smells out. I have quite a few in a box that need this treatment, fast!
Clean fresh oil spills
If you have an oil spill on your driveway or garage floor, cover it up right away with a layer of cat litter. The sooner you do this the better, but it’s still helpful on older spills too. For really stubborn stains, walk on top of the cat litter, grinding it into the stain as you go. Repeat as necessary.
Basement leaks
If you ever get excess moisture in certain areas of your basement after a really heavy rainfall, you can use cat litter to soak up small amounts of wetness in a flash.
Deodorize your shoes
If you have trouble with stinky sports shoes in your house, make some DIY deodorizing sachets using old, mismatched socks and a scoop of cat litter. The stink will be gone in no time and your poor lonely socks will finally have a purpose again!
Clean paint spills on concrete
If you catch the spill right away, you can use cat litter to soak up all the excess wet paint, but if the spill is already dried, not to worry! Sprinkle down some cat litter and grind it into the spill with your feet to scrape away the paint.
Anchor artificial flower arrangements
If you have dried or artificial flowers in a vase, you can use a bit of cat little in the vase to anchor everything exactly where you want it. Just push the stems into the litter and they won’t move. As a bonus, it will help deodorize the area where you place the vase too!
Mix cat litter into your soil when planting
Some cat litter mixed into your soil (up to a ratio of 1 part soil to 1 part cat litter), especially in containers, will help your soil to hold more water for longer and keep your plants happy. It’s probably best to stick to plain cat litter formulas for this use and not the ones with the scented crystals.
Gain traction on ice
A little sprinkle of cat litter on a walkway or on outdoor stairs can really help to make them a lot less slippery in icy conditions. It’s always a good idea to keep a container of cat litter in your car in the Winter too. If you get stuck in a slippery situation, a little sprinkle under your wheels will make all the difference.
Keep camping gear fresh
When you put your camping gear into storage, toss a small sachet (or a sock!) filled with cat litter in with tents, sleeping bags, and coolers to help absorb moisture and keep smells away. You’ll be so happy next Spring when you find your camping gear is ready to go and you don’t have to clean away smells, mold, and mildew from everything.
There are many, many more fun uses for cat litter that can save you time, money, and frustration. Just use your imagination! Even if you don’t have a cat, a container of cat litter is a great thing to have around the house!
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.