Even if you don't have any cats around, you can still stock up cat litter at home for these surprising uses.
Cat Litter is an Excellent Absorbent:
1. Damp Remover
Put some cat litter in old pantyhose or socks and tie them up. Put them into your tent bags, sleeping bags or even your handbags which are not in used to keep them dry and free of mold.
2. Absorb Fresh Spills
Spread a quarter-inch deep of cat litter onto fresh spills. Since it soaks up the spills successfully, it makes your job much easier to clean up.
3. Drying Agent
Put some cat litter into an air tight container and put some fresh flowers that you want to preserve into the said container. Leave them and change the cat litter regularly for a couple of days until the flowers become dry up.
4. Clean Up Oil, Gasoline or Paint Spills & Stains
It is said that a 5 kg pack of litter can absorb more than 2 liters of liquid. Usually, it is used by mechanics to clean up grease or oil spills in the garage. This can be done by pouring a generous amount of cat litter onto the spills. For best result, use the clumping type of cat litter. To remove old stains, pour some solvent liquid like paint thinner onto the stain before tossing on the cat litter. Wait overnight and then clean up the spot.
5. Absorb Leaky Trash Cans
Pour some cat litter at the bottom of your trash can. You can also pour some into the plastic liner of your kitchen disposal. This is an excellent way to absorb the leaky and smelly garbage in the trash can.
Cat Litter is an Excellent Deodorizer:
6. Use As Ash Trays
Just pour some cat litter in the ash tray. It absorbs the cigarette odors and quickly puts out the cigarette.
7. Deodorize Refrigerator and Closets
An alternative to baking soda, just pour some cat litter (preferably the scented ones) in an open-top container. Put the said container in the fridge or closets and leave it in there for several days until the odor is removed. However, don't forget to change the cat litter regularly.
8. Deodorize Garbage or Trash Cans
Pour some cat litter into the plastic liner of your kitchen disposal before you throw rubbish in it. This is an excellent way to deodorize the smell of garbage.
9. Deodorize Smelly Shoes and Freshen Old Books
Put some cat litter in old pantyhose or socks and tie them up. Put them inside your shoes and leave them for several days to get rid of the odor.
You can also put the bundled cat litter together with your old stacks of books and place them into a sealed chest, trunk or box. Leave them for a couple of days to freshen up the old smell of your books.
Cat Litter Has Many Other Uses Such As...
10. Get Rid of the Rodents
You can't use the fresh cat litter for this. Put a little bit of some "used cat litter" near the holes, nest or drainage. This is a good way to get rid of rodents because they hate the smell of cat's urine.
11. Algae Control
For koi (fish) pond owners, this method works wonderfully to get rid of algae in koi ponds. Use about one pound of cat litter for 2000 gallons of circulating pond water. It is said that the water may turn muddy at first but it will clear up in 24 hours. The type of clay called "bentonite" (an ingredient in most cat litter) is the main source in clearing up the pond algae.
12. Facial Mask
For some people this sounds gross and might think that this tip is fit for frugal. However, facial treatments are always expensive. Get the natural clay non-scented cat litter for this purpose. Just mix some cat litter with a little warm water to make some paste. Put it on your face and leave it for 15 minutes until it hardens. Then, clean it up. Just like any other clay mask, it cleanses and rejuvenates your pores, living your skin supple and healthy.
