Crystal cat litter has quickly become a household favorite for its ability to eliminate urine clumps and reduce odors, according to Just the Crystals’ website. However, daily stirring of your litter should ensure silica gel particles remain absorbent, according to Just the Crystals’ recommendation.
Silica in crystal litter is highly effective at absorbing oil spills and spots on your driveway, and also works great to soak up urine stains on your lawn.
1. Use it to kill poison ivy
Crystal cat litter offers an eco-friendly solution for your feline’s litter box, creating less waste than traditional clay or clumping options and being gentler on its paws and more moisture absorption than competing litter options. Furthermore, using crystal litter may help save money since you won’t need to change it as often. However, some pet owners find their used litter cannot fit into a trash can; here are several options for reuse of crystal cat litter; such as deodorizers and fire starters!
Crystal cat litter can help your garden remain poison ivy-free by spreading it over poison ivy weeds, quickly soaking up their nutrients and killing the weeds quickly and keeping your lawn healthy. In addition, crystal cat litter is useful for even out uneven areas of yard space, filling animal holes, repelling pests and repelling vermin.
Though cat litter may be recycled, it should never be used in edible gardens due to its non-biodegradable materials that could damage plants. Furthermore, using recycled cat litter may spread parasites like Toxoplasma gondii among family and pets.
To ensure that used crystal cat litter can be safely reused, Just the Crystals recommends stirring it daily to encourage moisture to evaporate and prevent crystals from becoming saturated with urine, while scooping solid waste daily helps minimize odors. These simple steps will extend its lifetime while decreasing waste in landfills.
2. Make your own gel ice packs
Crystal cat litter can be recycled in various ways, from killing poison ivy to using it as a soil amendment in your garden. Before using it for either of these uses, however, it’s important to remember that this type of litter does not biodegrade easily and may harm the environment if not disposed of responsibly.
Reusing crystal cat litter is an efficient way to reduce how often you need to buy litter, as you can do by soaking it in water and freezing into ice cubes for use as shoe deodorizers or drying agents. While this technique works great for most shoes, as leather may become damaged from overexertion of this method.
An effective way to utilize crystal cat litter is by applying it directly over any poison ivy plants that may be growing nearby. The silica gel found within will act to kill off weeds and help you gain better control of this troublesome plant.
Use Amorphous Silica Gel in Your Garden As Soil Amend
When considering using crystal cat litter as a soil amendment, it is essential to be mindful that cats carry Toxoplasma gondii parasite. This parasite can spread to humans and pets through waste from cats and lead to health issues including birth defects. Therefore, cat litter should not be used in edible gardens.
3. Use it as a deodorizer
Crystal cat litter, made from silica gel, provides many advantages to both cats and their owners alike. Notably, its highly absorbent properties help control odors in the home, making life more pleasant and healthier overall. Unfortunately though, it is nonbiodegradable so must be disposed of correctly when no longer needed.
There are various ways that you can reuse used crystal cat litter to reduce its wastefulness and save it from going down the drain. One option is using it as an deodorizer in your house by placing used litter into an air-permeable container or fabric sachet and placing it strategically around closets, shoes and even vehicles to absorb unpleasant odors while leaving behind an inviting scent.
As another great way of recycling crystal cat litter, why not use it as an alternative form of play sand in your cat’s sandbox? Simply drop used litter clumps into their respective spots in the sandbox and enjoy! Soft litter won’t scratch their feet as much.
Use old crystal cat litter as a natural dehumidifier by placing it into an air-permeable container such as fabric sachet and placing it in areas that tend to get damp or humid. The silica gel in cat litter will absorb excess moisture, helping avoid musty smells and mold growth in your home.
One drawback of using crystal cat litter is its difficultly in recognizing when its silica crystals have become saturated with urine and can no longer absorb odors or liquid. You will need to monitor absorption rates regularly by scooping urine clumps out and stirring up your litter every day, but it’s a small price to pay for its low dust and tracking potential compared to traditional types of clumping cat litter.
4. Fill voids in your lawn
Crystal cat litter has long been a preferred option for feline owners due to its ability to absorb moisture and reduce odors effectively. Furthermore, its reduced waste requirements create more sustainability than clay-based litters; however, unlike these alternatives, crystal litter is non-biodegradable and therefore should only be disposed of correctly.
As such, it is crucial that we find ways to reuse this type of litter before discarding it. Here are some strategies for doing just that:
One of the best uses for used kitty litter is as a soil amendment. Since it contains silica gel, which acts as an effective natural desiccant, it can absorb excess moisture and prevent the growth of weeds or unwanted plants in your yard. Simply sprinkle a thin layer over areas where weeds have emerged, and it should act swiftly to eradicate them.
Crystal cat litter can also be used as an effective filler in uneven areas in your lawn or backyard, and to fill holes created by pests like moles and mice. Simply sprinkle a generous amount over problem spots to deter these rodents from making your garden their permanent home.
Crystal cat litter can also serve as an effective fire starter on your camping trip. Simply place some in a muffin tin, and it will make starting your campfire much simpler – plus its heat can help get rid of any unpleasant odors in the air. Just be mindful to only use small quantities as too much could create safety risks!
5. Use it to kill pests
Crystal cat litter is an absorbent mineral-based litter made of hard, small granules of amorphous silica gel that are lightweight yet super absorbent, trapping liquid quickly in its network of microscopic pores to provide unparalleled odor control. Plus, its quick clumping action and drying times help make scooping much less messy!
Because it produces less dust, clay litter is an ideal option for households with asthma or other respiratory issues. Furthermore, its lower mold/mildew risk and soft paw feel make it great for declawed cats or felines with physical sensitivities. Finally, clay litter doesn’t track as much – making cleanup much simpler after your pet uses their bathroom!
Crystal cat litter can also be reused to quickly eliminate poison ivy, oak and other pesky weeds in your yard. Simply spread a generous layer over them and they should die quickly – this method of using crystal litter is one of the safest as it doesn’t pose a danger to both pets and people.
However, it should not be used as mulch in vegetable or fruit gardens due to its potential risk of parasites. Cats carry Toxoplasma gondii protozoa which they may spread when digging around plants they eat. Reusing such litter in your garden poses risks that could compromise food sources leading to illness and other serious health issues.