Silke Jasso
Kitty litter is a wonderful tool for cleaning up after your pets, but it has many more uses than that. Here are 10 you may not have known about.
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1. Soak up the grease
While only the brave and the bold are barbecuing this time of year, lords and ladies of the grill will appreciate this safety tip.
Line the bottom of your grill with about an inch or so of clay kitty litter to absorb the grease runoff that occurs while grilling. Replace the litter regularly to keep it from becoming saturated.
Also, make sure the kitty litter is unscented, or you’ll end up with a fresh-scent steak.
2. Reduce the stench
This is a do-it-yourself odor-eater. Take a pair of old nylon footies, knee-high stockings or a pair of pantyhose and about a cup of litter. Pour half a cup in each sock, tie off the ends and put one in each shoe. Leave them in overnight to absorb moisture and remove nasty odors. If the smell is exceptionally foul, use a full cup in each sock.
RELATED: Here’s how to get that nasty deep-frying smell out of your kitchen
3. Get some traction on those wheels…
It’s one of those things you learn quickly if you live in an icy climate — kitty litter makes a great source of traction for stranded motorists with stuck cars.
The added weight of a few bags of kitty litter in your trunk will help the traction of your wheels. If you get stuck, pour it evenly in front of and behind your tires to gain traction. It works well in mud, ice, and any slippery situations.
4. …and on your feet
Pour kitty litter on icy walkways, steps and porches to avoid slips and falls. It doesn’t melt the ice, but it does provide traction and avoids the damaging effects of rock salt.
Salt destroys footwear, rusts automobiles, and disrupts ecosystems. Natural clay kitty litter is a much better alternative in this situation.
5. Get rid of pests
While you might enjoy that fresh scent of kitty litter, small rodents such as mice, moles and rats do not. By pouring generous amounts of litter into mouse holes and even along the walls of your basement, you can discourage these pests from settling in permanently.
For moles, you can pour used or unused litter into their tunnels to force them to find better homes.
6. Preserve the flowers
Litter is great for drying and preserving fresh cut flowers.
Get an airtight container large enough to accommodate the flowers and pour in at least an inch of kitty litter. Place the flowers inside the container and cover them with a light layer of litter. Seal it up, and keep the box in a dark, dry room.
Check on them in three to five days. It could take up to seven to 10 days, depending on the flowers.
7. Dry out your phone
Saving your waterlogged phone by putting it in a container of rice is one of the first things you learn as a smartphone owner. Kitty litter will also perform this wonder.
Make sure you wrap your phone in cloth to prevent the litter from scratching the screen or getting into the device. Then place the cloth-wrapped phone into a bag of litter. Leave it there for a couple of days or until there is no longer any sign of moisture or cloudiness on the display screen.
RELATED: Use this simple trick to defrost your windshield in seconds
8. Snuffing them out
Instead of using sand or pea gravel for filling large outdoor ashtrays, try using kitty litter instead. It’s good for reducing cigarette odors and empties easily with a scoop. This can be used indoors with smaller ashtrays for odor control too.
9. 9. Keep seasonal gear fresh
Does your camping gear smell funky after six months in the attic? Pour a cup of scented litter in an old sock then pack it away with camping equipment, such as tents or sleeping bags.
This also works for suitcases, ski equipment, or hunting equipment. (Hunters would want to use an unscented cat litter.)
10. Graffiti removal
To get rid of minor tagging on sidewalks, try throwing a few handfuls of kitty litter over the painted areas and grind it in with the sole of your shoe. You really want to scuff it back and forth and work it in. It will take the paint up.
