Litter Deodorizer vs Baking Soda: Which is Best for My Cat and Me

Controlling the scent of their cat’s litter box is one of the critical concerns cat owners have, aside from ensuring their feline’s happiness and health. It’s no secret that your cat’s litter box stinks and it takes constant effort to prevent these offensive pet scents from spreading.

A litter deodorizer can eliminate undesirable odours from the litter if you’re tired of dealing with a stinky litter box all the time. However, baking soda is another well-liked DIY remedy that you might find when exploring the internet. But how do baking soda and litter deodorisers compare?

In this post, I’ll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of baking soda and litter deodorizer for removing litter box odour. Here are suggestions for preventing your litter box from filling the home with bad smells. We all deserve clean, fresh-smelling homes; your cat will benefit by being happier and healthier. Let’s begin, then!

Overview

Baking Soda

Baking soda is quite common in most households since it can be used in a broad range of ways for cooking, cleaning, and odour control.

It goes by many names because it is a naturally occurring salt that people have used for thousands of years, including in cooking soda and bicarbonate of soda. Since it slightly disinfects and absorbs odours, it works nicely in the litter box.

Baking soda is a great substitute if you’re searching for an inexpensive method to get rid of litter box odours. There is no aroma, and the litter box’s smell won’t improve. Any orders placed will simply be canceled.

It has low cost and accessibility and can be used effectively.

Check Out: Is Baking Soda Safe for Cats? Is Baking Soda Safe to Use Around Cats?

Litter box Deodorizer

Litter box deodorizers are a little more sophisticated than regular baking soda, despite many manufacturers including them.

Deodorizers frequently start with an absorbent powder, such as baking soda, which helps absorb urine moisture and eliminate odours from the air. Small fragrance particles in the absorbent powder emit a pleasant scent into the air as the cat scratches.

However, some odours can be quite overbearing and disagreeable to the cat as well as the owner. Cats may become put off by the powerful odour that comes from applying a scented deodorizer inside a covered litter box.

Litter deodorizers often smell like some kind of chemical or essential oil, which might be bad for your pet’s health over time.

Cat Litter Deodorizer vs Baking Soda

A litter deodoriser is an excellent choice if you want to give the box a fresh scent. If you have a lot of cats in your house, you could find the fragrance to be too overpowering. A litter deodorizer may be an excellent way to ease pain in cats who create more stink than others.

You’ll see that there isn’t a clear winner. Both are quite effective in getting rid of odours. However, baking soda wins in certain categories, while garbage deodorizers take the top rank in others. You can choose whatever is best depending on your priorities for what matters most to you.

1. Baking Soda & Litter Deodorizers are the Most Effective & Easy to Use

The smell that makes people think of cat excrement and litter boxes is ammonia. Although the main component of cat poop, urea, is theoretically fragrance-free, the microorganisms release an unpleasant ammonia odour when bacteria break it down. This must be eliminated by any method used to eliminate litter box odours.

Litter box deodorizers help with this by absorbing and containing the ammonia stink and leaving your litter box with a nice odour.

Because they completely eradicate the ammonia smell from the air rather than covering it up with another sweet-smelling perfume, they are highly effective. Although deodorizers commonly have scents added as an extra line of defence, they are not necessary to function.

Does baking soda help lessen the smell of the litter box as a result? Yes, baking soda efficiently removes odours from litter boxes in a manner similar to that of litter deodorizers.

Because baking soda is so good at getting rid of bad odours, it is frequently included as one of the smell-busting chemicals in kitty litter deodorizers.

There is no clear winner when contrasting the efficiency of baking soda with litter box deodorizer in getting rid of cat litter odour. They are equally efficient since they work by eliminating ammonia in cat litter rather than disguising it.

2. Baking Soda is Safer for Cats

Many people think that litter deodorizers from pet stores are superior to baking soda, which was initially used as a raising agent for cats. But the reality is the exact reverse. It might be difficult to assess a product’s safety since a number of materials can be used to make litter deodorizers.

Cats have extremely sensitive noses, making many pleasant-smelling odours toxic to them. For instance, the wonderful-smelling essential oil of lavender is used in several kitty litter deodorizers. However, cats are exceedingly dangerous from even a slight intake of this.

In contrast, although chemical, baking soda is mildly abrasive and poses no long-term dangers to people or pets. If taken in excessive numbers, there is potential toxicity, but just a tiny amount is needed to get rid of cat litter odours.

3. A Litter Deodorizer Creates Fewer Messes

The mess that litter boxes create is another concern that cat owners experience. Your cat’s feet pick up dust and litter particles, which are then dragged around your home.

Unfortunately, baking soda is a very light substance with particles that are barely 70 microns in size. Because of this, when your cat digs about in its litter box while using the bathroom, it can easily fly airborne, increasing the existing dust and exacerbating the problem.

However, litter deodorizers were made with dust levels in mind while they were being developed. The formulations are heavier than the small powder that makes up the baking soda, and the particles are larger, reducing the amount that becomes airborne. As a result, they create a lot less clutter.

4. Litter Deodorizer is Better for Allergies

As previously mentioned, baking soda can become airborne due to its low particle size. We and our cats will then inhale these particles into their lungs, which may serve as allergens and trigger an allergic reaction.

If you are aware that you, a member of your family, or your cat is allergic to anything, you should refrain from adding baking soda to cat litter.

In contrast, the use of litter deodorising powders frequently results in reduced allergies to dust since they are designed specifically to not get airborne. If you have allergies, unscented deodorizers for low-dust litter are best.

5. Baking Soda is the Most Economical

One of the key benefits is that baking soda is far less expensive than a litter deodorizer. If not, you can easily get it for a few dollars at the grocery store if you don’t already have it in your home. It is a standard home item. While litter deodorizers cost much more, they accomplish the same thing.

Some other Ways: How to Neutralize Ammonia in Cat Litter

The most common method for removing litter box smells using a litter deodorizer or baking soda. In addition to these products, a few other substances work to neutralize the ammonia in cat litter.

1. A Carbon filter

Using a carbon filter, which once more absorbs the foul smells via adsorption, will successfully eliminate litter box smells.

Instead of being absorbed by the filter in this situation, the odour will coagulate on its outside. 

2. Vinegar

Since most people already have vinegar in their houses, it works wonderfully to get rid of the smell of the litter box.

Similar to how baking soda and litter deodorizers work, vinegar effectively neutralises the ammonia in cat litter to enhance the aroma of the litter box. 

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Another typical ingredient that most people already own is hydrogen peroxide. This mild antiseptic, which is also a bleaching agent and is frequently used in cleaning, aids in the disinfection of wounds.

It also functions well to eliminate ammonia smells, making it a useful cleaning solution for cat litter boxes.

What are Some of the Alternatives to Stop Cat litter Odours?

You can make your litter box smell-free by using baking soda, litter box deodorizers, or another item. However, there are other methods to avoid having a bad litter box in your house. Here are some of them as follows.

1. Odour Eliminators – Air Freshener

The usage of an air freshener to get rid of smells shouldn’t be considered new. In our homes, we commonly use air fresheners to eliminate unpleasant odours brought on by cooking, smoking, or bathroom use. They are effective at getting rid of odours from the litter box and other pets from your home.

When choosing an air freshener, you need to be more cautious because there are dogs nearby. Many air fresheners have substances or compounds that are harmful or dangerous for cats.

2. Stainless Steel-Made Litter boxes

Litter boxes are frequently made of plastic since it is lightweight, inexpensive, and simple to clean. But as plastic is a permeable substance, it can pick up smells over time.

The litter box may start to smell even after normal cleaning since the odours were able to permeate the space well.

3. Optimum Ventilation

Many pet owners prefer an enclosed litter box, such as a hooded or top-entry style, to reduce litter box odours. However, this does not fix the issue.

The odours are concentrated inside the litter box, making cleaning and scooping a miserable task, even though they may not be spreading as much around the home. Additionally, this will do your cat a significant deal of harm.

4. The litter’s Brand

Your cat’s litter box odour will be greatly affected by the cat litter you choose. Several alternatives for litter include clumping litter, silica crystal litter, wood pellet litter, and others, making it difficult to decide which kind is best for controlling odours.

Clumps of litter are typically your best hope. The majority of the unpleasant odour is contained in the clump that forms as soon as the litter and urine come into contact. This can reduce the possibility of unpleasant odours entering the air.

Also Read: Are Pine Pellets Safe for Cats? Things You Need To Know

5. Added Garbage Cans

By adding another litter tray, you might reduce the odours coming from your cat’s litter box, but this really only applies to those who have two or more cats. Contrary to what many people think, fewer litter pans actually result in fewer odours.

Providing numerous litter pans may prevent urine odours from gathering in one area. Additionally, cats are encouraged to use them and cover their poop and waste because they have more capacity in several litter boxes than in one.

If you use clumping litter, this method can help the clumping process along and reduce the quantity of fragrance that remains in your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts!

Both baking soda and litter deodorizers are excellent solutions if you’re searching for a way to stop the litter box from stinking up the home. Both of them have benefits and drawbacks.

It is safe to put baking soda in the litter box, and it works great for removing odours. Additionally, the cost is fair. However, the dust may cause irritation and allergies. However, they are more effective at reducing clutter and are preferred by people and cats who are allergic to dust. On the other hand, scented goods and litter deodorizers should be avoided since they may be harmful.

In addition to these two products, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and charcoal filters can help get rid of ammonia odours. By changing your litter box and cleaning schedule, you may further prevent odours from developing. As a consequence, you and your cat will have happier lives!

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