i read somewhere that we can wash & reuse the crystal cat litter.so i try myself to know how best it will help.seriously this is my first and the last time i'm doing it.not recommended at all!
even after i double soak the crystal with 'clorox' and then with 'dynamo',it still cant get rid the stinky smell from the cats urine.i even dry it outside until the color of crystal change back to white.and i discover the crystal actually break into a small size and it dangerous for your cat if they accidentally ingest some of the crystal when cleans their paws.
so it left me no choice.now,i change back to eco-friendly cat litter,woodypet cat litter.cheaper and safe for my cats.only cost RM 12 for a repack 3 kg =)
Clorox, aka chlorine bleach. Bad idea. Dangerous idea. Cat urine has urea, ammonia, uric acid. Combined with chlorine, aka sodium hypochlorite, a poisonous gas is formed. You need a neutralizer such as a weak acid. I'm glad you didn't kill yourself.
ReplyDeleteClorox, aka chlorine bleach. Bad idea. Dangerous idea. Cat urine has urea, ammonia, uric acid. Combined with chlorine, aka sodium hypochlorite, a poisonous gas is formed. You need a neutralizer such as a weak acid. I'm glad you didn't kill yourself.
ReplyDeleteClorox, aka chlorine bleach. Bad idea. Dangerous idea. Cat urine has urea, ammonia, uric acid. Combined with chlorine, aka sodium hypochlorite, a poisonous gas is formed. You need a neutralizer such as a weak acid. I'm glad you didn't kill yourself.
ReplyDeleteYou shouldn't be using harsh chemicals to clean it anyway, you want to use something like vinegar and hot water to neutralize and remove the urea, then drain, rehash, dry. I've been doing it for months
ReplyDeleteThe first step for cleaning it should be vinegar and baking soda. These neutralize urine odor and ammonia. In fact, it is the best way to wash soiled linens from human or pet incontinence. Sprinkle baking soda into the container with the litter, stir it a bit with a litter scoop, sprinkle more baking soda, stir again, sprinkle a little more and then add enough vinegar to cover it at least halfway. Stir it up well so that all the litter and baking soda comes into contact with the vinegar and bubbles up well. Following that step pour in hot water until the litter is covered. Let sit 24 hours. Shake or stir well and then drain off the water. Refill it with cold water and let sit 24 hours. Drain that off and then add more water and half a cup of bleach (do this outside) and let sit another 24 hours outdoors. Rinse again and if you can no longer smell any urine odor, then dry the litter outside by placing in a pillow case, fine mesh bag, or by pouring it over a fine mesh screen resting over a storage box or bin. (if it still smells continue washing/stirring, draining until the odor is completely gone or barely noticeable. Always cover the litter when it is outside so that no other animals, insects or birds can get into it. An alternative would be to have a spare cat litter box to put the cleaned litter into and then let it dry out in the sun with a screen over the top of it. Periodically stir the litter while it is drying over the course of 1-2 days. Once you do the various steps and dry the litter you can reuse it in the litter box and start the process over again with the litter you just removed from the boxes. Since I've used Tidy Cat litter over the last several years I have quite the assortment of plastic litter box pails which is what I use to clean the litter. I kept the lids for them too so when I have the litter soaking in the containers I can just close the lid tightly and shake the container a bit. DO NOT DO THIS DURING THE BLEACH CYCLE - DO NOT USE A LID WHEN YOU ARE DOING THE BLEACH/WATER STEPS.
ReplyDeleteThis is for anyone who finds their way here whose trying to clean crystals. Always wash them in a fabric bag. When you pour water off from a bucket the urine solids mostly stay at the bottom and you’re pouring off the cleaner water and keeping the gunk. It’s very difficult to get them clean that way. If you use laundry bags you need to double or triple bag as the holes are too big. Pillowcase is better but then you need to find something to seal it with (elastic band?). I finally found a bag that works great, it came free with a portaloo. I don’t know what it’s meant to be used for. So, lazy method - pour into the bag. Fill litter box with boiling water to wash off the crystals stuck to the bottom (if you have a metal tray) when its cooled, pour through the bag. Soak in cold water. When water looks and smells of urine which will be the same day, pour off the water. Refill with cold water. When water smells of urine which will be next day, pour it off, refill. Soak in dish soap or soap nuts. Leave a week, then agitate the crystals inside the bag. Empty bucket and refill with clean water. Rinse the bag under the tap. Soak again in clean water. Next day agitate and rinse/refill. Kept doing until all the soap has gone. By now the water should be clear, free of urine smells. Hang to dry. If the weathers not warm enough to dry it properly, can heat on a stove or slow cooker or hang the bag On a radiator.
ReplyDeleteClay pebbles (leca) is much easier to clean, and dries much faster so lasts longer in the litter box. But harder to scoop as pebbles won’t fit through scoop mesh. And won’t work with petsafe scoopfree box. Leca Grit might work am going to try soon when can afford it (if buy in bulk is same price as crystals, otherwise much more expensive).