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If ammonia odor keeps coming back after baking soda products, you are not imagining it. This is mostly a chemistry mismatch.
Many deodorizer products rely on baking soda, which can help with some acidic odor compounds.
Cat urine ammonia is alkaline, so base-on-base neutralization is limited.
pH context: Baking soda ~8.3, ammonia ~11.6
Base + base means minimal neutralization for ammonia-heavy odor.
That is why daily reapplication can still leave persistent smell in multi-cat homes.
Activated carbon traps odor molecules physically through adsorption instead of relying on acid-base reaction.
Works through physical adsorption regardless of pH.
Often remains effective for 7+ days between refreshes.
No perfume masking layer needed.
Activated carbon can expose dramatically more capture area than baking soda.
| Feature | Arm & Hammer | Purrify (Activated Carbon) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Moisture handling and partial masking | Adsorption in microporous carbon |
| Typical interval | 1-2 days | About 7 days |
| Ammonia focus | Limited on alkaline ammonia | Designed for ammonia capture |
| Surface area | ~0.2 m2/g | ~1,150 m2/g |
| Fragrance dependency | Often paired with scent | Fragrance-free operation |
Most cat owners can switch without changing litter brand or routine.
Estimated setup time: about 5 minutes.
No deep reset needed. Just pause the daily bicarbonate top-up cycle.
Distribute 2-3 tablespoons and mix through the top layer.
Most homes maintain performance with a weekly refresh.
You should notice clearer ammonia reduction within the first day.
I stopped daily baking soda top-ups and the weekly freshness is far more consistent now.
Apartment odor complaints disappeared after switching to activated carbon.
Once I understood the pH issue, the switch was obvious.
For me, weekly refresh beats constant reapplication.
