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You've tried baking soda. Sprinkled it religiously. And 48 hours later, the ammonia smell is back. That's not your fault—it's chemistry.
Arm & Hammer's cat litter deodorizer uses baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). It works by neutralizing acidic odors through a chemical reaction.
The problem? Cat urine ammonia isn't acidic—it's alkaline.
Baking soda pH: ~8.3 (alkaline)
Ammonia pH: ~11.6 (alkaline)
Base + Base = No Reaction = Ammonia Smell Stays
This is why you can sprinkle Arm & Hammer every day and still smell ammonia. The chemistry simply doesn't work.
Unlike baking soda, activated carbon doesn't rely on chemical reactions. It uses physical adsorption—trapping ammonia molecules in millions of microscopic pores.
Physical trapping works regardless of pH—no chemical reaction needed
One weekly application vs. daily baking soda
Coconut shell-based, fragrance-free, water-filter grade
Activated carbon has 5,750x more surface area for trapping odor molecules
| Feature | Arm & Hammer | Purrify (Activated Carbon) |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Absorbs moisture, masks odor | Traps ammonia molecules in microscopic pores |
| Effective duration | 24-48 hours before saturation | 7+ days per application |
| Ammonia neutralization | No (both are alkaline, no reaction) | Yes (physical adsorption) |
| Surface area | 0.2 m²/gram | 1,150 m²/gram (5,750x more) |
| Fragrance | Often scented | 100% fragrance-free |
| Cat safety | Generally safe | Water-filter grade, non-toxic |
| Works in humidity | Saturates quickly in humid conditions | Consistent performance regardless of humidity |
| Price per month | ~$8-12 (requires frequent reapplication) | ~$10-15 (weekly application) |
Making the switch is simple. You don't need to change your litter or routine dramatically.
Time needed: 5 minutes
You don't need to remove existing baking soda from your litter. Just stop adding more. It won't interfere with activated carbon.
Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of activated carbon granules onto your litter and mix it in. The black granules will distribute throughout the litter.
Unlike baking soda which needs daily reapplication, activated carbon lasts 7+ days. Add a fresh tablespoon once per week to maintain peak effectiveness.
Most cat owners report noticeable improvement within the first day. The ammonia smell that baking soda couldn't touch will be significantly reduced or eliminated.
"I used Arm & Hammer for years. Tried activated carbon on a whim. The difference is night and day. No more ammonia smell—period."
"Was adding baking soda every single day. Now I add carbon once a week and it actually works. Should have switched years ago."
"The science finally clicked when I learned baking soda can't neutralize ammonia. Once I understood why it wasn't working, switching was obvious."
"My roommates used to complain about the litter box smell. Since switching to activated carbon, not a single complaint. It just works."
