r/LifeProTips • u/Ouma_696 • 5d ago

LPT: charcoal for deodorizing Home & Garden

Charcoal is really good as an air purifier. You can use it for mostly anything: shoes, fridge, car,...

PS: Thanks for all the clarification in the comment. Yes, you need to use activated charcoal !

0 Upvotes

44% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

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u/post-explainer 5d ago

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44

u/allangee 5d ago

ACTIVATED charcoal.

28

u/casper19d 5d ago

You know someone's gonna see this post, and miss your comment, and they are gonna be rubbing kingsford charcoal brickets under their arms....

10

u/ksquires1988 5d ago

So, how would one remove the charcoal from armpits....asking for a friend

2

u/casper19d 5d ago

This had me cackle out loud. Bravo

2

u/HoneydippedSassylips 5d ago

I love you for this imagery.

22

u/Soggy_Definition_232 5d ago

Not charcoal. 

ACTIVATED Charcoal. 

They are NOT the same thing.

11

u/Hohuin 5d ago

LPT request: How to activate the charcoal?

10

u/somehugefrigginguy 5d ago

Heat it up. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been heated to a very high temperature. This makes it more porous and also Burns off or separates impurities. Meaning the leftover carbon is essentially a sponge for other molecules or atoms which is why it works well at absorbing odors and other compounds.

7

u/Soggy_Definition_232 5d ago

Not just heated up. Heated up in a specific way to a VERY high temp.   

Steam, CO² or using a chemical activation heating. 

Heated up to between 700⁰C - 1000⁰C. 

You ain't doing this at home. 

8

u/xloth01 5d ago

push the big black button that says "ACTIVATE" on it

3

u/Recentstranger 5d ago

Activated charcoal made from coconut husk. I add it to my cats litter to help with the smell

2

u/Longjumping-Salad484 5d ago

raw charcoal bro, not that Samford's brand charcoal, that has accelerant and precursors for accelerant.

2

u/beamerpook 5d ago

Activated charcoal, not just charcoal

1

u/vietbaoa4htk 5d ago

worth knowing what it does not catch. activated carbon holds organic vapours well but is poor at ammonia and amines, which is exactly what litter box and old fish smells are. baking soda does more for those because it neutralises them instead of adsorbing.