8 different ways to use charcoal in your home

When you hear someone talk about coal, then you think about the barbecue at the weekend, right? Know that the material has many other uses. When roasting the meat, the vegetable type is the most suitable; already the activated, which serves to filter water, is processed at higher temperatures and with controlled oxygen, which maintains its porosity and gives it purifying and deodorizing properties. It is interesting characteristics like these that make coal a great ally in everyday life🇧🇷 Check it out…

1. Erase scratches on dark wood

Did the floor get scratched after you moved furniture around? Disguise the damage by rubbing a piece of charcoal over the mark. The carbon particles temporarily fill in the scratch, so you can postpone the repair.

2. Eliminate excess chlorine from water

If the liquid that arrives at your house has a strong chemical taste and smell, put activated charcoal directly in the water tank and… say goodbye to the problem! Calculate three medium-sized pieces for every 250 liters of water and change them weekly. The treatment is cheap: a kilogram of charcoal costs around R$ 20*.

3. Recover the organic compost

If you’ve set aside a corner of your garden for composting and you noticed a bad ammonia smell the last time you turned the compost, add a little carbon to the mix to boost the nutrients. Sprinkle a generous portion of ground activated charcoal on top and mix well. Within a few days, the smell will be gone and the compost soil will be ready to be used again.

4. Deodorize the fridge and furniture

Their unpleasant smell is very easy to eliminate. Simply place a sachet of ground activated charcoal in these places. Replace the bag every 15 days or when the bad aroma appears again.

5. Protect tools from rust

A piece of charcoal inside the toolbox will keep them from rusting much longer. Change the material monthly.

6. Prolong the freshness of the bouquet

Vases of flowers brighten up the atmosphere, but it’s a pity when they wither… If you got the arrangement from a special person, then the wish is that it lasts forever, isn’t it? Charcoal does not work a miracle, but it helps to keep the flowers fresh and beautiful for much longer. Put a small piece of the activated type in the water and don’t forget to change it every day. The material doesn’t need to be replaced, okay?

7. Reduce cat tray smell

Even if you clean the kitty bathroom every day, it’s common for a strong odor to remain in the environment. To resolve this inconvenience, prepare cloth bags with pieces of charcoal and place them next to the tray. They will absorb the nasty smell in no time! Change the material fortnightly.

8. Get rid of bathroom mold

No matter how much you clean the room, the humidity and heat from daily showers end up producing pockets of mold. But if you leave a container with activated charcoal hidden behind the toilet or under the cupboard, mold formation will take longer, as charcoal absorbs moisture very well.

*average price in January 2012