Winter ready - inside dampness - does kitty litter work?

boston blacky wrote:
Hey all;

Stun question, well maybe. I'm almost ready to close up my rv for winter. Used 'Damp Rid' or something like that before but this yr. - I want to try kitty litter to see if that also works.

I hope someone can answer my question as to if it, in fact, works?

Thanks in advance for all advice and assistance. :h

Best bet is Damp Rid. You can get the big bucket on Amazon for 9.99. I put 2 in my TT and they last the whole winter storage season. They are no spill, no fuss and have indicator dots to tell you when to dispose of them when full. Only way to go!

Hey again;
So besides kitty litter tricking mice into thinking a cat lives there ! ! it serves no practical purpose? Right? Right on. I placed several Damp Rid tubs inside - on the advice of the majority. Case closed. Thanks again. BB

Here are my two centavos:

If you have access to 120VAC, a powered dehumidifier is best. I don't like having it drain to the gray tank because a freeze could cause the trap in the shower to crack. It may be a chore fetching the water every so often and dumping it, though.

If no access to power, I would buy a few Damp Rid tubs and place them in five gallon buckets. I would have at least two of these. Alternatively, place the absorbers in the bathtub or sink. Because calcium chloride is caustic, I make sure to take precautions and have a secondary layer of "insulation" should the primary container rupture (like a freeze cracking it.) Damp-Rid containers do not work as well as a compressor based dehumidifier, but they do work.

Avoid the tiny, Peltier based dehumidifiers. Those are worthless, in my experience.

donn0128 wrote:
If you have access to 120VAC a dehumidifier is the best.

I did just that when we wintered our RV's. Biggie is you need to get rid of the water. I let ours drain into the shower and left the grey tank valve open.

We've never had a problem. We cover the rig with a Sunshield tarp (black side up to melt the snow) and crack open the end windows and ceiling vents. Must be enough air flow to eliminate the problem.

Bagged calcium chloride is cheaper than kitty litter, by far (and more effective). You can leave it in plastic trays or buckets and it will take moisture out of the air.

2oldman wrote:
Kitty litter is not a dessicant. If it were it wouldn't work very well for its intended purpose in humid climates.

X2

Kitty litter absorbs moisture, but not moisture in the air. It's great for spills, but not for humidity.

I use damp rid. I get the big bucket and it lasts about 3 months. I open the bathroom door and any cupboard where I store liquids (rubbing alcohol, oils, etc.) or creams (sunscreen, etc.). It works great to pull the condesation off the bottle before they get that musty smell.

Kitty litter is not a dessicant. If it were it wouldn't work very well for its intended purpose in humid climates.

If you have access to 120VAC a dehumidifier is the best.

Calcium Chloride snow melt in a colander over a 5 gallon bucket is a cheap and effective solution. The liquid will accumulate in the bucket. Be careful when disposing of it, it is corrosive.