Okay baking soda is still a pretty good odor killer, but we can’t figure out why so few people use bamboo charcoal air purifier bags. They’re awesome, affordable, sustainable, and reusable. We love them… here’s why you should too.
1. Bamboo Charcoal Works
It’s as simple as that. Bamboo charcoal air purifier bags are widely known to absorb (actually adsorb). There’s no gimmick or questionable “science” behind their claims (cough cough… salt lamps). Humans rely on charcoal and carbon, and have for centuries, to remove undesirable compounds and gases. It’s used to purify water, remove VOCs, and treat various kinds of poisoning. Bottom line… it’s better than pretty much anything at killing odor. Yes… even baking soda. Charcoal and activated carbon are much, much more porous than baking soda.
2. Bamboo Charcoal is Sustainable
Bamboo grows like weeds, figuratively speaking. Compared to the trees used for other charcoal, bamboo grows in a fraction of the time. About 5 years for the typical Chinese varieties used in consumer goods. But, there is a species that can grow 35 inches in a single day. So… perhaps bamboo grows faster than weeds.
Since it grows so fast it has to sequester carbon from the atmosphere at a rapid rate. That’s good because to create charcoal bamboo (or wood) needs to be burned. Bamboo grows fast so the net effect of the carbon released in burning is offset in a much shorter period of time.
Just as a refresher; plants use sun + water + carbon (CO2) dioxide to grow. Photosynthesis separates the covalently bonded carbon atom is from two oxygen atoms. Oxygen is released as “waste” and carbon is retained in the plant. For a more in-depth refresher check out this article.
Beyond that… bags last about two years. They just need a “recharge” in the sun every couple months to clear out the carbon’s pores.
3. Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifier Bags are Passive
There is no on or off switch on these purifiers. Just toss them into a drawer, stinky shoe, or gym bag and you’re set for a couple months. They just sit there soaking up odor in the millions of pores contained in the charcoal like a sponge. Side note… in just one gram of bamboo charcoal has almost 6,500 square feet of surface area.
4. Less Chemicals and Byproducts than Air Fresheners
Take a bag and put some bamboo charcoal in it… ship to consumers. That’s roughly the supply chain involved in these odor fighting miracles. Now contrast that with any off the shelf spray or air freshener. A “straightforward” aerosol odor spray has chemicals and fragrances, petrochemical propellant, a steel can, a label, and other plastic components. It doesn’t take long to expel the contents, only covers odor for a brief moment, and when it’s done leaves a lot of rubbish to dispose of. If you’d like to know what’s in your favorite spray check out the Environmental Working Group’s website, they’ve catalogued most of the common household products.
How Bamboo Charcoal is made
Bamboo charcoal air purifier bags typically comprise nothing more than the bag and 75 – 1000 grams of bamboo charcoal. And, that charcoal is produced through a pretty straight forward process that involves applying heat to plant material.
Growing bamboo to it’s optimal harvest age requires about 5 years. After farmers harvest the bamboo it is processed and placed in a kiln (or oven) and “cooked.” Temperature varies between regions (usually between 750 and 1,200 degrees Celsius). To fully transform raw materials into charcoal the bamboo needs up to two weeks in the oven.
Larger pieces like those used in the bags we’re discussing are typically material from the stock. Other materials and resin from the plan are used to create bamboo charcoal briquettes.
Moso Natural 200 gram Bamboo Charcoal Bag
This bag size is great for larger spaces like closets, RVs, and laundry rooms. Some people even use them near a litter box to keep things under control. Other manufacturers make bags that contain as much as 1000 grams of charcoal, but we think the 200 gram size is perfect. It’s small enough for most uses, and if you need 1,000 grams of odor killing power… just buy five. They aren’t very expensive.
Mini Moso Natural Air Purifying Bags
Shoes stink. That’s why Moso makes this size bag. At least that’s what we like to think since that’s how we use them. They’re also great for drawers, gym bags, and other tiny spaces. The seven inch long bag contains about 50 grams of bamboo charcoal.
Bamboo Charcoal Interesting Facts
- Bamboo charcoal is ten times more porous than similar wood based charcoal.
- Want to make activated charcoal? You’ll need up to two weeks and an oven that can reach at least 750 degrees celsius (1,382 F).
- 75 grams of Bamboo Charcoal will deodorize a room measuring 100 square feet.
- Bamboo grows back after harvest.
- Don’t toss the charcoal in the trash. Cut the bag open and sprinkle the charcoal into a garden or potted plants to add minerals to soil. It also helps retain moisture.
- Hospitals use activated charcoal (slightly different from Bamboo Charcoal) to treat certain types of poisoning.
- Charcoal also helps reduce mold and mildew by soaking up excess moisture