Best Air Purifying Charcoal Bags For Cars


If you are looking for an organic and unscented alternative to air fresheners in your car, charcoal air purifying bags are an ideal option. These bags are a simple, inexpensive, and a natural solution to deodorize and filter the air in your vehicle.

In this post, we’ll explain the air purifying charcoal bags, their effectiveness for cars, a step-by-step guide to use them, and a list of the best air purifying bags for cars.

What are Air Purifying Bags?

Air purifying charcoal bags are made with pure charcoal, usually obtained from the bamboo plant, coal, or coconut shell, and packed in a fabric. Bamboo charcoal is considered the best as it has a microporous structure with many tiny cavities and a surface area to weight ratio of 600:1.

These properties give it a unique and natural absorbent system, similar to a hard sponge, which allows it to trap air pollutants, toxic chemicals, and gases. It’s useful for air purification, deodorization, and controlling humidity levels.

Generally, a 200g charcoal bag is sufficient for a 100 sq ft. space and can last up to 2 years if it is regularly activated by exposure to direct sunlight for a few hours.

Do Charcoal Bags Work in Cars?

Charcoal bags work effectively in cars to remove various odors, and harmful chemicals, improving the air quality in your car. Air purifying bags made from bamboo charcoal are considered the most effective.

Adjusting Humidity Levels

Bamboo charcoal is typically made from mature bamboo plant stalks or wastes by burning them in ovens with low oxygen levels and temperatures ranging from 600 to 1200oC degrees Celsius. This results in activated charcoal pieces with microscopic pores.

These microscopic pores provide a large surface area for the adsorption of moisture from the surrounding air. When the humidity levels of the surrounding air in the car are greater than the humidity of the bamboo charcoal, it quickly starts absorbing the moisture to reduce the humidity.

Removal of Odors

With its numerous small pore spaces, the activated bamboo charcoal can absorb ammonia, chloroform, benzene, ethyl benzene, 2,4-di-chloro hydroxyl benzene, methanal, and other volatile organic compounds present in the air. The bamboo charcoal bags can also remove various odors including moldy odors, food odors, and smoke odors.

Plentiful Air has more detailed information on how air purifying bags work available here.

Best Air Purifying Bags for Cars

Here’s the list of the best air purifying charcoal bags for car. You can check the latest prices and availability on Amazon by clicking on the link.

1. Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag

Moso Natural Air purifying bags are made of high-quality charcoal processed with a unique carbonization process. This bamboo charcoal bag makes the top of our list because the processed charcoal comprises millions of ionically charged tiny pores with a large surface area that can absorb harmful pollutants, odors, and humidity, leaving the air in your car fresh and clean.

Unlike commercial air fresheners, this charcoal air purifying bag is made of 100% natural materials and can effectively cover areas of up to 90 sq. ft. You can easily hang this lightweight charcoal bag (1.76 pounds) in your car using a metal grommet embedded in the bag’s upper corner.

The high efficiency and small size (5 x 2 x 6.5 inches) of this product outweigh the other available products.

You can even sprinkle the Moso bamboo charcoal in your garden after two years, where it can promote plant growth by serving as a natural source of carbon.

Pros

  • Free of chemicals and fragrances
  • Absorb all odors in a car
  • Easy to use
  • Ethically sourced
  • Cruelty-free

2. BASIC CONCEPTS Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bag

The BASIC CONCEPTS features organic bamboo air purifying bags comprising charcoal chunks that can trap dust and absorb odors effectively. These bags improve air quality and are perfect for cars, homes, refrigerators, shoe racks, bathrooms, gyms, or drawers.

BASIC CONCEPTS back their products with US-based 24/7 customer support and a lifetime replacement if you are not satisfied with the product. Every month, set the charcoal bags in direct sunlight for 2 hours or in indirect sunlight for 5 hours to rejuvenate them.

These air purifying bags measure 7 x 5 x 1.5 inches and weigh only 0.4 pounds, the lightest charcoal bag on our list.

Pros

  • Safe for kids and pets
  • Efficient for large spaces
  • No chemicals or scents

Cons

  • No instructions or ingredients are mentioned on the packaging
  • A few customers complained that the bags they received had a particular smell.

3. Pure Guardian Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bag

PureGuardian is one of the most trustworthy and popular brands that boast high-efficiency bamboo charcoal bags for removing moisture, odors, and other chemicals from the air.

Unlike other odor removers that can just mask the odors, these natural air purifiers absorb the odors making the air in your car better to breathe. They are ideal not only for cars but for offices, closets, bathrooms, nurseries, pet spaces,  laundry rooms, basements, gym bags, and other small spaces.

The compact design with 1.25 x 5.75 x 7 inches dimensions and 0.2 pounds weight make them fit in small spaces and easy to carry around.

Pros

  • Includes metal grommet
  • Chemical-free
  • 100% natural
  • No fragrance
  • Reusable
  • Non-toxic
  • 2-years warranty

Cons

  • A few customers complained that these charcoal bags are not as effective as expected.

4. Products4Future Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags

The Products4Future charcoal bags boasts natural bamboo activated charcoal made from high-quality moso bamboo absorb harmful chemicals, moisture, and odors covering up to 100 sq. ft. you can use them in cars, closets, gym bags, bathroom, and pet spaces. It comes with an e-book with instructions on how to get the most out of our air purifying bags.

Products4Future charcoal bags are clearly designed with aesthetics in mind. You can choose from green, blue, grey, and pink-red colors.

This lightweight(0.4 pounds) and portable product measures 4.72 x 4.72 x 5.12 inches. You can add bamboo charcoal to your garden after two years.

Pros

  • Chemical-free
  • Reusable
  • Cost-effective

5. House Edition Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bag

The House Edition bamboo charcoal bag can remove moisture, odors, dust, and other small particles for noticeable fresh air. Each 200g bag contains 0.1-0.2 inch chunks of activated charcoal that can filter up to 90 square feet of space and can be used in cars, offices, and homes.

This US-manufactured bag is purely designed with aesthetics in mind; the grey bag with a grey-green logo, a metal ring, and a hanging rope can seamlessly blend into any décor. This product is perfectly portable with dimensions of 10.9 x 9.1 x 2.1 inches and a weight of 1.76 pounds.

Pros

  • 100% natural materials
  • Ease of use
  • Biodegradable fabric casing
  • Stylish design

Cons

  • Only 12-months guarantee
  • Least effective for strong odors

6. Vitscan Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bag

Vitscan employs a secondary high-temperature activation process to manufacture its activated bamboo charcoal. This increases its surface area, which improves its capacity by three times that of ordinary carbon, making it one of the most efficient charcoal bags. This air purifying bag can perfectly serve as a natural deodorant and moisture absorber in cars, laundry, wardrobes, gym bags, closets, bathrooms, and pet spaces.

The charcoal bag’s dimensions of 12.91 x 10.2 x 3.74 inches and 0.3-pound weight make it ideal for travel.

Pros

  • 100% bamboo charcoal
  • Built-in metal ring
  • No added fragrances
  • No chemicals or synthetic materials

Cons

  • You need to use two to four packs(200g) in a car for better air quality.

7. Comfy Mate Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags

The Comfy Mate bamboo charcoal bags are high-quality breathable air purifying bags that can remove moisture and odors, leaving the air fresh and clean. You can use them in your car for odor-free rides and in closets, pet spaces, gym bags, and bathrooms. Placing three to five bags in your car would suffice.

Each bag measures 14.45 x 10.04 x 3.54 inches and weighs 0.4 pounds. This bag can be an ornament for your home or car with a metal grommet and a hook.

Pros

  • Highly efficient in removing odors
  • Cost-effective
  • No artificial ingredients
  • No fragrance

Cons

  • Some customers reported that these charcoal bags didn’t work for them.
  • You must use 3-5 bags for a car instead of one.

8. CLEVAST Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags

The CLEVAST bamboo charcoal bags are created from natural bamboo that has been meticulously processed into standard-sized activated charcoal particles with a large surface area for more significant adsorption of formaldehyde, excess moisture, and smells. A single or two bags would be sufficient for your car or SUV. You can put them in furniture, cabinets, bathrooms, bedrooms, gym bags, and refrigerators.

These powerful natural odor eliminators are 12.64 x 9.65 x 2.4 inches in dimension and weigh 0.4 pounds.

Pros

  • Includes metal ring for hanging
  • Eco friendly
  • Unscented
  • No chemical additives
  • Reusable
  • Safe for children and pets

9. Adam’s Odor Air Purifying Charcoal Bag

Adam’s charcoal bags are one of the best odor eliminators and dehumidifiers for large cars, trucks, and SUVs, providing coverage of up to 90 sq. ft. These bags filter the air that travels through them, removing unwanted particles.

These premium charcoal bags come with a metal grommet allowing you to hang them anywhere. The charcoal beads can be used in the garden after two years of use in your vehicle. This product measure 8.9 x 7.52 x 1.93 inches and weighs 1.1 Pounds.

Pros

  • Non-toxic
  • Odorless
  • Reusable
  • Great product for vehicles
  • Safe to use

10. Vergali Nature Fresh Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags

The Vergali bamboo charcoal bags are great air purifiers and deodorizers with immense adsorption capacity for various chemicals, toxins, tiny dust particles, and lingering odors in your car. They’re made of double-layered cloth with charcoal chunks in the inner pocket, making them highly durable and difficult to break.

These rechargeable 12.52 x 8.23 x 3.86-inch bags are ideal for use in vehicles, closets, refrigerators, basements, shoes, gym bags, etc. They weigh a little more (2.47 pounds) than the other products on our list.

Pros

  • Environment friendly
  • Includes metal grommet and hooks
  • Non-toxic
  • Free of chemicals
  • Unscented
  • Lifetime guarantee

Cons

  • A few customers complained that they made no difference to lingering odors.

How to use Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags

To use a charcoal air purifying bag:

  • Remove the packaging of the charcoal bag. Before placing the bag in the car, place it under sunlight for at least one hour. This will activate the charcoal in the bag.
  • Don’t confuse sunlight with heat. The idea is to activate the charcoal by exposing the bag to UV rays, not the heat.
  • Once the bag is ready for use – Place the charcoal bag on the car’s floors, back shelf, dashboard, door slot, trunk, center console, seat back, under the seat, or rear window.
  • Please don’t open the bag until you are ready to throw it away.

Russell Singleton

Russell holds a Bachelor of Science (Environmental and Marine Geoscience) with Class I Honors. He is currently completing his doctorate in science and is passionate about all earth processes, especially isotope geochemistry and paleohydrology.

Bamboo charcoal is activated in a low-oxygen, high-temperature environment, eliminating the possibility of water incorporation. It is a dry product with microscopic cavities or pores after processing which makes it incredibly efficient in reducing humidity. When the humidity levels in the surrounding air exceed the humidity of the bamboo charcoal, it quickly starts absorbing moisture to reduce the humidity.