An evaporative pad comprising a plurality of layers of highly absorbent slit and expanded wicking papers and at least one layer of slit and expanded non-absorbent material carrying a coating of adsorbent particles bonded to exposed surfaces of the layer of non-absorbent material disposed between a pair of adjacent wicking layers in the pad. The wicking layers and non-absorbent layer coated with adsorbent particles are disposed in parallel overlying relationship to one another and bonded together to form the evaporative pad.