Those small packets of desiccant that come with your new shoes or vitamins have lots of uses at home. Wherever moisture is a problem, silica gel packs can help fix it. Store them in a sealed container away from pets and kids (they can be a choking risk) and use them in these situations.
In the Kitchen
- Prevent vitamins from getting ruined by moisture. (It’s smart to keep those silica packs that are inside vitamin bottles; save them after the vitamins are gone.)
- Keep dry food and pet food fresh and crunchy by taping a silica gel pack to the lid of your storage container.
In the Closet
- Place some silica gel packs at the bottom of your laundry basket to soak up moisture from clothes or wet towels.
- A silica gel pack will help dry out soggy shoes or boots.
Around Your Home
- Cut down on condensation on windows by placing a silica gel pack on the window sill. (Don’t forget to keep them away from kids and pets)
- If you have a non-waterproof phone, put it in a sealed bag with some silica gel packs to help dry it out.
- Protect important papers and photos from dampness by putting a silica gel pack inside their box or file cabinet.
- If you have boxes full of memories — like old documents, pictures, or notebooks — store some silica gel packs in there too to absorb moisture.
- Add some with your tools so they don’t get rusty.
- Put some in your medicine cabinet if you store medication there; they will help lower humidity levels.
- Keeps razors safe from rust by keeping them in an airtight container with one of those packets!
- Placing several packets between your dashboard & windshield while driving helps reduce fogging.
When You Go On A Trip
Keep luggage dry while stored by adding one packet into each suitcase.
If you can’t dry off your swimsuit before packing, toss several packets into a Ziploc bag.
Bonus Tip: To “reactivate” saturated silica gels, place them on an oven-safe sheet at about two hundred degrees for two hours away from direct heat.