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Don’t toss those desiccant packets you find in packages until you’ve read through the many practical silica gel uses in this post! After all, you’ve probably seen dozens, if not hundreds, of them included in a variety of packaged products, and you may have even wondered what they’re used for.
I’ve asked myself the same question, so I decided to do some research to find out everything I could about those mysterious little packets. It turns out they have a number of useful applications around the house, from preventing rust to defogging your windshield!
We’ll explore 19 silica gel uses in this post, and cover how to revitalize old silica gel packets too, but before we jump in, let’s begin with some basic facts about silica gel.
What Is Silica Gel And How Is It Used?
The silica beads found in desiccant packets are used to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment. Adding silica gel packets to packaging is an efficient and cost-effective way to protect products that might spoil, grow mold, or otherwise suffer if exposed to too much moisture or humidity.
You can buy silica gel packets online, but you can also just collect the ones that come in packaged products you buy. You can often find them included in the packaging of electronics, vitamins and supplements, leather goods, beef jerky, and more, so it shouldn’t take long to build up your collection.
Note: Despite the very prominent ‘DO NOT EAT’ warning printed on the packs (which is good advice nevertheless), silica gel itself is non-toxic and not actually poisonous. However, the packets may contain traces of other harmful chemicals, so be sure to keep them out of the reach of pets and small children.
How Long Do Silica Packets Last?
Silica gel packets generally last between 1 and 3 years, depending on how and where they’re stored. But even after a few years, you don’t have to toss them in the trash, because you can reactivate the silica gel beads inside quite easily!
To do this, place the silica gel packs you want to reactivate in a single layer on a baking sheet. Put the baking sheet in your oven at 175°F for 15 minutes to eliminate and remove moisture trapped inside. Allow the packs to cool, then store them in a ziplock bag until needed.
Wondering what to do with silica gel packets? Wonder no more — check out the best uses for silica gel around your home below!
19 Brilliant Uses For Silica Gel Packets
1. Save Your Phone
Dropped your phone in water? Try this smartphone hack to save it. Place your wet phone in a plastic ziplock bag, add a few silica gel packs, then seal the bag and let it sit for 24-48 hours. It works better than rice, and it’s a lot less dusty too!
2. Preserve Seeds And Flowers
Keep seeds from your garden dry by storing them with a few silica gel packets. You can also preserve flowers by layering them in a box with silica gel — just open the packets and pour the crystals into the box, add the flowers, then cover them with more silica crystals. Cover the box and let it sit for up to a week until the flowers are dry.
3. Defog Your Windshield
Stash a few silica gel packets right on the dashboard of your car. They will help absorb some of the excess moisture that caused fog to form on the inside of your windshield.
4. Protect Valuables In Your Safe
It’s crucial to keep jewelry and other valuable belongings as dry as possible. Distribute silica gel packets around your safe (or wherever you keep valuables) to keep precious metals, baseball cards, and comic book collections in pristine condition.
5. Preserve Pills
Keeping silica gel in your pill bottles will protect supplements and medications from moisture and keep them dry, especially in humid environments like your bathroom. No more dealing with pills dissolving or breaking down prematurely!
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6. Keep Seasonal Decorations Safe And Dry
If you store your holiday decorations in the basement, garage, or attic like most of us, using silica get packets will help keep them in good shape for years. This is especially important for any homemade decorations the kids made in school — keeping them dry will help preserve those treasured memories.
7. Prevent Rust
Toss a couple of silica gel packets into your tool box. The gel will absorb excess moisture and help keep your tools rust-free.
8. Prevent Musty Odors In Luggage
Throw a few silica gel packets into your luggage before storing it away. The next time you need to use it, it won’t smell musty.
9. Make Razors Last
If it seems like your razors deteriorate too quickly, excess moisture lingering between or behind the blades is likely to blame. Luckily, you can keep your razor dry by storing it on a silica gel packet when you’re not using it. The pack will absorb excess moisture and help your razor last longer!
10. Keep Leather Shoes Dry And Fresh
The main cause of shoe odor is bacteria that thrive in moist conditions. Keep your shoes from stinking by keeping a few silica gel packets inside of them when you’re not wearing them.
11. Freshen Your Gym Bag
Throw a few silica gel packs into the bottom of your gym bag. They’ll help absorb the moisture from sweaty workout clothes and smelly gym shoes, which will help prevent odors from forming in your bag.
12. Prevent Damage To Tents And Sleeping Bags
Most of us store our camping equipment as compactly as possible, and that means any dampness is rolled right up inside your tent or sleeping bag. After airing out your gear, roll it up with a few packets of silica gel to keep damage from mold or mildew at bay.
13. Preserve Important Papers And Treasured Memories
Put a silica gel packet into any box or container where you keep photos, birth certificates, important documents, collectibles, or memorabilia. The desiccant packets will ensure they won’t be exposed to moisture, and you’ll be able to enjoy them for years to come!
14. Store Dehydrated Food
If you have a supply of dehydrated foods stored for emergencies, silica gel packets will help keep those dehydrated foods dry. The FDA recognizes silica gel packets as safe for use with food, and it’s an easy way to protect dried foods from moisture and prevent spoilage.
15. Protect Your Electronics
Keep a silica gel packet with your camera, headphones, hearing aids, and other electronics, especially those that have lenses or screens. Electronics are highly sensitive to moisture and condensation, so storing a gel pack with them can be a cheap insurance policy against moisture damage.
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16. Prevent Silver Tarnish
Put a couple of gel packets inside your jewelry box and alongside your nice silverware. Keeping silver items dry will help prevent tarnish (or at least slow it down.)
17. Keep Pet Food Fresh
It can be really hard to keep things dry in humid areas, and pet food is no exception. One clever hack for dog owners is to transfer dog food to an airtight container with a few silica get packets. You can toss them right in with the food, or tape the packets to the underside of the lid, to safely keep pet food dry.
18. Keep Books Dry
Keep your book collection less musty by keeping them dry with silica packets. You can distribute a few around your bookcase, or even store a packet within the pages of your most treasured old book.
19. Prevent Powders From Clumping
Even small amounts of moisture can cause powders like dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, baking soda, and washing soda to harden into clumps. An easy way to prevent this is to add a couple of silica gel packets to the containers you store them in.
Looking For More Posts Like This?
- I’ve written dozens of blog posts about creative alternative uses for everyday items, and now there’s a quick and easy way to peruse them!
- Check out all of my “Uses For” posts here.
How do you reuse silica gel packets in your home?
