Often found in the shoe boxes, silica gel packets are commonly looked at as small nuisances that provide no additional purpose other than to get themselves thrown into the waste bin upon opening up new shoes. However, contrary to popular belief, silica gel packets actually do have several other uses, as these tiny bags of gel have water resisting properties.
Following is the list of ways to use silica gel that you’ve probably never heard of before, but can now take advantage of instead of tossing them the moment you find them.
1. Vitamins and Medicines
Silica gel packets are often stored with medicines as it helps retain freshness and to prevent mold and deterioration. Make sure to keep them together, as the removal of these silica gel packets could keep them from living as long as they should.
2. Important Documents and Papers
In order to refrain from water damage, keep your silica gel packets and your important documents and papers in the same drawer.
3. Makeup
With the ability to fight off moisture, silica gel can be sealed in with your makeup bag to maintain dryness and no messy makeup disasters.
4. Jewelry
Keeping jewelry dry will keep it from dulling. Slip a few packets of silica gel into the bottom of your jewelry box and keep them from retaining any additional moisture.
5. Protect Silver
Moisture can lead to tarnish and corrosion on silver and jewelry. Slip a silica gel packet in your jewelry box to keep those items tarnish free and looking great!
6. Old Books
There are a few people that just love the smell of a dusty old book, but not everyone does. Put one of those books in a bag with a few packets of silica gel and the smell will disappear.
7. Razor Blades
Razor blades do not often last very long, and are replaced frequently as the blades get dull, but also due to the amount of moisture that they are exposed to. In order to extend their overall lifetime, locking away your razor blades after usage and dabbing them dry with a few silica gel packets can reduce the risk of moisture-inflicted razor blade loss.
8. Prevent Water from Ruining a Cell Phone
Similar to the way that rice work to absorb the water your phone may have been subjected to, silica gel packets work in the same way. Cover your phone in them after a nasty encounter with water, seal it away, and wait at least 24 hours before switching on your phone.
9. Cameras
Going from a cold climate to a warmer one, your camera might be exposed to condensation that could leave marks across the lens, or affect the camera’s internal mechanisms. By taking out the memory card, battery, and even the lens if possible, place the remaining parts of your camera with silica gel packets, and the condensation will be dried away.
10. Wet Clothes
Typically after a vacation or day at a friend’s pool, we get to pack away a bag full of soaked clothes, and it’s never fun dealing with them when you get home. By throwing some silica gel packets mixed in with your wet items, they can absorb some of the moisture and make the job a lot less difficult.
11. Priceless Pictures
Don’t take the chance of cherished images getting wet – store a few gel packets wherever you keep your photos, so that they aren’t at the risk of water damage.
12. Fabric
Keep your clothes from getting moist, and possibly damaged, by putting a few silica gel packets mixed into your drawers, or wherever you keep your clothes.
13. Flowers
It is a common hobby to dry and press flowers, but the process of doing so can be a bit time-consuming. Storing them with silica gel packets will make it go by much more quickly.
