Have you ever wondered if there’s anything you can do with those little silica gel packets? After all, you have probably gotten dozens, if not hundreds, of them inside a variety of different products.
We’re going to share 10 brilliant uses for silica gel packets with you in today’s post. But before we jump in, I wanted to briefly talk about what silica gel packets actually are, and why they are included with certain products in the first place.
What Is Silica Gel?
Silica gel is quite useful because it is a desiccant, which means it is capable of absorbing and holding moisture. Silica gel packets are an efficient and cost-effective way for companies to protect their products from excess moisture or spoilage.
You can find these packets included with all sorts of things that need to be kept dry or unspoiled, including electronics, vitamins, leather goods, dried meat products, and more! And when you do come across one, make sure to hold onto it, because you’re about to learn 10 brilliant things you can do with it!
1. Save Your Phone
Dropped your phone in water? Use silica packets to save it! Just place the phone in a plastic baggie along with a few packets, and let it sit for 24-48 hours. It’s more effective and less dusty than rice!
2. Make Razors Last
If it feels like your razors are deteriorating quickly, excess moisture is the most likely culprit. Because even if you wipe the blades dry, it’s nearly impossible to get all the moisture out of the inside! But you can keep your razor drier by setting it on a silica gel pack whenever you’re not using it. The packet will absorb the excess moisture and condensation to make your razor last longer!
3. Freshen Your Gym Bag
Throw a few gel packs into the bottom of your gym bag. They’ll help absorb the moisture (and the smell) from your workout clothes and shoes, which will help keep your bag fresh.
4. Preserve Treasured Memories
Put a silica gel packet into any box or container where you keep photos, important documents, or any sort of memorabilia. The packets will help keep them dry so you can enjoy them for years to come!
5. Protect Your Electronics
Keep a silica gel packet wherever you store any electronics with a lens or a screen. These items are particularly sensitive to moisture and condensation, so storing a gel pack with them can be a cheap insurance policy against moisture damage.
6. 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.)
7. Keep Pet Food Fresh
It can be really hard to keep things dry in humid areas, and pet food is no exception. Your best bet for keeping dry food dry is to transfer it to an airtight container with a few silica get packets. Toss them right in with the food, or tape the packets to the underside of the lid.
8. Keep Books Dry
Keep your book collection dry and less musty smelling by storing them 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.
9. Preserve Pills
If you keep vitamins, medications, and other pills in your bathroom, put a silica gel packet in each bottle to help keep them dry. Bathrooms are highly humid, so your pills are exposed to humidity every time you open the bottle. And even a little bit of humidity can cause pills to start to dissolve prematurely!
10. 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.