5 Clever Ways To Repurpose Silica Gel Packets

We're all familiar with silica gel packets — the small bagged packets found in vitamin bottles, shoe boxes, and electronics, along with other goods. Even if you don't immediately recognize the name, you've seen the tiny packets filled with beads that often feature bold lettering, saying some variation of "THROW AWAY" and "DO NOT EAT" in all caps to get people's attention. When most of us see these packets, we dutifully do what they say and toss them in the trash. After all, what's the point of keeping them around if they've served their initial purpose, right?

Turns out that assumption couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is those little silica gel packets have a continuous use because silica gel is a desiccant that absorbs moisture and helps keep goods dry. You find them in so many products because, as a drying agent, they can help prevent moisture build-up and damage. As you can probably imagine, if you live in a humid area or have things around your home you need to keep dry, these packets can come in handy. Whether you're looking for tricks to save your water-damaged AirPods or a way to protect important documents from humidity while in storage, silica gel packets might be able to help.

While many use cloud storage solutions like Google Drive to store documents, we often have important paper documents like birth certificates and passports lying around our homes. These documents are susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. Paper naturally absorbs and releases moisture to stay in balance with its surroundings. Unfortunately, this leads to changes in its shape, size, strength, and durability. Silica gel packets can help protect these documents from excess moisture. All you have to do is place a couple of silica gel packets in the box or filing cabinet where they're stored to keep moisture at bay. 

Additionally, you can use the same technique to preserve photographs. While there is the option to conveniently store photos in online albums like Google Photos, some still have printed pictures of grandparents or important life moments that they'd like to keep in the best condition possible. A solution is to place a silica gel packet wherever you have photos, whether that's in an album, envelope, or in the back of a picture frame hanging on your wall. Doing so will help keep them safe from humidity.

Many owners of electronics have learned the hard way how much damage excess humidity can do to their devices. Whether you have one of the best DSLR cameras on the market or a smartphone with a few years under its belt, protecting them from exposure to high levels of moisture can ensure they stay in good working order for as long as possible. Too much moisture can cause rust and corrosion, as well as damage internal components and short circuits. 

The need to be careful not to spill water on electronic devices or submerge them in it is generally understood. However, even while you're not using them, you should take proactive steps to protect your gear from moisture. Silica gel packs can help you do that by placing a pack in your laptop bag, backpack, or wherever else you store your electronic devices to help control the humidity level and keep them dry. These tiny packets can also help protect your camera and photography equipment from moisture damage. An added bonus of placing silica gel packets in a camera bag is they'll keep lens condensation to a minimum and help prevent foggy build-up that can happen when temperatures fluctuate during photo shoots. 

If you frequent the gym, chances are you take a gym bag with you to carry everything from towels to a change of clothes. As convenient as gym bags are for storing your workout gear, they're also breeding grounds for bacteria and unpleasant odors. That's because when we exercise, we more than likely sweat, and often toss those sweaty clothes into our gym bags, trapping moisture and creating an environment that's ripe for bacteria growth and the smells that come with it. 

As you may have guessed, silica gel packets can help. Placing a few of them in your gym bag will absorb moisture, keeping it dry so the bacteria have nothing to live off of. Less bacteria means fewer odors and a fresher gym bag and clothes. If you use sports equipment like boxing gloves, placing a few silica gel packets in them after a workout can help absorb residual moisture, which will keep them fresh and ready for the next time you use them. The same goes for protecting your headphones from sweat damage – placing a few silica gel packets around them after an extra sweaty workout can help absorb the excess moisture.

Making sure dry foods stay dry can be a constant battle, especially if you live in a part of the country that experiences high humidity. Nobody wants soggy cereal, crackers, or nuts, but that's exactly what will happen if they become exposed to too much moisture and start to lose their crunch. Even coffee can go bad when exposed to humidity. The good news is silica gel packets can help you say goodbye to the days of finding your dried food turned soft.

You can find food-safe silica gel packets on Amazon for around $12 for a pack of 50. Place one packet in the container where you store your dry foods and be sure to close it tight to keep moisture out. Remember, you should always keep the packets sealed and never add the beads to your food. You can do the same with pet food to keep it from going stale or clumping together. This trick also works with salt, white sugar, and spices that have a tendency to clump, like garlic powder and onion powder. Since brown sugar needs moisture to stay soft, you should avoid using silica gel packets with it.

We've all experienced foggy car windows on cold days, steamed-up bathroom mirrors after a hot shower, and condensation on home windows when there's a big difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. While you likely have your go-to tricks for stopping your car windows from fogging up, another solution is using silica gel packets to keep your windows free from fog on those chilly days. 

This method is as easy as putting some silica gel packets on your car's dashboard to keep your windshield clear. You'll also save time because you won't have to spend so much of it using your car's defroster to get rid of the fog and condensation before leaving home. Since your silica gel packets will absorb a lot of the moisture on your car's dashboard, you'll have to dry them out from time to time. You can do this by putting them on a cookie tray and baking them at a low temperature in your oven.

Silicon gel packets also work well to prevent foggy mirrors in bathrooms and windows around your home. Just like in your car, place the packets near the mirrors or windows you want to keep free from fog and condensation. However, in bigger areas, pairing silica packets with dehumidifiers and proper ventilation will vastly help reduce moisture while slowing the potential growth of mold and mildew.