Don’t throw away silica gel bags that come with new buys – they rescue everything from leather clothes to drowned phones
THOUGH they're marked on the exterior with "THROW AWAY – DO NOT EAT," silica gel packets can be a handy tool to have on hand for a number of home hacks.
You can use them to protect everything from phones to vacation gear, so don't throw away (or snack on them, either).
The next time you open a new pair of shoes or a bag of your favorite snack, follow the advice of experts at Popular Science and fish out to set aside.
"The jewelry-like beads are a desiccant," the experts explained, "a category of materials used to keep products dry by attracting water to their surface."
Because the gel beads adsorb water (attract it to the surface), but don't absorb it, you can use them to draw moisture away from other materials without creating a mess of waterlogged baggies.
For example, you can store your birth certificates, passports, and other important documents with to prevent water damage.
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That will keep them safe from leaks or moisture which could ruin the documents and create a huge administrative hassle down the line.
Family treasures are also a great category to protect with silica gel, the experts advised. "Paper-based heirlooms – think gramma’s wedding photo album or your children’s handmade holiday decorations – are also frequently threatened by insidious moisture, leaks, or humidity," they wrote.
When you put away the photo albums or pack up holiday decor in January, add some into the box for additional protection.
Clothes and bags can benefit from being stored alongside silica gel, too.
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When you rotate your closet throughout the year, use silica gel to protect your off-season clothes. Expensive materials that could be damaged by water can be also renewed by a reset in a container of the packets.
"Leather and sports gear might be fine in a bit of rain, but prolonged exposure to moisture can ruin, stain or mildew different specialty fabrics," the experts said. "Silica gel packets tucked into pockets and between layers of fabrics can adsorb water before anything is ruined."
Any outdoor clothes or travel gear that gets wet can be guarded against mold or mildew with silica gel. Use them to wick away moisture from swimsuits and sleeping bags, for example.
"You can also use the to mitigate tarnish or corrosion of metal jewelry, so stick some in your jewelry box," said the experts.
Or you can use them to protect other metal objects from rust by lining your toolbox or workbench with gel packets.
If you have enough of them, you can even use silica gel packets to try and revive a water-damaged phone or another electronic device.
"Try using a slew of to adsorb the water out of the electronic to bring it back from a watery grave," the experts advised.
If there are other electronics you don't use regularly, but want to protect, store them in a waterproof container with silica gel.
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This is a great way to keep your original iPod, your point-and-shoot Nikon camera, or your retro GameBoy from getting damaged while you hold on to the throwback collectibles.
Just avoid using or storing the around food. Some gel packets have a color-changing moisture indicator, which aren't meant to be used near food since the compound can become an irritant if consumed.