10 Reasons Why You Should Keep Silica Gel That You Find in Small Packs in Shoe Boxes

    10 Reasons Why You Should Keep Silica Gel That You Find in Small Packs in Shoe Boxes
    Greg

    8:22 AM EDT, August 27, 2020

    You must have wondered at least once why shoe boxes or electronic equipment packaging always contains these little bags. This is silica gel which is a common moisture absorbent.

    Normally we just throw them away, but with our advice you can find some smart ways to make use of them. Believe us, there are quite a few things you can utilize it. Please note that the gel is toxic and must always be kept beyond the reach of children and pets! This is a drying agent that prevents a given item form going moist, losing color and/ or going moldy. What else can we use it for?

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    Drying your phone

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    Put your phone into a string bag together with some silica gel bags all over it. Seal it tight and leave it for a day.

    Jewelry

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    Moisture does affect your jewelry. It loses its glitter and you have to spend hours bring it back to its former beauty. To save your time, put a few silica bags into the jewelry box or drawer.

    The smell of your workout bag

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    The smell comes from bacteria that grow there due to moisture. As a result, once you get rid of moisture, the odor will be gone, too. Just drop two bags inside and that’s it.

    Storage of dry products

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    Of course you need to remember at all times that silica gel is not edible. It can only help you keep dried herbs, biscuits or salty sticks dry. As you can’t drop the bags directly onto the food, just tape it to the lid of the container.

    Important documents

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    Moisture can wreak havoc on your desk, too, destroying important documents and photographs. If you put a bag inside each file, your documents will be much safer. In exactly the same way you can protect magnetic tapes.

    Pet food

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    Dry pet food will stay crunchy longer. This is great news for pet owner who buy the food in large quantities. Again, make sure the bags are not damaged – silica gel is toxic for people and animals, too.

    Protecting medications

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    This is especially relevant when you are on the road. When we travel, our luggage is exposed to a variety of weather conditions, often unfavorable ones. Silica gel can certainly secure appropriate conditions of storage for moist-sensitive medicines.

    Refreshing the interior

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    This is the only case when you have to open the packet. Drop a few balls into a small dish and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Be careful, as silica gel can cause skin irritation – avoid direct contact. Once more, make sure that neither pets nor children can reach it.

    Musty smell

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    An easy way to get rid of it is to put a bag into drawers or anywhere in between your clothes.

    Seasonal decorations

    Janine Ngai for LittleThings
    Janine Ngai for LittleThings

    Some elements, when not used for a long time, are susceptible to damage and moist. That is why always store them with some silica gel.