Small silica gel sachets (see illustration above) found in shoe boxes or electronic device packaging are often thrown in the trash without thinking. However, according to an article published by our colleagues at Ouest France, these “silica gel” sachets have many unsuspected uses and can easily be reused on a daily basis.
They are not toxic
Contrary to popular belief, these transparent silicon dioxide beads are not toxic even if we recommend Keep them out of reach of children to prevent any risk of suffocation. Before reusing them, it is advisable to “dry” them to eliminate the moisture they absorbed during their first use. To do this, simply place them in an oven preheated to 95°C for two hours, then let them cool before storing them in an airtight container.
Ouest France details six practical uses to give these bags a second life.
First, they can save a cell phone that has fallen into water: “Immerse it in a container filled with silica gel to suck out the moisture. It’s even more effective than the jar-filled-with-rice method.” This tip, which is widely shared on the internet, often helps prevent irreversible damage to electronics.
Second use: preserving old photos. By slipping a few sachets into a box containing paper prints, you prevent the photos from sticking together, thus preserving their quality over the years. Practical.
The third tip is particularly useful in winter: to quickly defog a windshield, simply place a pile of silica gel sachets nearby. According to Ouest France, “in a few moments it will be defogged”, which can be practical on cold or damp mornings. The sachets are also effective for protecting razor blades from oxidation. Storing the blades in a box with silica gel limits the formation of rust due to residual moisture after use.
Another interesting application is the protection of silver objects: Ambient humidity promotes the blackening of silver, but silica gel helps prevent this problem, thus prolonging the shine of jewelry or cutlery. Finally, to sanitize a sports bag, simply slip a sachet of silica gel inside: it will absorb moisture and bad odors and limit the development of mold.
Beyond these six uses highlighted by Ouest France, other tips are circulating on the web, such as using silica gel to preserve seeds, protect photo equipment, or even preserve makeup from humidity. It's even possible to make your own silica gel moisture-proof bags, as some DIY tutorials suggest. In short, keep these bags and don't throw them away.
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