When moving with your camera from the cold outdoors to a warm indoor location, condensation may form on the lens. Keep a desiccant package in your camera bag to protect it.

Protect your camera from moisture

The last thing you want is to open an old box and find that your favorite photographs and important documents have been ruined by moisture. Store them with some desiccant packets to prevent them from getting damp.

Protect old photos and documents

Forget rice. Next time your phone gets wet, leave it in a container of these packages overnight, and they should completely dry it out.

Save a wet phone

Silia gel is often sold in flower shops because it is a great way to dry flowers. Fill a bowl with it, place your flower in the middle and wait a week or two for it to dry out.

Dry flowers 

If you leave a few of these packets on your dashboard under the windshield, they will help dry the air out and clear the windshield off quickly.

Defog your windshield

Although the packages say, “Do not eat,” they aren’t actually toxic. They are filled with little silicon dioxide beads, and the only real danger associated with them is that they could pose a choking hazard for young children.

Are they toxic?

When you buy a new pair of shoes or the latest electronic device, your purchase might come with a little tiny package labeled “Silica Gel. Desiccant. Do not eat.” If you’re like most people, you probably throw these away. However, there are many uses for them, so don’t be so quick to toss them in the garbage.

Background 

If you keep a package or two in your gym bag or inside your shoes, they will help prevent mildew and will reduce unpleasant smells.

Prevent smelly gym clothes and shoes

Since your razor blades are constantly in a damp environment, they are likely to quickly get rusty. Store them in a container with some silica gel packets and they will stay nice and dry.

Keep your razors rust free

Confused about the 'Do Not Eat' silica gel packets randomly tossed in your new coats, lateral flow tests etc? Desiccants act by absorbing water to keep the surroundings dry, and this article sheds more light on ways to even utilise these, without discarding them. A must-read!

Those little packs of silica beads are more useful than you might think.