11 Things You Did Not Know You Could Use Silica Gel For

Even if you do not recognize it by name,  silica gel is one of the products found practically everywhere. For example, you can find it in small paper bags in shoe boxes. In this article, you will find 11 things you did not know you could use silica gel for.

Silica gel is a granular and porous form of silica that has been synthetically made from sodium silicate, also called water glass.

The purpose of these small packages is to prevent excess moisture from accumulating around products that are supposed to survive a long time on the shelf.

The silica gel bags help the products to hold, so that they can, for example, be transported or stored for a longer period of time without being damaged.

The manufacturers recommend that you pick up the bags right away because they are very fragile and can break easily. Most just throw them out right away.

A little story about silica gel…

Silica gel has been around since 1640, and is well known in scientific circles. Despite being used for many different things in the past, it was first patented by chemistry professor Walter A. Patrick in 1919.

This product has been used in the cruel gas chambers of World War II, where it served to absorb escaped gases and vapors.

Interestingly , silica gel was also used during World War II to keep penicillin stocks dry and in good condition. Silica gel has thus both helped to take lives and save lives.

What other uses does silica gel have?

Silica gel is a desiccant that can be used for many other things around the house.

The gel is not in itself toxic, but certain compounds  are sometimes added to the packages, to enhance their effect, such as cobalt chloride, which can be harmful to your health.

The granules that you receive in these packages usually have a transparent or whitish color, which turns blue or pink when wet. The bag will indicate whether the gel pack is toxic or not. But let’s look at some of the different purposes this product has:

Drying of flowers

Have you ever gotten or bought a flower that you wish you could store forever? Maybe it was a gift from your partner? Or maybe it has a very special story? The good news is that silica gel can actually help you preserve your very special flower. All you have to do is cover the flower with silica gel for two to three days until it dries out. Make sure the whole plant is completely covered with silica gel and do not let it soak for more than five days.

Preserve the silverware

As you may know, silver can sometimes become tarnished when it is damp. Avoid this by storing a bag of silica gel in your box of silverware.

Protect your old photos

Old paper photographs can get bad over the years. Avoid this by storing them with a packet of silica gel.

Remove odor from wet clothing

It’s never a good idea to pack wet clothes in a bag, but sometimes you just can not avoid it. Wet clothes can smell really bad after a few hours in the backpack. To avoid this, you can just put some silica gel packs in the bag.

Preserve metal parts

Moisture causes metals to oxidize and rust, and destroys tools and instruments. Put one of these silica gel packs in your toolbox and prevent this from happening.

Store seeds

Seeds can rot when exposed to prolonged moisture. This can be avoided if you store them with silica gel.

Wipe your cell phone

Sometimes your electronic devices get wet. A popular housewife’s advice is to dry them in a bag of rice , but in this way they are also exposed to dust from the rice. Silica gel beads perform the same function by absorbing any moisture that your electronics have been exposed to.

Other uses of silica gel

• To  prevent condensation from forming inside the car, you can store a silica gel pack under the seat.
• Cat litter is made with silica gel, which makes it so absorbent.
• You can use silica packs to keep food in perfect condition as long as you are sure it is not toxic. Just remember never to eat silica gel.
• Silica gel can protect cameras and lenses from water damage.

For these and many other reasons, you should take advantage of these packages and reuse them. Sometimes they can save your day.