Handy ways to reuse silica gel sachets from online shopping parcels

Here are some handy ways you can re-use silica gel sachets rather than throwing them straight in the bin.

1. Store some with your spare seeds or bulbs to prevent them from going mouldy.
2. Add some to your jewellery box to help prevent tarnishing.
3. A few sachets in your gym bag will help keep it fresh.
4. Add a couple of silica gel sachets to your sewing box to prevent pins and needles from going rusty.
5. Put some in with your garlic and onions in the pantry. This will stop them from sweating and make them last longer.
6. Moisture can wreak havoc with paper. Pop some in with your important documents such as birth certificates and passports.
7. Store your silver jewellery with a few sachets to help prevent tarnishing.
8. They can be used to speed up the process of drying flowers.
9. Keep some in your medicine cabinet, especially if this is in your bathroom as it can get humid from baths and showers.
10. If you use laundry powder, add a couple of sachets to prevent it from clumping.
11. If you pack away your out-of-season clothes in a suitcase or a container, throw in some sachets to keep them smelling fresh.
12. Toss a couple of silica gel sachets into your toolbox. The gel will absorb excess moisture and help keep your tools rust-free.

‘Recharge’ your silica gel sachets

After a while your gel sachets might stop being as effective as they once were. This is because they have reached the maximum amount of moisture they can absorb. The good news is, they can be ‘recharged’.

• Choose a warm, dry day and lay the gel packets outside in the sun for a few hours. Then they are good to go again.
• You can also dry them out in your oven. Lay the sachets on a foil-lined tray in a single layer. Set the temp to a low heat (120C) and leave them in there for an hour and a half.

Whichever method you use, allow to cool and store the gel sachets in an airtight container until you are ready to use them again.

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