How to Recharge Silica Gel
Silica gel is a desiccant that absorbs outside moisture and holds it. The fact that silica gel can hold up to 40 per cent of its weight in excess moisture is what makes it popular. It is used by manufacturers to ship with shoes, electronics, and even some food items. Those little packets you find in many of your packages or product boxes contain silica gel, and are there to make sure that moisture doesn't damage your items. Silica gel is available as loose granules to spread and use for small projects, or in larger canisters to absorb moisture in larger spaces. Silica gel can last a very long time, because it can be recharged and reactivated.
Instructions
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Reactivating Silica Gel
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Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
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Gather up the silica gel that needs to be reactivated. Spread it out as thin as possible on a cookie sheet.
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Heat in the oven for five hours. If your silica gel has indicator crystals, heat them until the crystals return to their original color.
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Remove the tray from the oven. Place it into a container that has an airtight seal. Store away from light until you are ready to use again.
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Tips & Warnings
Some silica gels can be reactivated in a microwave. This is not the best way to do it, as it can change the quality of the silica gel over time.
Keep silica gel where it will not be accidentally ingested by children.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit www.flickr.com
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Comments
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1. Cut 15 x 3 inch. fold length in half and sew up one short end and the long end to create a tube. Turn the tube right side out. Drop 2 TBLS of silica gel christals into the tube and and sew up he last short end side to encase the silica gel crystals. Attach 12 inch ribbon or sew up 24 x 3/4 inch long tube on the long side and turn tube right side out. and sew one end closed turning the ends to the inside and attach one to each end of the wider tube. On a hot day before going outside, soak the neck tube in a tub of cold water until the tube is full with the expanded gel crystals. Remove the moisture on the outside of the tube of gel. If it is lumpy you can manipulate the gel to redistribute it where it is needed. and tie around your neck. These are great for playing sports; golf, tennis, football, in the hot weather. As the gel evaporates it keeps the neck nice and cool for players and construction workers, carpenters, farm workersand others who have to work in the hot heat. 2. I also place a thin layer of silica gel in potted plants and soak the plant in a tub of water until the gel expands. This is a great trick for when going on vacation. You won't have to worry about your plants not getting watered while your away from home. If you don't have enough silica gel from the little packets you can purchase an inexpensive contaiinter of the silica gel in the garden department at Wal-Mart. A little goes a long way.
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they are great for gun cases and things that moisture will harm.
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I just read how to recharge and re-use silica gel beads. I hope it's not too expensive to buy outright, because I can't imagine the energy used -- even on a low temperature -- by keeping an oven on for FIVE HOURS! It'd be like driving 40 miles round trip out of the way to a "cheaper" gas station to save $2 on a tank of gas -- not worth it. Just sayin'... Thanks.
