How to Keep Documents Dry in a Brinks Home Security Box
Documents in a Brinks home security box may be safe from thieves, but this doesn't mean they will be safe from another destructive force: moisture. Even small amounts of moisture on important documents leaves them prone to mildew, which will not only make them look and smell awful, it also will eventually destroy them. The same product that keeps shoes and other items dry in storage and transport can keep your documents dry, even if you live in a very humid climate.
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Instructions
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Purchase silica gel packs. You can look for these online, or at hardware and home improvement stores. You also can ask a local shoe store if you can have any they may not need (they may even give you some without charging you). You'll typically need several small packs or a few larger, 3-by-5-inch packs.
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Unlock the Brinks box, either by using the touch pad or the key. Remove the documents from the box. Spread a few small silica gel packs (or one larger pack) flat on the bottom, then place half of the documents on top of them. The smaller 11 5/8- by 13-3/4- by 4-1/8-inch boxes will not need as many gel packs as the larger, file-sized boxes (10 1/4 by 12 1/4 by 8 1/2 inches).
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Place several more gel packs, if using the small ones (the size that comes in shoe boxes), or one of the larger silica gel packs on top of the paper. Close up the security box.
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Replace the packs monthly during humid weather or once every two to three months when the weather is very dry. Some silica desiccant gel contains a substance that changes color when the gel is saturated; in this case, follow the package directions and change it when the color indicates you should.
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Avoid storing your Brinks security box in a damp area, such as a basement or kitchen. Ideal places would be dry closets, drawers or cupboards.
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Tips & Warnings
Despite the name, silica gel is dry to the touch so there's no need to worry about handling a messy, gelatinous substance.
