Silica packets: you'll never throw them away again when you see what they can do!

Those little packets are worth keeping

You probably throw them straight in the bin: the small paper packets that come with new shoes, handbags, vitamin bottles and electronics. That is a pity, because they are really useful. Inside are tiny beads of silica gel, a dry material that pulls moisture out of the air around it. Manufacturers add them because damp causes rust, mould, and musty smells on the long trip from the factory to the store. At home, they can do exactly the same job for you, for free.

Rust is the first thing they help against. Drop two or three packets into a toolbox drawer and your screwdrivers, drill bits and pliers stay drier, especially in a garage or shed where the air gets damp in autumn and winter. The same goes for razor blades: rinse and shake the razor dry, then store it in a small closed box or drawer with a packet. It won't make a blade last forever, but it slows down those little orange rust spots.

Gym bags and boots are next. Put a packet in each boot or trainer overnight and in the side pocket of your sports bag. The beads won't remove a smell that is already there, but shoes that dry out smell a lot less, because the bacteria behind that smell love damp. But the use most people get wrong is the one with a wet phone. On the next page you'll see what really helps!