Keeping certain items dry is going to be something that is very important during a period of prolonged self-sufficiency. Whether you’re storing certain food items, medications, electronic components or other supplies, it’s important to take steps to prevent moisture-buildup in order to minimize the chances of items becoming useless when we need them most. One of the best ways to address this problem is by using desiccants, or moisture-absorbing compounds, as a way to provide an extra layer of protection.
While it is pretty easy to purchase packets, or even large quantities of raw material to make you own, you can use a variety of alternatives from items that you are probably stockpiling as well. Let’s take a look at a few examples that you can put to use if you don’t have silica gel or similar products on-hand.
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Salt
Salt works very well, especially with food items, and it can help to keep them dry for months at a time. However, salt will become clumpy and messy once it has absorbed a lot of moisture, and you will need to replace it as necessary in order to keep goods nice and dry. Some people have also used rock salt, the same stuff that is used to melt ice on roadways, as an alternative, but its important that you don’t let the material come into direct contact with food.
Rice
It’s not uncommon to see grains of rice in salt or sugar dispensers as a way to prevent moisture form causing them to harden or clump together. You can enjoy similar benefits by using with all kinds of dry goods as well, but keep in mind that the rice will need to be replaced once it becomes moist.
Creamer
Pour some non-dairy creamer into tea bags or other packets, and place them in the containers of products you want to keep dry. The creamer will harden into a chunk once it has absorbed moisture, and you can replace it with fresh power when this happens.
Wallboard, Plasterboard or Plaster of Paris
All of these items can be used as desiccants as long as you grind them into a powder beforehand. This is a great solution for keeping non-food items dry while in storage. The powder will also harden into a chunk once it has absorbed moisture, and you can replace it as necessary. You can also use this type of powder as a way to absorb moisture in rooms, closets, backpacks or boxes.
Protect These Important Items
Most of us know the importance of keeping food and electronic items dry, but there are also other things in our stockpile that can be damaged or degraded by moisture. Consider using desiccants in ammunition boxes, around metallic items that are prone to rust and corrosion, clothing, and even documents that you want to preserve over the long-term.
You may need to do some experimentation to see how much of a particular desiccant you need in order to achieve the level of protection you want. You can also experiment with different packaging techniques in order to make the desiccants as effective as possible. Finally, remember that desiccants are not intended to replace appropriate packaging, and they should always be considered as a second-line of defense. However, using them will definitely reduce the chances of losing items to moisture, especially over the long-term, and this can go a long way to ensure that our stockpiles are as secure as possible.
