Silica gel is a product that is widely used in the domestic field. Let us further consider its main features, as well as some areas in which this substance can be applied. Any housewife who wants to keep dry in the house needs to know about this.
What is silica gel?
Considering the characteristics of silica gel, it should be noted that this substance is a gel, the main component of which is silicic acid. Currently, only the product that is presented in dried form is used in everyday life.
If you evaluate the external qualities of the product in question, you can see that it is presented in the form of small granules of white color or having no color at all. As for the shape, they can be oval or spherical.
Silica gel granules are characterized by a porous but solid structure. Due to this quality, the product is able to actively adsorb various types of liquids, including water. In addition, silica gel is capable of absorbing vapors of certain types of organic substances and gases.
Operating principle
Having understood what silica gel is, it is necessary to determine the basic principle of the action of this agent.
When wetted, silica gel absorbs an acceptable amount of moisture. This occurs as a result of the active actions of centers located on the entire vast surface of the granule - it is precisely on their total quantity that the absorbent capacity of the sorbent directly depends.
Currently, several types of silicates have been developed and are actively used. Of these, indicator ones are especially demanded, which, as a certain amount of moisture is absorbed, change their color. As practice shows, this component is most often used in working with household appliances, in the maintenance of double-glazed windows, as well as in chromatography.
Next, we consider how silica gel filler is used in everyday life.
Shoe drying
In any box of new shoes you can find a couple of small bags with matte or transparent silica gel granules - they are added to absorb moisture. However, few people realize that the found product can provide incredible help in the process of drying wet shoes. Of course, to achieve a state of complete dryness with the help of these granules will not work, but you can speed up the drying process significantly. In order to achieve a positive result, you need to place a bag of adsorbent in wet shoes and leave it for several hours (with a little wet, a couple of hours is enough).
A significant advantage of using this method of drying shoes is that silica gel interacts well with such capricious materials as suede and nubuck.
Smartphone drying
Silica gel: what is it and where is it used? Due to its ability to enhance moisture absorption, this substance is often used to dry mobile phones and smartphones.
How to use the tool for this purpose? First of all, you should try to wipe the phone as well as possible with a soft dry cloth, and then put it in a sealed bag, tightly covering the device with small bags of silica gel. In this form, the phone must be left overnight, after which all moisture will be absorbed, and the device will remain operational.
It should be noted that in this situation, the use of more silica gel is a guarantee of a complete recovery of the device.
Eliminating the smell of dampness
It often happens that an unpleasant smell of dampness is observed in a room or in a separate container. You can get rid of it by using silica gel.
To do this, put several bags of silica gel in the corners of the room or in any container from which it is necessary to eliminate unpleasant odors.
People who regularly visit the gym or pool wear a wet towel in their bag. They probably encounter the presence of a raw smell. In order to permanently eliminate such a problem, it is enough to put a paper bag with the substance in question in one of the pockets of the bag.
Remove moisture in the bathroom
A bathroom is usually a room in which increased humidity is constantly present. As you know, these conditions are an excellent area for the formation and propagation of a fungus dangerous to human health. Moreover, the presence of excessive humidity leads to the fact that the mirrors in the room fog up.
In order to significantly reduce the humidity level in the room, you can put containers with the substance in question under the bath or in any other place inaccessible to children and animals.
Silica gel for razor care
What is silica gel and where is it used? Few people know that this substance helps to extend the life of an ordinary razor. In order to do this, you need to take a small plastic container and fill it with silica gel. Now in this container you need to put the razor after each use, immersing it with the blades down. So they will remain dry all the time, because of which they will not corrode.
Silica gel for cutlery care
Few people know that silica gel helps to prevent the blackening of silver cutlery, which occurs due to improper storage.
In order for the forks with spoons to remain beautiful and not blacken all the time, you just need to put a bag with the substance in question in their storage location. Practice shows that in this case, cutlery will retain its natural luster and beauty for a long time.
In exactly the same way it is possible to ensure the storage of any other metal devices and objects - this adsorbent is able to absorb moisture, which is the cause of corrosion of the metal.
For drying plants
Sometimes it happens that in order to achieve certain goals, a dried flower is required. How to make the herbarium turn out not only quickly, but also be beautiful? Silica gel can be used for this.
A fresh flower or leaves for herbarium should be put in a box and thoroughly covered with silica gel. In this case, the main attention should be paid to the fact that the plant should be completely covered with this substance.
In just a couple of days you can get a perfectly dried and beautiful herbarium.
Cat tray filling
Silica gel KSKG: what is it? This is a common silica gel, represented by large granules. To date, this substance is very often used to fill cat trays.
Of course, this gel is slightly more expensive than the usual concrete or wood filler, however, many comments left by those who keep pets in apartment conditions say that the consumption of this type of filler is much less, due to its ability to effectively absorb not only moisture, but also odors. Practice shows that a complete replacement of the contents of the pot in this case may be needed only after 3-4 weeks.
To store photos
What is silica gel? To absorb moisture, this tool is often used to ensure the continued safety of photographs printed on paper. To do this, just put the bag with the substance in a box with photographs and close it tightly. Under these storage conditions, the brightness of the images remains for a long time.