Protecting caches from moisture - a suggestion

[Guest Point2Point]

After finding a few caches I noticed that no matter how good the container - even ones with zip lock bags - the contents (especially paper) have become damp. To help minimize the dampness, I think it would be helpful to put some silica gel packets in the cache.

 

These are the little packets that you can find in almost every new pair of shoes (in the shoe box). They are about the size of a sugar packet and they feel like a package of crushed gravel and they usually are labeled as 'Silica Gel - Do Not Eat'. I have used silica gel packets in my own personal storage of books and paper documents and it seems to help a lot. I got a handful of these little packets from a shoe store clerk one time just by asking.

 

Anyone have any comments? Should we all try to have some silica packs with us and leave them in caches that seem to need them?

 

Just an idea.

[Guest Cape Cod Cache]

Great idea P@P, been discussed plenty.

But thanks for the new source

[Guest tmateam]

Great idea! I found some packets on ebay, assorted sizes, and have ordered some. With each geocache I visit, I will leave a silica bag, as well as something else behind.

 

Our first cache that we visited, which was today, had items in the cache that had become wet. One was an ink-jet printed page and the colors had run.

[Guest k2dave]

I would guess that the amount of water it can hold is very small and the container is not air tight so humitidy alone would saturate it.

[Guest ClayJar]

Just a FYI again (I'll keep FYIing every time this pops up, but hey): You could also use a non-toxic alternative such as DampRid. You know, just in case a small human (or animal) might eat it.