Silica stuff inside new suitcases, handbags etc.

[billyshears]

What does that do then?

[woofgang]

absorbs moisture while the items are stored in the warehouse

[WendyS]

I believe they're sillicone based crystals which absorb moisure. You can find a similar product sold in packets in garden centres to mix in with the soil in your patio garden containers to retain moisture in hot weather and reduce the amount of watering needed. They fluff up to several times their original size once full of liquid and then gradually reduce in size again as the moisture is sucked out by the surrounding earth. And they're really effective.

[Gef]

They are silica based not silicone. Silicones are used for breast implants etc. The mind boogles about what would happen if they used silica gel for implants.

Merry Christmas.

[buildersmate]

Indeed. The ladies with such implants would presumably would look larger in wet winters whilst smaller in cool dry summers. And the steamy jungles .......wow!

[gucciman]

the correct term is a dessicant

[Gef]

And the correct spelling is desiccant.

[Goodsoulette]

did woofgang not answer this in the first post. It was right! If we are being pernickety thru this link its boggles not boogles.