Best Moisture Absorbers to Keep Your Home Dry
UPDATED December 14, 2022 02:58 PM

Best Moisture Absorbers to Keep Your Home Dry

Eliminate excess moisture and prevent mold, mildew, and musty smells from taking over your home.

Written By Erica Reagle
Updated December 14, 2022 02:58 PM

Moisture absorbers offer a convenient way to reduce humidity and keep your home dry. They work by collecting excess moisture from the air, which helps prevent mold and bad odors caused by water damage.

Moisture absorbers can be used in a variety of rooms where excess moisture is an issue, including bathrooms, basements, closets, and kitchens. They can also be used to cut down on the dampness in cars and boats.

Available in different sizes, scents, and containers, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are our recommendations for the best moisture absorbers to suit a range of needs.

How We Picked the Products

Methodology

All moisture absorbers might seem similar, but there are some important factors that differentiate each product. To select the best moisture absorbers, I examined multiple criteria:

  • Quality: All the moisture absorbers on this list are made out of high-quality materials and come from reputable brands.
  • Longevity: I selected moisture absorbers that can last between 30 and 60 days. Some on this list are also reusable once reactivated in heat or sunlight, which helps extend their use.
  • Ease of Use: The moisture absorbers I chose are simple to use and do not require very much (if any) preparation or assembly.
  • Effectiveness: I looked at how well each moisture absorber eliminated excess moisture and bad odors.
  • Value: I chose reasonably priced moisture absorbers and included several options that come as multipacks, which makes them an even better value.

The Best Moisture Absorbers: Reviews and Recommendations

Best Overall: DampRid Fresh Scent Refillable Moisture Absorber

Why It Made The Cut: This fresh scent moisture absorber includes four refillable cups that can be used in different rooms of your home for up to 60 days of moisture protection.

Specs: 

  • Dimensions: ​​9.55 x 9.55 x 5.32 inches
  • Weight: 10.5-ounce cups
  • ​​Quantity:  4-pack

Pros:

  • Multipack
  • Refillable
  • Long-lasting

Cons:

  • Smell can be overpowering
  • Not as effective in large rooms

DampRid moisture absorber cups trap excess moisture from the air and eliminate bad odors, resulting in cleaner and fresher air. Conveniently sold as a 4-pack, the refillable 10.5-ounce cups can be used in multiple rooms so you can reduce moisture throughout your entire home. Use them in bathrooms, laundry rooms, closets, or any other room that has too much moisture.

These moisture absorbers start working as soon as the lid is removed and odor-reducing crystals are poured into the container. Once the odor-absorbing crystals dissolve, you can pour out the water and refill it for longer-lasting freshness. Depending on the humidity levels and temperature in your home, each cup lasts up to 60 days.

Best Packets: Dry & Dry 1 Gram (200 Packets) Food Safe Silica Gel Packs Desiccants

Why It Made The Cut: These food-safe Dry & Dry silica gel packets are specifically designed for ultimate moisture absorption and heat resistance for rechargeability. 

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 1.5 x 1.75 inches
  • Weight: 1 gram
  • Quantity: 200 silica gel packets

Pros:

  • Large quantity
  • Food and pharmaceutical grade
  • Heat resistant for reactivation
  • Nontoxic

Cons:

  • Packets don’t change color when saturated
  • Can become saturated right away if left in open air

Looking for a versatile solution to fight dampness? You can these silica gel packets from Dry and Dry to protect food, medicine, vitamins, jewelry, books, electronics, and more from moisture damage. 

Items should be placed into a sealed container with the silica gel packets to keep out moisture. You can use one packet for containers up to 120 cubic inches, but more packets are recommended for better moisture protection. If the packets are left out in the air, they can become saturated right away and are not as effective. 

The pure white silica gel beads are food safe, and the packets are made out of high-quality coated paper that can be reheated in the oven or microwave for additional use. They come in a newly designed resealable storage bag with an airtight seal and extra layers for moisture protection.

Best Value: Vacplus Moisture Absorber Boxes (6 Pack)

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 6.1 x 3.3 x 4.1 inches
  • Weight: 10.5-ounce boxes
  • Quantity: 6-pack

Why It Made The Cut: This budget-friendly moisture absorber kit comes with six 10.5-ounce boxes that can tackle moisture issues throughout your home.

Pros:

  • Eco-friendly
  • Unique lock-wet paper
  • Independent water-collecting layer

Cons:

  • Doesn’t work instantly 

Available in a convenient 6-pack, these moisture absorber boxes from Vacplus provide efficient dehumidification. Calcium chloride particles combine with moisture, dissolve, and flow into the water reservoir. The spherical shape of the calcium chloride increases the absorption area for added moisture protection. They can be used in a variety of rooms including your basement, bathroom, and laundry room. 

These fragrance-free moisture absorbers have unique lock-wet paper to prevent accidental leakage. They also include an independent water-collecting layer that stops water from mixing with the calcium chloride particles. You can view the moisture absorption in real time by seeing how much water is collected in the box.

Best Design: Vacplus Moisture Absorber Packets, Fragrance Free (5 Pack)

Why It Made The Cut: These compact moisture absorber packets have a convenient hanging design that’s effective and safe for use in closets and other closed spaces. 

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.2 x 4.92 inches
  • Weight: 9.8-ounce hanging packets
  • Quantity: 5-pack

Pros:

  • Easy hanging
  • Effective absorbing
  • Visible dehumidifying effect
  • Protects environment

Cons:

  • Might take some time to start seeing results
  • Bags may break open if they fall

Designed to hang in closets and other closed spaces, these dehumidifier bags from Vacplus use spherical calcium chloride for effective moisture absorption. They come with a mini hook that makes them easy to hang without taking up too much space. 

This set comes with five fragrance-free 500 milliliter packets for long-lasting moisture removal. Calcium chloride beads sit in the top part of the package and water collects in the bottom portion. You can see the product working by watching water collect in the plastic storage bag.

These compact moisture absorber packets are a perfect choice for closets, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and RVs. You can use more than one bag at a time for optimal moisture absorption or save the extras for future use. Each pack lasts up to 30 days, and should be thrown out when full.

Most Eco-Friendly: Vitscan 12-Pack Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bag

Why It Made The Cut: Made out of 100-percent bamboo charcoal, these natural air purifiers eliminate bad odors and absorb excess moisture for up to two years.

Pros:

  • Nontoxic
  • Natural air purifier 
  • Reusable for 2 years

Cons:

  • Must activate before use

These versatile bamboo air purifying bags from Vitscan can be used as moisture absorbers, odor eliminators, shoe deodorizers, and air fresheners. They’re made out of 100 percent bamboo, charcoal, and breathable fabric; the activated bamboo charcoal absorbs moisture and odors better than regular carbon due to its high-temperature activation process.

These eco-friendly moisture absorbers come in a convenient 12-pack with two different-sized packets so you can choose which is best for your space. Using more than one bag at a time is recommended to increase the absorption rate and eliminate odors more quickly. These natural air purifiers are safe to use around kids and pets. They can last up to two years and are easy to reactivate by placing them under the sunlight for two hours each month.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Moisture Absorber

Here are some of the most important factors to consider when shopping for a moisture absorber.

Absorption Style

There are different kinds of moisture absorbers, including calcium chloride and silica gel. Calcium chloride can effectively reduce moisture in areas with high humidity. Silica gel is made out of sodium silicate and is typically found as gel beads inside a fabric or paper packet.

Type

The most common types of moisture absorbers are packets and containers. Packets are designed for smaller spaces and can either be dropped into a sealed container or hung up. Containers, which sometimes look like tubs of butter, are a better choice for large spaces.

Scent

Moisture absorbers come in a variety of scents, including fresh scent, lavender, and unscented. If you are sensitive to smells, you might want to opt for a fragrance-free option.

Quantity

Before choosing the best moisture absorber, decide if you need just one or multiple. Many moisture absorbers come in convenient multipacks, which are a great choice if you have moisture issues in multiple rooms or you want to have extras on hand for future use. If you are just trying to take care of a moisture problem in one room, a single moisture absorber may be all you need.

FAQs

Q: Are moisture absorbers any good?

Moisture absorbers are convenient, affordable, and effective at eliminating excess moisture from the air and getting rid of dampness and mold in your home.

Q: How long do moisture absorbers last?

The longevity varies by type. Some moisture absorbers can last up to 60 days depending on temperature and humidity levels.

Q: What absorbs moisture in closets?

Small silica gel packets are a great way to prevent moisture from getting into your safe, and protect your valuables from any potential water damage.

Final Thoughts

We considered many different moisture absorbers when looking for the best solution to combat excess moisture. Our top pick is the DampRid Fresh Scent Refillable Moisture Absorber because it’s long-lasting, refillable, and comes in a multipack.