https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tHInlFfMcM
copy of the video description text:
Over the years, I've collected a lot of silica gel packages and regularly put them into my stuff, hoping that they will keep it dry. These tests showed me that there is more than silica gel in the typical desiccant packages and that if you don't properly dry them, they can even ruin your filament. Let's compare four different methods to keep your loose desiccant and your silica packages dry!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:19 What's inside a desiccant bag?
01:54 Sponsor
03:19 Clay desiccant
04:57 Indicating desiccant
06:53 The problem with desiccant
10:26 Get rid of your desiccant bags?
11:06 Drying desiccant
14:38 Drying in a microwave
16:40 How much energy does it use?
19:34 Drying the bags in a microwave
21:48 Do you damage your desiccant in the microwave?
23:18 Summary
I'm surprised Stephan did not mention that bentonite clay is commonly used for cat litter.
The video specifically calls that method out as dangerous and toxic.
Microwave is fastest but you've gotta do it at an extremely low power setting and he recommends not using it with a food microwave
The microwave sits in the workshop and is not for cooking food. It's strictly to do nasty stuff with materials I work with.
Gotcha. The other issue with microwaving it on high settings is they burst releasing a dust of silica and indicating color, neither of which is good to breathe. If you've got good ppe and ventilate you should be fine.
It will kill the color changing effect tho