Orcinus, that's very good advice. Just some minor nitpicking:
orcinus wrote:1) Silica gel isn't a dessicant [sic]. It's a moisture buffer. If its moisture content is higher than the ambient air's, it will make the air humidity rise.
That's mostly true. Silica gel has good affinity for water, so the equilibrium point occurs when the air is drier than the silica gel. That makes
dry silica gel a good desiccant. It needs to be much wetter than the air to begin releasing its humidity, but yes, it does work that way too.
orcinus wrote:Silica gel doesn't absorb moisture in its volume, but on its surface. Greater surface area = better absorption and higher capacity.
Also mostly true. Short-term, absorption is on the surface, but the water eventually penetrates deeper. The immediate effect is given by the surface area, but over days and weeks, the bulk of the gel will get involved too.