Cottage Tip: Keeping Humidity under Control- Part 2

Keeping your photo bags and cases free from moisture is only part of the story, especially if you keep them in an enclosed environment, a closet or drawer, without circulating air, where moisture can accumulate (especially in the cold spots of the house). Over the years, I have accumulated quite some gear, so I needed to buy a small closet where to keep my toys. Now, you can buy an air dehumidifier and replenish the adsorber (calcium chloride) as time goes by. The trouble is, these dehumidifiers are quite bulky, taking much of your precious closet space, as it was in my case. It's still better to have this place for storage of more lenses, isn't it? I came up with a cheap solution: a dehumidifier made from a soft drink bottle.

This is all you need: a stocking, a bottle and calcium chloride.

Put the adsorber inside the stocking of the assembled "device".

Just get a wide-neck bottle and put inside a short nylon stocking. Fix everything with one or two elastic bands. This stocking will serve to contain the adsorber (calcium chloride),  suspended above bottle's bottom, while the wide bottleneck ensures more moisture adsorbing capacity. Fill the stocking with calcium chloride (it is much cheaper to buy it bulk). With time, the liquid (saturated calcium chloride solution) will accumulate on the bottom. Dispose the liquid down the drain (it is safe) and replenish the stocking with fresh calcium chloride as needed. That's it! 

The dehumidifier in its place, along with a thermo/hygrometer.

The same thing can be made from a jar, of course (provided you have enough room). Oh, and a good measure is also to have a small, cheap thermometer/hygrometer located in this place (you can get one for a few bucks). You will be amazed how much humidity changes, depending on the weather. Our goal is to keep relative humidity under 60 %, which is thought to be (mostly) safe in terms of fungal growth. However, r.h. under 35 % is also bad, since lens and camera mechanisms are more likely to get too dry (less lubrication). Fortunately, the latter condition is less likely to occur, in most places.