The last time you bought work boots, a couple of “do not eat” packets probably fell out of the box, and you didn’t give them a second thought.

The packets—desiccant—absorb unseen moisture that could damage your boots as they travel from the manufacturer to your favorite store. 

So what do these packets that come in almost every package you receive have to do with your shop? As it turns out, quite a bit. And, it’s not just because you wear your work boots to work every day. 

In the summer, heat, and humidity—the amount of water in the air—make us run for air-conditioning. You can’t see the water in the air, but you can feel it. And you can smell it in the basement as you haul out the dehumidifier.  

Heat and humidity also affect numerous types of alloy metals. You may not feel or smell the effects, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there or they’re not causing damage. 

Condensation is a result of warm air hitting something cooler. It’s why there’s dew on your truck in the spring, why your beer bottle sweats in the summer, and why your sunglasses fog up when you come in after plowing the driveway. 

While you’re prepping products for shipping, minuscule water molecules can get trapped in the packaging. Unlike the sweat on your beer bottle, they’re invisible to the naked eye and can grow into big, rusty problems by the time your product reaches its destination, especially if you’re shipping from a cool climate to a warm one.

The temperature change from Wisconsin to Michigan isn’t dramatic, but it’s still a consideration when you’re shipping, especially in the winter because of the changes in temperature from shipping warehouse to vehicle and back again. On the other end of the spectrum, there are dramatic temperature differences between, for example, a shop in Detroit and a manufacturer in Mexico, or parts that arrive from China via a shipping container. Those variations may lead to condensation, and condensation leads to rust. (Transporting products by sea intensifies the problem.)

There’s a solution to avoid rust and reduce the havoc it causes while your product travels from your shop to your customer’s inventory—it’s twofold.

1. Add a desiccant to your packaging to absorb any trapped moisture. 
2. Apply the recommended rust preventive on every product you ship. 

Your products will arrive in the same condition as they left your shop. That means fewer rejects and a healthier bottom line. Shop preventives here. Have questions about the best preventive for your application? Contact us today.

Keeping your systems within the recommended water-quality parameters is a year-round job. We’ve made it easier for you with our Seasonal Water Care Guide. The recommendations will help you avoid hits to your budget and losing time you can’t afford. Download Our Seasonal Water Care Guide to get our top tips!