What common household chemical or material can be used as a dehumidifier?

Question

What common household chemical or material can be used as a dehumidifier?

Answer 1

The only method I know is cold. Cooling releases moisture. A desiccant would become saturated and stop working then it would need to be dried in order to use again.

Answer 2

Moving air. Buy a fan that oscillates, that keeps humidity down.

Answer 3

sugar and honey are hydroscopic.  

I hope you only want to do this in a small space.

Answer 4

Ice melt, (Calcium chloride) will work fairly well.

heat it in a 400 Deg. oven to dehydrate it.

It will then absorb moisture from the air about it.

When it starts to cake or get moist, just heat it again.

It's somewhat toxic - don't eat it or inhale dust and wash hands well

after handling and you'll be ok.

Copper sulfate works a bit better but is more dangerous to handle.

Answer 5

If anything, salt. It is a desiccant and, because of that, has been used as a preservative for centuries.