After how long do desiccants, air dryers, and dehumidifier bags go bad once unpackaged?

Desiccants, air dryers, and dehumidifier bags are designed to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment. Once these products are unpackaged and exposed to air, they begin to absorb humidity. While the specifics can vary by product and manufacturer, generally, the effectiveness of these moisture-absorbing materials diminishes after approximately four hours of exposure to air.

After this time frame, the desiccants can become saturated with moisture and lose their ability to absorb additional humidity, which is crucial for their intended use in preventing mold, corrosion, and other moisture-related issues in stored items. Therefore, four hours is a significant threshold, after which the desiccants may no longer provide reliable moisture control, aligning with the correct answer.