Dry box cabinets, also known as dehumidifying or dry boxes, are a type of storage used to protect delicate things from damage due to extreme humidity. Despite their multiple uses, they are preferred for housing delicate photography equipment. Dry cabinets help avoid fungal growth on cameras and camera lenses when the humidity is too high and there isn’t any light. Read further to learn about the benefits of having dry box cabinets in one’s home.

How does a dry box work?
Dry boxes are available in various sizes and designs. Contrary to its name, the purpose of a dry cabinet is not to produce a dry environment because this could destroy the electronics stored inside. Instead, the dry cabinet maintains an appropriate relative humidity (RH). Most dry boxes have a hygrometer for measuring the humidity inside.

A dry box cabinet is a container with a supply of desiccants to keep the interior’s relative humidity within 50%. A desiccant is a material used to dry things off with a high affinity for water.

Dry box types

• A desiccant box is a type of dry cabinet, a simple, sealed, airtight container that includes desiccants such as silica gel. However, customers cannot regulate or control the humidity level.
• Electronic dry boxes have a small Peltier cooler that removes moisture and a control mechanism for changing the humidity level. These are preferable if you need to control the humidity level inside the cabinet.
• Expensive dry boxes have a programmed digital hygrometer installed for accurate humidity level regulation.

How to store a camera in a dry cabinet
Your equipment can be stored in a dry box in the same manner it would fit in a standard cabinet. First, check that the housings of your cameras and lenses are dry. If you’ve been shooting in the rain, placing your camera in the dry box when you get home may seem logical, but this is not a smart idea. Remember that you want to keep the humidity level within the cabinet low and consistent. Allow your equipment to dry physically before placing it in the dehumidifying cabinet.

Why is a dry cabinet necessary?
Fungus is the main reason most professional photographers and photography enthusiasts want a dry cabinet to store their equipment. Besides being difficult to clean or remove, the fungus may cause further damage to expensive camera lenses. Moreover, the fungus frequently grows on the glass and between the lenses. It often happens when a user leaves their camera exposed to wet regions where fungus grows without adequately safeguarding it while storing. Fungus, when it grows, spreads swiftly and may infect other electronics stored in the exact location or container. When people try force-cleaning the fungal infection on their camera lens, it destroys its special coating. Photographers usually keep their cameras and equipment in normal cabinets and drawers instead of dry cabinets, leading to fungus growth due to the cramped, humid conditions. Dry cabinets solve this problem as their dry interiors prevent fungus from growing.

Benefits of using dry box cabinets
Dry cabinets are essential for any photographer or photography enthusiast. However, they must first ensure the equipment is waterproof, dustproof, and humidity controlled so there isn’t too much moisture inside the enclosure. Other benefits of dry boxes are listed below.

• Keeps leather or trainers in pristine condition
  If you collect vintage trainers or own many pairs, the dry cabinet helps keep excess moisture at bay. In addition, it preserves your limited edition leather designer shoes from direct sunlight; a dehumidifier cabinet helps maintain the appropriate RH level and keeps them in peak condition.
• Safeguarding fragile vintage artifacts
  Maintaining a controlled dry humidity environment is critical for preserving fragile vintage artifacts such as dollar notes, coins, stamps, first edition books, and rate trade cards. Exposure to humidity causes the paper to become brittle and turn brown over time.
• Preserve vital records and magnificent works of art
  Important documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, are kept dry in a cabinet, extending their shelf life and preserving value.
• Mold protection for luxury leather purses
  Humidity can harm any leather bag. While a dry atmosphere can cause the leather to dry out and crack a high humidity level promotes mold and fungus growth on the leather surfaces. High-quality dehumidifying cabinets can help safeguard the value of luxury bags and extend their life.

Dry boxes can be helpful for the long-term storage of materials that are susceptible to moisture, including old photographs or documents. They are cheap but efficient in safeguarding priceless items against damage caused by moisture.