EFFORTLESS PROTECTION FOR YOUR INSTRUMENTS

Depending on your instrument case and its surrounding environment, you can expect Boveda to last from 2 to 6 months.

While using Boveda, remember to keep your instrument case closed whether your instrument is in there or not to maintain a stable environment.

In its original packaging, Boveda has a two-year shelf life.

To avoid the risk of a lapse in your 2-way humidity control, we recommend replacing any Boveda actively in use every 3 months (90 days). TIP: Write the date on new Boveda to remind you when it’s time to switch it out. Or do the touch test to determine when it’s time to replace your Boveda: WHEN BOVEDA 49% RH* IS KEPT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE Boveda is still working if you feel:

• Hardening at its corners
• Soft spots among some hard areas

Boveda is expired if it feels:

• Rock solid all the way through (Make sure your instrument is always protected, don’t wait until Boveda is completely rigid before ordering replacements.)

WHEN BOVEDA IS KEPT BELOW ROOM TEMPERATURE  Boveda can feel cold and rock hard:

• Let it warm up to room temperature and repeat the touch test.
• If your Boveda is now pliable and it feels like thick jelly or dense clay, Boveda is still working—the temperature change won’t impact the performance, effectiveness or shelf life of the 2-way humidity control.

*If you use High-Absorbency Boveda, it will expand—not harden—when it needs to be replaced. Learn more about High-Absorbency Boveda, which is designed to protect wood instruments in climates with extreme humidity (50%+ year-round). TIP: To avoid running out of Boveda, subscribe to the Subscription program to have replacements automatically delivered to you. Next time you place a Boveda order, select your product, then choose subscribe as the frequency. You can even tell us how often you want to receive your Boveda. Learn more about Boveda’s Subscription program here.

Choose the largest Boveda that can fit in your instrument case. If it’s more than the recommended minimum, that’s completely fine. Your Boveda has the potential to compensate for extreme climates or seasonal humidity swings. Oh, and be sure to close the container whenever you access your instrument–the more you expose your Boveda to air, the less efficient it becomes.  

Without proper humidity control, wood instruments will not perform at their maximum ability and even worse can be damaged. To maintain their shape, wooden instruments need to be stored at a stable 45-55% RH (relative humidity). Wide fluctuations in humidity will cause the wood to expand or shrink, which puts stress on the instrument and degrades its performance abilities.

Boveda helps prevent warping or cracking, and eliminates downtime for service. Because Boveda requires zero maintenance, your instrument will always be protected.

Watch this video to learn more:

But don’t take our word for it. Listen to music experts talk about how wood type and humidity can change how your instrument sounds.

A brand-new Boveda is pliable, jelly-like and “squishy.” Sometimes you might also feel some small crystals or lumps inside the pack, which is totally normal. Your Boveda is still safe to use.  Here’s why crystals can form inside a new Boveda: The signature formula inside Boveda is a saturated saltwater solution. We add all-natural salts and a food-safe thickener to purified water then seal it all in a leakproof membrane. When we combine the ingredients and fill the membrane, sometimes an excess of those blended salts will mix with the water. As a result, small salt crystals that feel like hard lumps can occasionally form. Additionally, changes in temperature or other conditions can create recrystallization of the salts. This can feel like regular table salt or occasionally like coarse sea salt. Any crystals in Boveda won’t impact the performance, effectiveness or shelf life of the 2-way humidity control. In the rare event that the crystals become sharp and puncture the pouch, please reach out to us. We’ll make it right at no cost. We’re good like that.