Undeniable Fact: Pencil this in

According to a recent study, the U.S. produces roughly 8,000 tons of pencil shavings each year. Strangely enough, this is almost twice the total weight of pencils sold each year nationwide. Where did the extra weight come from? Humidity in the air.

As it turns out, pencil shavings are a great desiccant, much like silica gel. If you need to keep an area dry, like your basement, try tossing some pencil shavings around.