All FDM 3D printing filaments are hygroscopic. That’s a fancy way of saying that the material likes to absorb moisture.

This hygroscopicity can wreak havoc on 3D printing filaments. Being plastic polymers, they’re made of chains of molecules strung together. The water molecules in moisture break up these chains, ruining the plastic and causing a whole slew of problems while printing.

But don’t fret. “Wet” spools of filament are easily saved, and proper storage can prevent future mishaps.

In this article, we’ll look at how to identify wet filament, how to dry it, and finally, how to store the moisture-free result.