Those packets in shoeboxes

[Tundra]

What are those little packets in shoeboxes etc, and what's in them exactly? Just how poisonous are they?

[Serafina]

Silica gel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silica_gel) - it dries out the air to stop the shoes spoiling and getting mouldy under humid conditions. They're generally something you shouldn't eat, not really because of the Silicon dioxide, but because they're sometimes coated with cobalt (II) chloride which is carcinogenic - I think this is if they're blue, and this is the type used in chemical tests not in shoe boxes. My assumption is you wouldn't want to eat it as it absorbs water, so would make you somewhat dehydrated. Having never tried to do so myself, I wouldn't know.

[vindemiatrix]

I've always found it amusing that the packets have "Do Not Eat" written on them, because all that makes me do is want to eat it and find out why I shouldn't.

[MichaelB]

silica gel is really awesome, we have packets hidden all around the house. They keep electrical stuff dry, keep pills dry and all sorts of other good things.

[Tundra]

The reason why I'm asking is I'm sure I've seen miniaturists use them in some way. And I was wondering if that was a hugely stupid thing to do, or if I should copy them, because those little balls look so cool!

[Einna]

They'd only do you harm if you ate a huge amount of them, and that would be through dehydration so if you washed them down with a load of water (which you'd naturally be inclined to do) then you're probably okay. And even then, you're probably more likely to choke on them than you are to be poisoned by them. Handling them won't hurt you none :-)

[QueenBoadicea]

They'd only do you harm if you ate a huge amount of them, and that would be through dehydration so if you washed them down with a load of water (which you'd naturally be inclined to do) then you're probably okay. And even then, you're probably more likely to choke on them than you are to be poisoned by them. Handling them won't hurt you none :-)

I wonder if they would kill rats. One of the things I've read about killing vermin like roaches is that most living things need water to survive. In order to destroy roaches, you should make sure there's no standing water and sprinkle baking soda (no chance of killing humans) around any dry area. The roaches pick it up on their feet, clean it off, absorb it into their system whereafter they die of dehydration.

But I'm thinking something stronger may be needed for rats. The ones in my home will chew through anything plastic, leaving plastic shards everywhere, to get to the food inside. Thus far, they have devoured cookies, rice, sugar, three whole pounds of raisins, dragged out plastic bags from the garbage and tracked the shredded remains throughout the apartment.

I lay down spring traps which catch a few rats and then cease to be effective--it's as if the rats are learning where they are and how to avoid them! I've also put down pesticide out of the cans. That doesn't work either; I swear they've become immune to the poison.

Since this gel wouldn't kill human beings unless consumed in great quantities without water, is it possible to use it for the rats? Dehydration will kill anything that requires water and that includes rats.

What do you think?

[vindemiatrix]

I'd say it's worth a try: after all, it tends to come free whenever you buy shoes or bags. :D

[Tundra]

Worth a try but I'm not sure how you're going to get the rats to eat it.

[QueenBoadicea]

Worth a try but I'm not sure how you're going to get the rats to eat it.

I can always mix it with sugar or the crumbs from cookies. That'll learn 'em, the filthy buggers.