To think you don't store toys like this

[Hungryinseattle]

Why on earth would you use an old liquitabs box to store toys for a young child? Came across this recently and just thought it was bizzare. Why would you want to teach a child that those boxes which contain such toxic stuff might contain toys, surely it encourages them to pick up the real thing. So AIBU and precious, or do lots of people do this?!

Yes they are more dangerous than other household cleaning items because they look attractive and when burst the liquid is very caustic.

However I think it's fine to reuse the boxes. But people should be aware of the actual dangers of liquitabs.

So..er...am I the only one who refuses to buy liquitabs? If they are not in my home, they can't hurt my child.

transferring residue
Washing liquid is not strychnine.
I would be amazed if its significantly more toxic than any other household detergent.

Its the presentation and amount that is the issue isn't it?
Tactile, interesting, mouth sized pockets of chemicals.

Pretty sure tobacco is toxic to children.

I think many people don't buy liquitabs, particularly with the current mini revolution re packaging, but I'd still reuse a box if it was available.

Its a bit silly saying "Oh you could forget and leave them out on the side ready to be grabbed by a child" Yes of course you could. You could also do that with a sharp knife or a hot iron. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't reuse the packaging they come in.

On the basis of residue transferring to the toys.^

You wash the box, and take off the label.

You are also putting the liquitabs in your washing machine, to distribute all over your DC's clothes. If the liquitabs are so toxic that you daren't use a box they've been in, even after it's been washed, you might want to reconsider putting them all over your clothes, too.

I wish they'd do away with liquitabs. I used to use fairy powder tablets but they've done away with them in favour of liquitabs which they know are more appealing and hence more dangerous to children so now I don't buy Fairy. It's a nonsense that they're even made.

I can vouch for the fact that it burns. I splashed a miniscule droplet of liquid detergent into my eye. It was the size of the head of a pin. It caused a really burned and caused my eye to swell up and the skin to scab over on my eyelid. Not nice.

I don’t think the existence of liquid tabs is the issue here. We’ve not banned bleach and other cleaning products. It’s leaving them in the reach of children that is the issue. Stick them out of reach like your other products. I like liquid tabs and much prefer it over measuring powder/liquid and spilling it everywhere.

Oh, clearly we have different boxes. Ours are cardboard, can't be washed! And they still smell when empty. In that case, I'd was a plastic box and cover it somehow so it just looks like a box.

I've just re-read my OP and realise reading it back it does sound very judgey...apologies, my wording wasn't the best .

I don’t think the existence of liquid tabs is the issue here. We’ve not banned bleach and other cleaning products. It’s leaving them in the reach of children that is the issue.

Exactly. If the parent is stupid enough to keep the real thing within the reach of the child, it’s going to be their fault if the child ingests some of it. There is nothing wrong with reusing containers.
So yes, you are being precious with too much time on your hands.

On the basis of residue transferring to the toy

Have you really thought this sentence through? Just in case you haven’t, ArcheryAnnie explains it to you simply further up the thread.

Why thank you Billben for that. As I explained up thread ours come in a cardboard box. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, because I'm an idiot and all that, but I've never had much success washing a cardboard box thoroughly.

I think the time when I would put liquitabs in a place where my kids could reach them is quite a long time after they would be old enough to reliably reason out that household chemicals aren't for playing with even if they look quite fun. So not an issue.

They ARE significantly more toxic than many household degertents - they cause chemical burns because of the alkaline chemicals in them. As I've said reusing the box isn't necessarily a massive risk (although I would avoid it myself) but the tabs themselves really are that toxic.

Blimey, it looks like we have failed as parents!
I've just put empty boxed in the dishwasher and used them as a bits and bobs storage. When the kids were into loom bands the materials was kept in an ex tab box, we have a couple in the shed with various screws and things in.
I just thought I was recycling not exposing my family to toxic waste!

I don't think tobacco is AS toxic is the point of was making. Clearly you wouldn't want your kid chewing on the stuff but a small amount wouldn't blind them or cause chemical burns to their throat like a Liquitab.

Are liquitabs as toxic as bleach?
That was used as a comparison.

Caustic soda
Oven cleaner
etc?

They are more toxic than washing up liquid but are they really more dangerous than everything else?

This is getting close to a panic fuelled by virtue signalling (or whatever its called).

'OMG how can anyone be SO STUPID to have this stuff near children, I would NEVER do that because I am clever'
Meaning 'shit I didn't realise they were risky until I saw a meme on FB but no way am I missing the opportunity to signal my superior parenting'

Liquidtabs are not ticking timebombs leeching poison onto children's toys.
They are a cleaning product that needs to be kept out of the reach of children in the same way as ALL other cleaning products.

Their presentation making them attractive to children is an additional risk.

Exactly @TheFirstMrsDV. Judging by everyone obsessive cleaning posts on here you’d assume they have plenty of bleach and oven pride stored in their home but liquid tabs are a no no? It’s so silly. Store things out of reach and you won’t have an issue.

I don't really recognise that level of hysteria in any of the posts people have put saying that they're not sure it's safe to reuse the boxes. 2 or 3 of us have said we are probably over thinking. Op herself has come back on to apologise for appearing judgemental. I haven't seen one post panicking about the use of boxes, just a few of us wondering whether it might make a child more likely to associate the tabs as playthings. I'm not really sure where this defensiveness is coming from to be honest.

Where has anyone even implied that it's stupid or bad parenting to reuse the box?

@AuntLydia there are posts saying they should be banned or saying why would you even have them in the house with a child? It’s not the OP we’re referring to.

I've reused them before for storing Lego, but have also had the talk with DS about not touching chemicals. Taking the label off is probably not much use for a young child as they'll surely recognise the shape/colour of box rather than read the label.

Moot point for me really as I use Persil Liquitabs which now come in pouches rather than the very useful boxes!

I'm not really sure where this defensiveness is coming from to be honest
What do you mean?
I have no time for passive aggression.

MN is not the world. There is hysteria over these products and its tedious.