18 votes

Thermal paste and toddlers

Last night my daughter's toddler bed fell apart and I had to fix it. Some screws had come loose so it was an easy fix. Brought my toolbox into their (her and her twin brother's) room around bed time, fixed the bed, then began the usual bedtime routine. My wife and I left the room and that was that.

Except I left my toolbox in there because I'm forgetful. And you'd think the pokey screwdrivers, gardening shears, and other dangerous tools in there would've been a problem, but nope. My kids weren't interested in that stuff. They pulled out my chalk line and unspooled it. Fortunately it had been heavily used in a project recently, so there wasn't much chalk in it. But they really seemed to like the small, mostly-empty tube of thermal paste I keep in there for computer projects.

If anyone has used thermal paste, you know how incredibly messy it is. It's this thick, dark paste that gets everywhere if you're not careful. And it's the kind of thing where even just a little bit of it can make a big mess. It was all over the walls and all over them. Fortunately they were kind enough to put the cap back on the tube when they were done (bless them).

We tried to use wipes, but to no avail. So the first thing we did this morning was give them a bath and used a wash cloth to clean it all off. I also did some quick googling to see if thermal paste was toxic (it isn't), but 90% of the answers online were jokes about it improving your body temperature and allowing you to overclock yourself. Fucking hilarious stuff, but maybe not so much when you're making sure your kids are alright. They should be fine though.

Anyway, how're ya'lls days going so far?

8 comments

  1. [7]
    HotPants
    Link
    Look at it this way. The kids are all right. They found something (presumably) harmless to play with in a tool box. You learned a valuable lesson. And now you have a funny story to tell when they...

    Look at it this way. The kids are all right. They found something (presumably) harmless to play with in a tool box. You learned a valuable lesson. And now you have a funny story to tell when they get older.

    You did take photos... right?

    9 votes
    1. [6]
      hamstergeddon
      Link Parent
      I'm kicking myself because I didn't take photos of the kids. We were too rushed getting the bath ready and trying to keep them from touching anything with their slightly cooler, overclocked hands.

      I'm kicking myself because I didn't take photos of the kids. We were too rushed getting the bath ready and trying to keep them from touching anything with their slightly cooler, overclocked hands.

      9 votes
      1. [3]
        HotPants
        Link Parent
        I'm sorry to say, but that is just bad parenting. I hope you will never make such a tragic mistake ever again.

        I'm sorry to say, but that is just bad parenting. I hope you will never make such a tragic mistake ever again.

        8 votes
        1. hamstergeddon
          Link Parent
          I really need to go back to parenting school.

          I really need to go back to parenting school.

          6 votes
        2. vektor
          Link Parent
          Now that we're on that topic, did you happen to overclock your pants with insufficient amounts of thermal paste applied?

          Now that we're on that topic, did you happen to overclock your pants with insufficient amounts of thermal paste applied?

          4 votes
      2. [2]
        TemulentTeatotaler
        Link Parent
        Halloween is coming up and I hear heat sink and TEC costumes are really popular this year if you want a redo? If you are going to overclock your children it's a good idea to use twins for the...

        Halloween is coming up and I hear heat sink and TEC costumes are really popular this year if you want a redo?

        If you are going to overclock your children it's a good idea to use twins for the timings. Can your kids run Crysis yet?

        5 votes
        1. hamstergeddon
          Link Parent
          I'm still trying to get them to run Doom at this point!

          I'm still trying to get them to run Doom at this point!

          3 votes
  2. vord
    Link
    I've used this at least once a month in the last 5. Babyproof best you can, for everything else there's poison control. The online form is great, easier even than the older phone system.

    I've used this at least once a month in the last 5.

    Babyproof best you can, for everything else there's poison control. The online form is great, easier even than the older phone system.

    3 votes