# Weird product warnings revisited! Add your gems to this treasure.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 17, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763 "2006-10-17T12:34:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/1 "2006-10-17T12:34:39Z")
Weird product warnings revisited! Add your gems to this treasure.
The dishwasher manual warns against hydrogen gas dangers after a couple weeks of no use. To prevent an explosion in the dishwasher, you should run all hot water faucets in the house to clear hydrogen and don’t smoke while doing this. I cut down a warning made three times bigger to cover their liability.
You have to realize that strange as this warning is, somebody must have sued them to have it in the warning section of the manual. Do you have a strange product liability warning to add to this one?
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### Author:  [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/2 "2006-10-17T12:49:42Z")
I saw the following warning on one of those patio fire pits: “Watch children and pets while burning.”
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/3 "2006-10-17T13:04:08Z")
[QUOTE=freckafree]
I saw the following warning on one of those patio fire pits: “Watch children and pets while burning.”
[/QUOTE]
What’s weird about that? If they get out of the pit and start running around, they’re gonna set everything else on fire, too.
Daniel
on the hellbound train
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### Author:  [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/4 "2006-10-17T13:09:51Z")
Not surprising, I suppose, but the jar of peanut butter I’m staring at has this information prominently displayed:
**CONTAINS PEANUTS**
I guess that’s reassuring. Or something.
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### Author:  [@Carlyjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlyjay)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/5 "2006-10-17T13:17:45Z")
Well, we really can’t forget the classic:
“Do not use in the shower” - On the instructions for a hair dryer
But my favourite new one was on the new “Superman Swingshot” action figure (which has a long cape so little boys can swing Superman around their heads rapidly and then throw him at things):
“Do not throw at people or animals.”
How sad that warning labels like this have to exist, rather than Mom and Dad using their common sense and TELLING Robert that he is not to ever throw Superman at the dog.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/6 "2006-10-17T13:28:58Z")
I’m not sure if it is actually genuine, or just an UL, but one of the classics in this category is the warning label appearing on the packaging of a Swedish chainsaw: “DO NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP CHAIN WITH YOUR HANDS OR GENITALS.”
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/7 "2006-10-17T13:32:34Z")
I saw a hairdryer warning that said “Do Not Use While Sleeping.” So far I’ve been able to comply.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/8 "2006-10-17T13:32:49Z")
My Dremel instructions include the caution: Not to be used for home dental work. No joke.
My friend’s power washer said more than once, in a few permutations, that if you spray water up under your skin, to seek medical attention. Even if it seems OK, seek medical attention. Do not disregard, seek medical attention.
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### Author:  [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/9 "2006-10-17T13:38:16Z")
My all-time favorite was on a dishwasher purchased for use in an animal shelter.
“Do not allow children to play in dishwasher.”
I got weird looks from the plumber installing it when I said I was going to send it back because what did they think I bought the damn thing for?
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### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/10 "2006-10-17T13:42:25Z")
I have a bottle of pet shampoo that proudly states that it was not tested on animals.
What, they want my dog to be a guinea pig?
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/11 "2006-10-17T13:44:50Z")
[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady]
My all-time favorite was on a dishwasher purchased for use in an animal shelter.
“Do not allow children to play in dishwasher.”
I got weird looks from the plumber installing it when I said I was going to send it back because what did they think I bought the damn thing for?
[/QUOTE]
That’s funny. I would have laughed at that point, had I been there.
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### Author:  [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/12 "2006-10-17T14:22:27Z")
[QUOTE=Merhouse]
Not surprising, I suppose, but the jar of peanut butter I’m staring at has this information prominently displayed:
**CONTAINS PEANUTS**
I guess that’s reassuring. Or something.
[/QUOTE]
Bruegger’s has a Thai peanut chicken sandwich that comes with a little container of peanut sauce that has a brightly colored label saying
**CONTAINS PEANUTS**
Um… no, I thought my peanut sauce was peanut-free. :smack:
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### Author:  [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/13 "2006-10-17T14:28:38Z")
My bottle of Head and Shoulders says that it’s “For External Use Only”. Well so much for curing my stomach dandruff.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/14 "2006-10-17T14:33:13Z")
It’s not on a product – it’s the weird disclaimers at the bottom of dramatized car ads, my current faorite being the one with the Loch Ness monster tossing the truck out of the Loch, and it drives away. Because, you know, if you try that yourself, having been tossed out of Lake Champlain by Champie, it just ain’t gonna work. And if you try to sue, they’ll just point to the disclaimer and say they told you so.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/15 "2006-10-17T14:37:42Z")
[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady]
My all-time favorite was on a dishwasher purchased for use in an animal shelter.
“Do not allow children to play in dishwasher.”
I got weird looks from the plumber installing it when I said I was going to send it back because what did they think I bought the damn thing for?
[/QUOTE]
For years, every time I tell my kids to take a bath, I tell them to hop into the dishwasher.
Hey, that’s _bathing_, not _playing_, so we’re OK, right? RIGHT???
> [@Suburban Plankton](#):
>
> I have a bottle of pet shampoo that proudly states that it was not tested on animals.
>
> What, they want my dog to be a guinea pig?
Actually, if the product hasn’t been tested, they don’t know _what_ he’ll be turned into if exposed to the product 😉
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### Author:  [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/16 "2006-10-17T14:42:51Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
The dishwasher manual warns against hydrogen gas dangers after a couple weeks of no use. To prevent an explosion in the dishwasher, you should run all hot water faucets in the house to clear hydrogen and don’t smoke while doing this. I cut down a warning made three times bigger to cover their liability.
[/QUOTE]
[hijack] So, I have to know–how on Earth does not using a dishwasher for a couple of weeks lead to a buildup of hydrogen gas in the pipes? [/hijack]
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/17 "2006-10-17T14:53:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I have a bottle of pet shampoo that proudly states that it was not tested on animals.
>
> What, they want my dog to be a guinea pig?
This brings up a fine legal and moral issue – can you _ever_ use that shampoo to wash your guinea pigs?
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/18 "2006-10-17T15:04:52Z")
[QUOTE=Scribble]
[hijack] So, I have to know–how on Earth does not using a dishwasher for a couple of weeks lead to a buildup of hydrogen gas in the pipes? [/hijack]
[/QUOTE]
I think you get a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, actually. Talk about explosive!
Daniel
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### Author:  [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/19 "2006-10-17T15:13:13Z")
When I was in AFJROTC, we recieved some training in first aid, wilderness survival, financial management, etc., and in the section of our textbooks about tourniquets was the following warning, in bold print, inside a bolded box in the middle of the page:
NEVER Apply Tourniquet to Neck.
We couldn’t decide what was more depressing: That they thought they needed to tell people this, or that they were probably right.
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### Author:  [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-product-warnings-revisited-add-your-gems-to-this-treasure/376763/20 "2006-10-17T15:22:49Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness]
I think you get a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, actually. Talk about explosive!
Daniel
[/QUOTE]
The easiest way to avoid it is to install a dihydrogen monoxide detector in your kitchen. It has been proven to save lives!
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