Guide Note

Silly String is a colored, string-like substance that is shot from an aerosol can. It is used at parties, parades and other festive occasions.

Fast Facts

1. Invented: 1972
2. Inventors: Robert P. Cox and Leonard A. Fish
3. Originally produced by Wham-O
4. Since 1997, made by Just for Kicks toys
5. Can shoot "over 400 feet of string"
6. Propels up to 20 feet
7. Can permanently damage vinyl surfaces
8. Somewhat flammable

Though Silly String has been a popular party novelty since the 1970s, it may not be innocuous. First, when large amounts of it are sprayed at parades, it can interfere with urban infrastructure, especially by clogging up storm drains. Moreover, off-brand silly string often contains the Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compound Freon-12. This material can be very cold, even dangerously so, when it evaporates, and has been identified as a long-term environmental hazard due to its ozone-depleting properties. (Note: the Crazy String brand does not contain CFCs.) Also, Silly String should be used away from open flames—it can be somewhat flammable as it's being sprayed from the bottle.