*This is a collaborative post.
There are a few things that you probably do that will cause damage to your belongings if you aren’t careful. If you think about it, you will be guilty of at least one of these, but just being aware of them and the damage they can cause will help you change how you go about organising your home. So, from harmful UV rays to self-cleaning modes, here are some common examples.
Not Protectively Packing Seasonal Clothing
Most people have clothes they wear seasonally, and some garments, such as winter jackets and summer dresses, can last for a long time if you protect them properly. However, it is tempting to just place them at the back of the closet instead of packing them away in protective plastic. If this is what you really want to do, then make sure you call a moth exterminator because without protection such as packing cubes, the butterfly’s uglier cousin will feast on your clothing.
Placing Items in Direct Sunlight
One of the worst things you can do for the longevity of your belongings is place them in direct sunlight. The sun’s UV rays are pretty harmful, as you will already know from sunburn. However, when it comes to prolonged exposure, such as years, they will cause colours to fade. This can range from your beloved books, posters and DVD cases, to expensive items like living room furniture. Wood can warp, colours can fade, and some materials can even crack in the sunlight.
Overloaded Hangers Will Damage Your Belongings
Clothes shopping is almost a way of life these days, and in most countries like the UK and US, we love to spend hours buying garments. In fact, the average British person spends over £860 per year on clothing, and that’s not including the rest of the family. As such, you can end up with tons of clothes that push your space to the limit, and you might use one hanger for multiple garments. So buy less and choose well to avoid stretching out beloved shoulders and straps!
Appliance Self-Cleaning Features
Any appliance that comes with a self-cleaning feature sounds like it’s a good thing. A common appliance these days is the self-cleaning oven, which, if you have ever had to clean one, sounds amazing. However, after all the marketing and sales talk, you may not know that these can actually damage your appliances. For instance, the extreme temperatures can damage components such as the thermostat, control panel and even the internal wiring of the oven.
Dragging Instead of Lifting Furniture
Placing and moving furniture is one of those things that we all have to do at some point, and we always think we can do it alone. For most people, their first instinct is to drag it when it’s too heavy, but this is completely wrong. To move furniture safely, you need more than one person in most cases to avoid injury and dropping it. However, you should also never drag anything. This will damage the item itself, but will also scuff up wood, rip carpet and leave marks on laminate.
Summary
Not packing clothing in protective plastic is one of the most common things that can damage your belongings, as garments can be eaten by moths. However, you may also overload hangers and stretch out shoulders, and dragging furniture will almost definitely damage the flooring.
