This Standard Thrifted Merchandise Has a Harmful Design Flaw, However Fortunately There’s an Straightforward Repair

If in case you have one at dwelling, you really want to learn this.

Final month, TikTok consumer @graceful_designs_diy, often known as Grace, posted about an vintage cedar chest that each thrift shopper ought to concentrate on to forestall pointless deaths.

The merchandise was made by the Lane Company between 1912 and 1987, and was well-liked on the time. Sadly, the chest design had one flaw. It had a lock that couldn’t be opened from inside. So, when youngsters hid inside, they by chance received trapped, leading to a complete of 14 fatalities brought on by suffocation. The corporate had issued a recall, however an estimated six million are nonetheless in circulation within the reseller market immediately.

“Though the U.S. Product Security Fee has made clear that it’s unlawful to resell recalled items, it’s not unusual to see these locks on these classic chests,” stated Grace.

Fortunately, the answer is straightforward for many who personal such an vintage. You may simply contact the corporate and inform them that you simply nonetheless have their previous lock and so they’ll ship you a brand new, improved model. Or, you’ll be able to simply take away the lock by yourself and go away it off or put in a safer one from the ironmongery store.

With so many models of the cedar chest nonetheless accessible for buy, it’s good that Grace’s video has raised consciousness in regards to the hazard of proudly owning this and different recalled items of furnishings. The truth is, a lot of her followers solely realized in regards to the security subject due to her TikTok clip.

“You might be saving lives!! We inherited one two years in the past proper when our son was born and had no concept. He’s a toddler now and we will likely be breaking the lock,” stated one commenter. 

One other remark reads: “I actually inherited one in every of these two weeks in the past and had no concept. Thanks!”

A 3rd commenter added: “I’ve one in every of these recalled chests in my dwelling. It’s a ravishing piece, and I had no concept it was so harmful.”

For additional details about the Lane Firm’s cedar chest, you’ll be able to try their product security advisory web page here.