Household goods
Household goods are goods and products used within households. They are the tangible and movable personal property placed in the living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, family rooms, great rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, recreation rooms, hallways, attics, and basements and other rooms of a house.
Examples of household goods include air conditioners, baby items, baking dishes, beds/bedframes, blankets, bedding, linens, towels, blenders, mixers, bookcases, books, bureaus, dressers, wardrobes, cabinets, can openers, chairs, clothes dryers, coffee makers, computers, cooking utensils, couches, sofas, love seats, sectionals, sofa beds, curtains, curtain rods, drapes, decorative items, desks, dishes, dishwashers, entertainment centers, fans, freezers, (drinking) glasses, hand tools, hutches, irons and ironing boards, lamps, lawn chairs, (table) linens, mattresses, (home) medical equipment, microwave ovens, mirrors, pillows, pots and pans, refrigerators, rugs, sewing machines and notions, silverware (flatware), sheets, sofa beds/futons, space heaters, stereos and radios, tables, toasters and toaster ovens, tools, towels, toys, televisions, vacuum cleaners, umbrellas, robotics, and washer/dryers.[1]
Economic role
Businesses that produce household goods are categorized as Cyclical Consumer Products by the Thomson Reuters Business Classification and are organized into three sub-categories:
- Consumer Electronics,
- Appliances, Tools & Housewares, and
- Home Furnishings (such as furniture).
Household goods are a significant part of a country's economy, with their purchase the topic of magazines such as Consumer Reports, their relocation handled by moving companies, and their disposal or redistribution facilitated by companies like Goodwill Industries, services like classified advertising and Craigslist, and events such as garage sales and car boot sales.
Their safety is often regulated by governments,[2] which also promote and facilitate their import and export.[3]
References
- Items We Accept Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine from the website of Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts
- Outline of Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation from a Government of Hong Kong website
- Household goods, furniture and furnishings Archived 2011-05-11 at the Wayback Machine from a HM Revenue and Customs website