Decision: To hang magnets on the refrigerator or not to do so?

Magnets can damage the outer coating of the refrigerator

When decorative magnets hang on the door of your refrigerator for too long, dirt (grease, soot, dust) accumulates underneath them. If the surfaces are not cleaned regularly, persistent dark or yellow stains will form. And in some cases, magnetic elements cause corrosion.

Magnets can also cause mechanical damage if they are moved carelessly across the surface. Then there are scratches (or other serious damage) that are difficult to disguise.

Potentially dangerous to human health

Decorative magnets create a constant magnetic field, which in most cases is very weak and cannot harm a person. But certain types of such souvenirs are potentially dangerous for people with an implanted pacemaker or cardioverter defibrillator.

Harm can be caused by silver neodymium-iron-boron (neodymium) magnets, which form powerful magnetic fields. They create interference and can disrupt the functioning of a pacemaker, especially if they are in close proximity to it. This was confirmed in a scientific experiment conducted in Switzerland, which involved 70 people with heart problems (with pacemakers installed). Each person was given a neodymium magnet weighing 8 g, and when it was brought closer to the chest at a distance of less than 3 cm, a malfunction of the device was recorded.

Today, there are mainly safe metal (ferrite or iron) products on sale, which have dark gray shades. But neodymium models are appearing more and more often, so when buying them, it is necessary to take into account the potential health hazard. Such magnets are steel (silver) in color and in most cases have a regular round shape.

Overload the space

The kitchen often feels like a mess, as there are many accessories on the table and shelves: containers, cutlery, etc. The space seems disorganized, which negatively affects the psyche. But if after cooking or eating all the items can be put back in their places, then the abundance of magnets on the refrigerator will remain and, possibly, will cause a negative (depressing) psycho-emotional state.

If there are only a few magnets on the refrigerator, they can create a feeling of sloppiness. And a large number of souvenirs will create visual noise. In a small room like a kitchen, this is especially depressing and makes you want to leave the space.

Damages the electronic components of the refrigerator (old model)

Modern refrigerator models have a design in which the electronic components are located in hard-to-reach places. And if you hang magnets on the door, the magnetic fields will not damage the equipment. However, this point is not taken into account in the designs of old models of devices. Therefore, fields of strong magnets disrupt the operation and can damage the electronic components of the control system, especially the freezer.

Create coziness

Magnets hanging on the refrigerator primarily serve as a decoration, so they are often bright and beautiful. With their help, you can make the space more cozy and warm. This is especially true if the kitchen interior is done in muted colors and contains simple shapes. Then a few bright spots of magnets will fill the space with new elements and evoke pleasant emotions.

Pleasant emotions if the magnets are memorable

A person’s life is mostly taken up by everyday routine, and at the end of a hard day at work, you want to relax a little and get positive emotions. Refrigerator magnets can remind you of bright and pleasant moments that happened in the past. For example, souvenirs bought during a seaside vacation or an important trip can help with this.

You can print the brightest and most memorable photos of your loved ones on magnets. And remember pleasant events during family dinners. If you hang such souvenirs, they will not only evoke positive emotions in all members of the family, but also surprise guests.

They help with planning

Magnets also have a functional load: with their help you can leave short notes or instructions on what you should not forget to do during the day. This is very convenient if there are many small but important events that are easy to forget. For example, you can write down what to buy at the store, what time to start cooking a holiday dinner, or a reminder to choose the operating mode of household appliances.

Help keep children busy

Fridge magnets are especially relevant if there are small children in the house. For example, souvenirs made in the form of digital or letter symbols develop the child’s thinking and motor skills. At the same time, magnets help to focus the attention of children on an interesting activity if parents are unable to pay attention to them while cooking.

You can hang various magnets on the door, including those with images of animals, cartoon characters, etc.