Household News

Tragedy turns into safety for Californians’ commonly used household items You may have heard of the Great San Francisco Earthquake of April 18, 1906, which ranks as one of the most devastating earthquakes of all time. But the massive fires that followed in its wake are what truly laid waste…

Looking to get rid of an old mattress but not sure how? Whatever you do, don’t just dump it. Dumping a mattress on the street, in an alley or even a dumpster isn’t just an eyesore, it’s illegal, too, and can result in hefty fines—as much as $10,000—and/or jail time. There…

When Martha and Enrrique Gallard packed up their belongings in Georgia and sent them off in a moving truck headed to their new home in California, they had no idea what problems were awaiting them. But the Gallards were lucky: they found an ally in the Bureau of Household Goods…

Dishwasher sprung a leak? Diamond ring losing that special sparkle? TV on the fritz? Lawnmower stopped lawn-mowing? When a big-ticket item like a major appliance, jewelry, or garden equipment breaks, you may have a service contract or extended warranty contract to bail you out of trouble. These contracts cover your…

SACRAMENTO—If you’re working with a damage restoration company, the chances are you’ve already been the victim of a catastrophe. But if a damage restoration company moves and stores your goods while restoration work is performed, they are obligated to follow the same laws and regulations that govern household moving companies,…

Spring is in full swing, and summer’s just around the corner. As temperatures rise in California, so do home sales, and that means people start thinking about moving. May is National Moving Month, and the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), regulator of the…

What’s nearly as inevitable as death and taxes? Electronic device upgrades. And one precaution that is critical before moving on from a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer is wiping your data from the device. Whether donating, selling, or simply passing a device to a family member or friend, a…

After years of successful regulation of the thermal insulation and electronic and appliance repair industries, the California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation (BEARHFTI) became the regulator of the home moving and storage industry, taking the reins from the California Public Utilities Commission in July…

Some manufacturers of children’s products, including the foam interiors of mattresses and upholstered furniture, may have to reexamine their development strategies, now that Assembly Bill 2998 (Bloom) has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. Citing concerns over exposure to questionable chemicals, state lawmakers found that although the chemicals were…