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Blanket Afghan
Is it safe to put a TV on a blanket to protect the table underneath?
My father just bought a beautiful new plasma TV. The only table we had that was big enough to hold the TV is a big antique desk, and to protect it from scratches, my father put an afghan throw over the desk and put the TV on top of it. But is that a fire hazard?
It probably looks terrible, too.
The TV, by its nature, creates static electricity and attracts dust. The afghan will soon be covered with dust and look even worse. Fire hazard, maybe, but not immediately.
The TV probably isn't going to get moved around, so the risk of scratches to the desk top is minimal.
The greater damage risk is that the old finish on the desk isn't as 'hard' as the polyurethane finishes on more modern furniture. The combination of heat and weight from the TV will soften the finish, and press the fabric fibers into the varnish. You'll have yarn-indents and possibly fibers in the desk top itself.
Plus - the afghan creates a greater hazard if it gets pulled on -- the dog or cat grabs the fringe, the vacuum gets a hold of it, someone passing the desk snags it with their cellphone, or you need to get into the desk drawers.
Get rid of the afghan, place the TV securely in a position where it won't need to be shoved or moved in order to be viewed, and leave it there.
Consider hanging it (securely!) or purchasing a piece of furniture designed to hold it appropriately. You could afford the TV, right?