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Adhesive hooks are convenient forhanging garlands, jewelry, calendars, and other lightweight items.
But you risk damage if you use them to hang heavy or fragile items.
You may even ruin the wallwhen removing the hooks.
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Hang a heavy mirrorwith metal cleats drilled into solid wall studs.Hang a lightweight, frameless mirrorwith plastic clips.
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Frames contribute extra weight to an item.
She adds that a fallen mirror or heavy framed piece can cause damage to the house or personal injury.
Tip
The adhesive backing on adhesive hooks will harden and deteriorate over time.
So, they are not recommended for hanging anything over long periods.
Vintage Pieces
Never hang vintage items with adhesive hooks, Wright says.
Even if the item won’t break if it falls, you may not want it on the floor.
Family heirlooms and any other irreplaceable mementos shouldn’t be hung with adhesive hooks, Cvetkovic says.
Irreplaceable Items
Wright advises against hanging irreplaceable items with adhesive hooks.
It doesn’t matter what key in of item it is.
If it is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replaced, do not use adhesive mounts to hang it.
“It just isn’t worth the risk,” Wright says.
Instead, she recommendsdrywall anchors.
You Might Need…
Not all drywall anchors are the same.
Anchors range from self-drilling anchors for lightweight items to molly bolts for heavy items likefloating shelvesor curtain rods.
We assessed weight capacity, ease of installation, and price to bring you thebest drywall anchors.
Shelves
Keep shelves off of adhesive hooks and mounts, Kelman says.
This is more about weight capacity than anything else.
“Most adhesive hooks cannot hold more than eight pounds,” she says.
Install floating shelvesdirectly to the studs or with expansion bolts or molly bolts.
Other items you could hang:
