Short Answer: They can take a lot of abuse and still maintain their strength and utility for years, even decades.
Long Answer:
You may think of cardboard as a material with a short lifespan, and a lot of times it is. There are different qualities of cardboard and they don’t all hold up the same.
When cardboard boxes are recycled over and over again, the fibers break down and become shorter with each cycle, resulting in a weaker box. Many cardboard boxes are made from highly recycled content so they lose their strength over time and need to be replaced.
The strongest cardboard is typically made from virgin wood fibers. Muvo Boxes are made from a combination of mostly virgin with some recycled material that strikes a nice balance.
Most cardboard boxes have single layer walls that are less than a quarter of an inch thick. Muvo Box has quadruple layer walls that add up to an inch thick. They have been tested and proven to withstand over a thousand pounds in stacking strength.
Depending on how you treat your Muvo Boxes and how often you use them for heavy duty moving and stacking, they will last anywhere from a couple of years to a couple of decades.
Proof
The box in the photos above I made in 2013. It has been shipped in the mail, sat on, slept on, stacked, and moved countless times for more than ten years as I moved residences seven times. And it's still kicking. I'm still using it for storage in my basement.
Most Muvo Boxes will not be as used and will look nicer after ten years. This box was a prototype and not made with the same high quality specifications as the boxes that are coming off the production line now. The new Muvo Boxes are made with premium materials and a water-resistant coating on the outside.
How to Extend the Life of Your Muvo Boxes
If you want to get the most longevity from your boxes, follow these tips:
- Don’t point-load the boxes. When stacking weight on them, stack it evenly across the whole surface.
- When using the boxes as bases for beds and futons, disperse the weight across multiple boxes with a piece of flat wood laid on top, between the boxes and the mattress or futon.
- If the box gets wet, wipe the liquid off quickly.
- If the box gets soaking wet such as from sitting in a puddle, remove its contents, don’t stack anything on it, and let it air out and dry. It will regain most of its strength.
- If the box gets punctured, you can cover the damage with a sticker.
- If the box gets dirty, wash it with a damp sponge and dish soap, then dry thoroughly with a towel.
- If the box gets dirty and cannot be cleaned, consider covering it with contact paper or painting it.
- You can break the factory glue joint and remove the outside corrugated layer, turning it inside out for a fresh look. Use tape or glue to create a new joint.