Because of their relative lack of excitement and visual appeal, file cabinets are often an overlooked piece of furniture. Sure, they don’t provide the comfort of a sofa, or the eye-catching boldness of a powerful desk, but that doesn’t mean they don’t play an integral role in any office or workplace. Just like how a plumber doesn’t get the same fanfare as a movie star, a file cabinets don’t get the attention, but they’re a much needed tool in making your day to day run smoothly.

So in what sort of situations would you use a filing cabinet? Any time you’re trying to store and organize a number of different physical documents or files. You save your computer files on a hard drive, and you save your tangible files in a file cabinet.

File Cabinet Security

The main function of file cabinets is to store your hardcopy files and keep them in a well organized and easy-to-find manner. While file cabinets do an absolute fantastic job of this, there are also other benefits that sometimes are overlooked.

Filing cabinets will keep your files from getting dirty. It might not seem like a big deal, but when files are left out on desks or tables, they inevitably get marked up by coffee and food stains. This can cause problems if you’re handling professional documents that are indispensible. Safely tucked away inside a filing cabinet, your files will be kept from the day to day accidents that are so frequent.

Filing cabinets with a lock also keep sensitive material away from people who shouldn’t have access. If you’re dealing with confidential files, you don’t want to worry that they’re out in the open where anyone can take a look. A metal filing cabinet with a lock mechanism will keep things private; for your eyes only.

There are also fire proof file cabinets if you’re serious about protecting your files. These cabinets will keep your contents safe even during an intense fire. While these file cabinets generally cost more than your standard cabinet, it’s worth it for those who are willing to take all precautions.

File Cabinet Durability

A great thing about file cabinets is that they pretty much last forever? When’s the last time you’ve heard of someone’s filing cabinet breaking down? Once you buy a file cabinet, it will most likely last you until you don’t need it again. At the end of the world, the only thing left will be cockroaches and file cabinets. But seriously, these things are built for the long haul. With a minimum amount of maintenance, file cabinets will work efficiently for years.

For metal filing cabinets, a quick quirt of WD-40 along the tracks will keep the drawers opening and closing smoothly. For wood file cabinets, a quick coat of varnish will keep things looking fresh and new throughout the years.