Accidental damage: Why you shouldn’t use the good china in winter

Last updated on June 4, 2024
How colder temperatures could cause you to break fragile items in your home, and what you can do about it.
Illustration of man spinning plate on his finger
Your good china, that expensive set that only comes out for special occasions, could be more at risk during the cooler months. It may impress your friends and family at the table, but dropping your best crockery when clearing away can be costly. If you’ve found yourself getting a bit clumsier lately, it might be worth checking the thermostat – cold temperatures could be to blame. 

According to the New Scientist, cold temperatures reduce the circulation in our fingers, making them more prone to fumbling. So, if you’re having your in-laws over for your fanciest homemade soup – it may be best to serve it in your least fancy bowls. If you’re not keen on serving soup in plastic containers, or juggling with the good china, you might want to consider adding optional Accidental Damage cover to your Allianz Home Insurance. 

It’s not just your best china that’s at risk. Allianz Home Insurance claims data from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023, shows that mobile phones are amongst the more commonly claimed items under accidental damage. A damaged mobile phone can be troublesome. What if you’ve lost those family photos from your lunch with the good china? A clumsy moment is all it takes to break your smart device.

You wouldn’t be the first or the last person to knock your tablet computer off your desk and hear it crash to the floor. Nor would you be the first or last to watch your smartwatch take a spin in the washing machine. Your laptop computer may also take an occasional dive from your desk or your lap, resulting in damage.

As for mobile phones, did you know that 60% of people in Australia check their phone on the toilet? If you’re becoming clumsier as temperatures plummet, you might want to take extra care if you’re using your mobile phone in the bathroom.

Our technology may be smart, but it’s not immune from the human touch.

Coffee spilt on laptop
Keep your fine china intact, your red wine in the glass, and your mobile phone out of the sink this winter. Here are some cosy tips.
There are many ways to improve your finger dexterity, from hobbies such as origami, knitting, or playing the guitar, to learning specific hand exercises to increase hand mobility.
Keeping your forearms warm may help improve the blood supply to your fingers and lessen your risk of dropping something.
Keeping doors closed can help you stay warm and save energy costs. Use throws and blankets for extra cosiness that may also help you save money on heating bills.
Also, store fragile items out of the way of curious children or pets.
Take your time when moving around your home space. Make sure that expensive items, like laptops, are placed on stable surfaces just in case.
Coxy couple on couch

With our Home and Contents Insurance, you have the option to take out Accidental Damage cover. This optional cover provides you with even more coverage from sudden, unforeseen and unintended events.

For example, if you spill red wine on your new carpet or lounge and you’ve taken out optional Accidental Damage cover as part of your Allianz Home and Contents Insurance, we’ll cover the cost of repair or replacement. We’ll cover any accidental damage or loss to your home’s contents at your insured address and anywhere in Australia for up to 90 continuous days.

Our Motor Burnout cover is automatically included with the optional Accidental Damage cover. This option covers appliances such as your fridge, freezer or washing machine that are up to 10 years old.

Available for both Allianz Home Building and Contents Insurance, optional Accidental Damage cover is there to help you through mishaps and clumsy moments. Note that an excess still applies to claims made.

Like this article?
Find more articles and tips to help reduce your risk of needing to make a claim.
Disclaimer

This article has been prepared by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL234708 (“Allianz”). In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.

Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither Allianz, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article.

Allianz acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work across Australia. We pay our respect to First Nations Elders past and present.



Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Wording and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for this insurance are available on this website. We do not provide any form of advice if you call us to enquire about or purchase a product.

Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 is the insurer of any general insurance products offered, and Allianz Australia Life Insurance Limited ABN 27 076 033 782 AFS Licence No. 296559 is the insurer of any life insurance products offered. Each entity is responsible for any statements and representations made about its products, on this website.