Vacation. Preparing your home before traveling is an important and responsible event. Before heading off on vacation and leaving daily worries behind, it’s wise to organize your home. One crucial task is checking your refrigerator and freezer to prevent food from spoiling.
Vacation and refrigerator.
While you don’t necessarily have to throw out frozen items, keep in mind that if your home loses power for an extended period, your freezer’s contents could thaw and become unsafe to eat.
But how can you tell if a power outage occurred while you were away?
There’s a simple trick to determine whether your freezer maintained a stable temperature. All you need is a coin and a container of water.
First, pour water into a suitable container and freeze it. Once the water is fully frozen, place a coin on top of the ice and leave the container in the freezer while you’re away.
- If the power goes out for an extended period, the ice will begin to melt, and the coin will sink.
- If the coin remains on top, the temperature stayed stable, and your food is safe.
- However, if the coin has sunk to the bottom, it means the freezer fully defrosted at some point, and your food may have spoiled.
In this case, carefully check all frozen items, and when in doubt, it’s better to discard them to avoid food poisoning. A simpler alternative is the “ice block trick”before leaving, place a solid block of ice in the freezer.
When you return, check its shape. If it still holds its original form, your freezer maintained its temperature. If it has melted and refrozen into an irregular shape, there was a temperature rise that could have compromised food safety.
These quick and easy methods help you avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure your food remains safe after your trip.
Burglars, How to Protect Your Home from Burglars While on Vacation.
If you’re leaving your home unattended for an extended period, here are some practical security tips to help keep it safe.
Secure Doors and Windows First.
Burglars, often target houses and apartments with easy access. Therefore, homeowners should ensure their doors are locked, sturdy, and securely fastened.
- Thin or flimsy doors are easier to break into, so investing in high-quality doors is worthwhile.
- Use modern, high-quality locks that are resistant to tampering—not just on front doors, but also on balconies, terraces, and storage rooms.
- Consider installing additional security mechanisms, such as door chains or multi-level locks.
- Apply anti-shatter security film to windows to make them harder to break.
Modern Security, Leverage Technology.
Take advantage of modern security solutions such as alarm systems, motion sensors, and surveillance cameras.
- These systems serve both as a warning and a deterrent. Simply seeing a security company sticker or a visible camera can discourage potential burglars.
- Motion sensors that activate lights when movement is detected can not only startle intruders but also draw attention from neighbors.
- An effective security measure is a motion sensor that triggers an alarm and sends automatic alerts to the homeowner or a security service when unusual activity is detected.
Protect Your Valuables with a Safe.
Statistics show that burglars frequently steal household electronics, computers, mobile phones, jewelry, cash, and power tools—items that are easy to carry and resell.
To protect your valuables, invest in a high-quality safe.
• Choose a durable, lockable safe that can be securely bolted to a wall or floor to prevent thieves from simply taking it.
Keep Vacation Plans Private.
One of the most crucial precautions is to avoid publicly sharing your travel plans.
- Police warn that posting detailed vacation updates on social media or discussing travel plans with strangers can attract criminals looking for unoccupied homes.
- Instead, save your vacation photos for when you return!
Stay Connected with Your Neighbors.
Building good relationships with your neighbors is a valuable security measure. Before leaving, inform a trusted neighbor about your absence so they can keep an eye on your home.
A watchful and supportive community is one of the best deterrents against crime. Following these simple steps can help you enjoy a worry-free vacation while keeping your home and belongings safe.
Have a great day!
