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With the arrival of summer, many of us are preparing to leave the city, whether it's just for the weekend or for a few more days.
To truly enjoy your holidays without worries, we thought we'd prepare a guide that can help you close up the house and leave, avoiding unpleasant surprises upon your return.
With a With a little attention, you can also use your vacation to tidy up and complete all those things you've been putting off, partly due to lack of time, partly because you're looking forward to summer. Here are some tips!
Should you turn off the refrigerator before leaving?
It's a very common question, and our answer is: it depends!
If you're only traveling for a few days, we recommend leaving the refrigerator plugged in so it's already at the right temperature when you return. Just check the expiration date on any products you've left inside to avoid a bad smell. Get rid of anything that's about to expire before you leave.
If you'll be away for a longer period, however, it's a good idea to turn off the refrigerator, both to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and to ensure safety. In this case, you'll need to empty the fridge completely: this could be the perfect opportunity for that thorough cleaning you've been putting off! Also remember to defrost and clean the freezer in the same way. Before leaving, leave the doors open to prevent mold from forming, which would require you to clean them again upon your return!
And the boiler? The gas?
Regarding the boiler, the advice for the summer season is to turn it off. When you return, you can turn it back on in a few minutes and have hot water again. As for the gas, it's safest to turn it off before leaving. You'll have one less thing to worry about during your trip!
Should I turn off the water before leaving?
If you're leaving for a longer period, turn off the water Water will be the best solution. If you don't have a single central valve, remember to turn off the various valves (bathroom, kitchen, laundry room) after checking for leaks.
Don't make the mistake of turning off the central water valve if you have a plant irrigation system – here too, you'll have an unpleasant surprise upon your return!
Electricity and appliances
For a more peaceful holiday, we recommend turning off the main meter before leaving – you'll have more peace of mind and save on your bill. However, if you have an alarm system or a programmed irrigation system that doesn't allow you to turn off the main meter, here are some tips to get around the problem!
If your system allows it, you can turn off the meters for individual areas of the house or your appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, etc.). Then remember to deactivate any automatic gate or garage door locks; use the manual lock when leaving and returning.
At home, you'll also need to remember to turn off all power strips and not leave appliances on standby. Don't forget phone chargers next to the bed; always unplug them before leaving!
So, with just a few simple steps, you've managed to free yourself of so many worries. However, we'd like to give you a few more tips!
Eat up fresh food and products close to their expiration date in your pantry, remembering to seal any unopened, shelf-stable products tightly. To avoid worrying about shopping when you return from vacation, buy some pasta and sauce before leaving – they'll save you a trip to the supermarket!
Do the laundry, including those winter blankets you've been putting off washing, avoiding leaving dirty clothes that could rot in the hamper.
This could also be an opportunity to thoroughly clean the kitchen and bathrooms, washing any rags if necessary. Then, throw out the trash, close the windows, curtains, and blinds, and turn on the alarm.
After leaving a pair of house keys with a neighbor or friend just in case, it's time to leave and enjoy some well-deserved rest!