The Clean Boot Blog

When it comes to preparing for long-distance vacations, attempting to jot down an all-inclusive checklist is one thing, but the safety and security of your home while you’re away, is of utmost importance.

Below we have some great security tips to safeguard your house while you’re away:

Home Security Alarm System

A full-fledged home security alarm system is the best way to protect your home while you’re away. Thanks to the current technological innovations, you’ll be able to acquire a system with door and window sensors, motion sensors and a fully-equipped control panel. Contingent upon the system, you can even keep an eye on your home using your smart phone.

Try to make your outside alarm box noticeable as it will prevent any thieves from coming near your home. Also, make sure that your alarm system is properly monitored, which enables security guards to quickly respond to any unwelcoming situation.

Lighting

It would be a great idea to make it look like you’re in your home while you’re away. Timer-connected lights should be fixed in different rooms and porch. Also, set up motion sensor lights at the front and back of your house that will switch on and light up your garden if they sense any movement.

Open Curtains

Never close all the curtains and blinds in your home when you go on a vacation. Keep in mind, nobody leaves all their curtains closed all day. Thus, keep your curtains open and move pricey things out of sight. You can also ask your family members or neighbors to close your curtains at night and open them during the day.

Update Security

As much as burglars want to steal your valuables, it’s also a fact that they opt for easy targets. Doors and windows, for example, which does not seem strong or durable could attract thieves while you’re away.

Luckily, you can find a huge variety of security options available at your local DIY store. Ask them about how you can protect your home as they can better guide you about the best security options for your particular needs.

External Maintenance

One of the easiest ways for a thief to identify if you’re away from your home is by looking at the external area or your garden. It is obviously very easy to locate the grass that hasn’t been maintained or cut in a week or two. Thus, before you head off to sunnier climes, you should cut your grass and also coordinate with a family member or a friend to cut it weekly.

Keep Your Valuables at a Secure Place

Any thief knows that most of the valuable items including jewelry and cash are usually placed in the bedroom. This is why it’s very important to purchase a small safe before you leave for a holiday to keep your expensive belongings safe. If you’re not able to invest in a safe for any reason, it is best to consider hiding the valuables somewhere unexpected. For instance, you can keep them somewhere in the kitchen or bathroom in an unnoticeable box or container.

Don’t Announce

Make sure that only the people you know and trust are aware of your long-haul vacation. If you advertise your holiday plans to unfamiliar people, they could possibly use the details for burglary. Never ever disclose your holiday plans on social media platforms as it is extremely easy for posts and tweets to spread out in a very short span of time.

Call in Favors

Make sure you ask for help from family, friends, and neighbors to drop by your house from time to time and make sure that everything is normal.

With these simple steps, you can reduce your home’s risk of being targeted by thieves and burglars. Stay safe and have a wonderful vacation!

Global warming, increasing energy costs, and environmental factors are front-page news. With a growing number of people living smart lifestyles, awareness about energy conservation and creating green and healthy homes is also increasing.

Installing solar panels or building a new apartment utilizing environmentally friendly materials is not always achievable due to cost. Fortunately, we have come up with a few eco-friendly hacks to help you save money and be more environmentally conscious.

Manage Insulation

One of the ways to instantly improve your home’s eco-friendly and energy-efficient nature is to examine your ceilings, walls, and floors for proper insulation. Keep in mind, the role of insulation is crucial for your home and may contribute a lot to your electricity bills.

A decrease in Water Usage

Water consumption is something that a lot of homeowners find difficult to reduce. Try to replace all the faucets in your home with low-flow nozzles. These faucets come with a low-flow, high-pressure feature that tends to spread the water stream over the bigger area in a minimum span of time which significantly reduces the quantity of water needed.

Recycle

Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and also conserves precious natural resources. So, try to incorporate as much recyclable material as you can into your everyday processes to avoid waste.

Apart from the recycling, it’s also important to compost certain things in order to obtain another reusable product in the end. You can compost any organic material as long as the process doesn’t harm the oxygen content of the compost. A huge range of organic materials including leaves, grass and even edibles can be used in the process and allowed to rest and decay in a container. The final product is very rich and fertile and can be used in your home gardens to boost plant growth.

Choose Your Products Wisely

Today, you can find the energy-efficient versions of almost all the important household equipment including T.Vs, sound systems, and HVACs. Thus, make sure to invest in products that are more environmentally friendly and safe.

Avoid disposable products as they do not have the ability to completely disintegrate in water. While these products may fulfill basic criteria, their impact on our environment is generally bad. Instead of buying disposable products, make sure to invest in reusable goods or biodegradable household products that are not only readily available but are also safe for your home and environment.

Low-Emission Stoves

Stoves that use wood as a fuel should be avoided at any cost as they produce toxic gases that can pollute the air. If you’re aspiring to purchase one, opt for a low-emission version. Also, be certain to get the chimneys swept and checked on a regular basis by a professional to prevent the emission of toxic gases in the atmosphere.

Since plants can absorb toxic substances present in our environment, it would be great to have a home garden in your home. Just make sure to set up an energy and water-efficient irrigation system to prevent water and energy wastage.

Energy-Efficient Lighting

LEDs are up to 80% more efficient than conventional lighting solutions. As 95% of the energy is transformed into light and just 5% is wasted as heat, there is a dramatic decrease in power costs.

No More Paper Towels

Replace paper towels with eco-friendly cloth-made towels and rags. Cloth towels are more durable and you can easily reuse them by washing with your normal water and soap.

If your home goal for 2019 is to go greener, this post will surely help you make your home more sustainable and eco-friendly.