7 load-shedding LIFEHACKS every household needs to KNOW

Now that Eskom’s Stage 6 (or worse) is back with four-hour slots, we’ve scoured the internet to find you the best load-shedding lifehacks. No matter your household or lifestyle, anyone can learn a little something from these pearls of wisdom.

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Maybe you even practice a couple of these load-shedding lifehacks already. If so, good for you, you’re load-shedding game is clearly on point. But, for the rest of Mzansi, here you go.

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7 LOAD-SHEDDING LIFEHACKS

1. GET ESP

Firstly, Greef Properties suggests downloading ESP, the EskomSePush app. This is a must-have load-shedding lifehack updates instantly so you can keep abreast of any changes to the godawful blackout schedule. Knowledge is power, people!

2. PROTECT AGAINST SURGES

Now that you know the schedule, you must do everything you can to protect your home appliances. They don’t like it when the power goes off for hours and suddenly comes back on. Unplug your major appliances at the wall, recommends Remax Living and use surge-protector plugs for your important stuff. In fact, many insurance companies are no longer covering damage from electrical surges unless you have a surge protector fitted to our electricity board in your home. You’ve been warned.

3. USE A HOT-WATER FLASK

We know, some of these load-shedding lifehacks are more like camping in your home. But it’s better than being caught short when the power is out. Bust out the camping flask you’ve probably got lying around the back of your cupboard. Before a long load-shed, boil the kettle and pop it in the flask. That way you can have a cup of tea or coffee first thing in the morning when you wake up in load-shedding. This really works

4. KEEP A POWERBANK HANDY

There are plenty of these sorts of products on the market now. Multi-purpose powerbanks with LED lights and a USB port to recharge a cellphone. The key is keeping them charged up in between blackouts. If you have more than one, you can cycle through them so you’re never far from a light source or cellphone top-up.

5. COOLER BAGS

We like this one. We’ve had plenty of fresh meat, fruit and vegetables go off in the fridge in between power cuts, especially those long double slots. This load-shedding lifehack demands that you pop your best produce in a cooler bag and keep it in a bucket surrounded by ice for those four-hour blackouts. It works.

6. LIVE A LITTLE

It’s pretty obvious, but a great load-shedding lifehack is to simply get out the house and go somewhere that has power. Maybe it’s a friend’s place for a kuier, maybe it’s down to your local where you can plug in, grab a coffee and answer some emails. Almost all SA shopping malls have generators now, so you could plan ahead and do your shopping, too.

7. THOSE THINGS YOU’VE BEEN PUTTING OFF

Of course, there are always those things you’ve been putting off because you always had something better to do. Seriously, embrace load-shedding. Clear the gutters, paint that outside wall, rearrange the Wendy house, finish that book, do some yoga, service your bicycle, mow the lawn. Anything left undone on your to-do list, now’s the time to do it.

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Do you have any full-proof load-shedding lifehacks you live by? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below.