14 Smart Hacks for When the Power Goes Out
Stuck inside with no power? Here are 14 genius indoor warming, outdoor safety, and power outage-friendly cooking hacks. Image: iSplash
This ice storm has hit our local communities hard, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. We’ve scoured social media to find creative heat-trapping hacks, safety tips, and even a couple of no-electricity-required recipes.
This week has been especially trying, but our communities have stepped up in the most inspiring way, and we hope these easy tips can provide warmth and comfort (or maybe just help you feel a little better prepared for the future).
Warming & Indoor Lighting Hacks
DIY Heater
This DIY home heating hack comes from @jeffandlaurenshow. Place a terracotta pot atop four cans with a loaf tin of burning tea lights beneath. This brings much-needed warmth and comfort during a frigid power outage. If you don’t have a terracotta pot, you can also use your crockpot!
DIY Lantern
This quick hack from @dailyoriginalvids will fill your home with light when the power is out. Simply tape a flashlight to a jug of water, and you’ve got a lantern that can help you safely maneuver through a dark home.
Emergency Rechargeable Lightbulbs
We have a running list of products we need to buy now to prepare for another eventual storm. These rechargeable lightbulbs (found on @viralazdeals), which many already have in their homes, will stay lit when the power runs out, and can be used as a flashlight or lantern. You can purchase these lightbulbs here.
DIY Candle
If you’ve run out of candles while your power is out, this hack from @tiinakagu is all you need. Fill a wine glass with rice, oil, and water, stick a Q-Tip in the middle, and light. Voilà! A candle to bring brightness and some warmth back to your space.
Bring Your Tent Inside
Have a tent lying around in storage? Here’s another great one from @jeffandlaurenshow. Bring your outdoors inside and place it atop your bed or a nest of cozy blankets and pillows for added indoor warmth.
Cooking Hacks
DIY Stove
All you need for this easy hack from @littlepinelearners is tea lights and a muffin tin. Simply fill the muffin tin with tea lights, light them, place your water, soup, or whatever you’re hoping to heat in a pot on top, and soon you’ll have a warm cup of coffee or a bowl of soup.
You can also line up your tea lights in a loaf pan and place a cooling rack from your oven on top for a quick and easy stove.
Outdoor Safety Hacks
Use a Towel to Walk Across Ice
If you’re having trouble getting across your lawn or sidewalk, this simple hack from @doodleandmagoo works wonders. Grab a towel, place it on the ground, take a few steps, and repeat. This will create better traction and allow for a safe journey.
DIY Ice Melt
Here’s a simple recipe from @renardohumphrey for DIY ice melt to clear up your sidewalks and steps. Also, if you have outdoor steps leading to your front door, place a towel down before the storm to avoid slippery, icy steps.
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How to Keep Your Car (and more!) Safe Outside
All of these hacks from @homewithchristinaa are incredibly helpful for keeping your car safe from the freezing temperatures, providing a small patch of grass for any pets that need to go outside when it’s too icy for them to walk, and giving your boots temporary added traction for walking on the ice safely.
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No-Cook Recipes
No Electricity Pour Over
If you have a gas stove (or can use the hacks above to heat water), you can make yourself a delicious, hot cup of coffee. This method from @dailyoriginalvids simply requires coffee grounds, a filter, and hot water.
No-Cook Almond Butter Energy Balls
This two-step recipe uses ingredients you likely already have in your pantry and requires no cooking. The recipe yields two dozen energy balls (the tastiest we’ve ever tried!) packed with protein.
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Stay safe and warm!
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Bailey Torkelson
Bailey is the StyleBlueprint Marketing Manager. She loves a good meal and glass of wine with great friends... or a reality TV binge with her cat, Luna.