Smart life hacks. Seven ideas that will make it easier to cope with the lack of electricity

Even if the power outage is only for an hour or two, it is a serious inconvenience. Below are ways to easily survive a power outage, no matter how long it lasts.

Alternative ways to charge your phone

Cell phones are a great way to stay connected and stay informed during power outages. Most phones have a flashlight, compass, and other useful tools.

First of all, make sure your mobile phone is in low battery mode, close unused apps and put your phone on airplane mode to save battery power. If cell phones and backup chargers are dead, connect the phone to a laptop with a battery. A laptop is a great way to get a little more battery life for your cell phone. In the latter case, you can charge the phone in the car.

Put ice in the washing machine

When the freezer is out of power, the ice melts and the food defrosts, creating a huge mess. For a temporary freezer, turn your washing machine into a refrigerator. Fill it with ice and any other items that need cooling. It will keep the ice cold and drain the water when it melts.

Attach a headlamp to a carafe of water to fill the room with natural light

Attach the headlamp to the decanter with the light inside. The water amplifies the light, creating a lantern that illuminates the entire room. If you don’t have a headlamp, you can attach your cell phone with the flashlight on to the top of the hole on the water bottle.

Make light with mirrors

Mirrors cannot create light, but they reflect it. Most mirrors are not 100 percent reflective, but they can still help reflect more light and increase the overall brightness of a room.

Fill ziplock bags with tap water

If the weather is cold enough, fill clean plastic bags with water and place them outside to freeze. Do the same with ziplock bags. Place the bags in the refrigerator, freezer, or washing machine, which can serve as temporary coolers.

Use oil chalk as a candle

Set the sharp part of the chalk on fire and let it melt on a disposable surface, such as a paper plate. Once the flame reaches the paper, pour the wax into a paper plate. One chalk should burn for several hours. Use this method only if an adult is present and can stay in the same room to avoid a potential fire hazard.

Make a battery with your own hands

If you run out of AA batteries for flashlights or other electronics, you can replace the AAA batteries with a ball of foil. Simply insert a ball of foil between the negative pole of the AAA battery and the device to generate power.