Make Your New Place Safe | 10 Things to Do

Moving into a new place (especially it's all yours - no roomies) can be exciting and liberating. But it can also be a bit daunting. A different apartment in an unfamiliar neighborhood or even town can feel intimidating. That's why before you even pick up a paint brush or dress up the sofa with pillows, you should take a few steps to make your new place safe. Here's how to get peace of mind in your new digs:

1. Lock Windows & Doors

Check to see that all your windows and exterior doors lock properly. Your entry door should ideally have a deadbolt. If any locks are out of wack or missing, this is something to discuss with your landlord pronto. If you're extra wary about the neighborhood, ask about adding additional locks. Another extra precaution is to put bars on the windows - though aesthetically, it looks a bit prison cell-like. You could also have thick wooden dowels cut down to fit your windows. Placed above the sash, an intruder won't be able to pry the window open. (Plus, you could paint them to match your window trim or just a fun color.)

How To: Thaw (and Prevent) Frozen Pipes

Negative 20-degree temps (and negative 40-degree wind chills) have made the last few days quite miserable here in Iowa. Breathtaking frigid air. Numb noses, fingers, and toes. Dead car batteries. And frozen pipes. Yesterday when I came home from work, I decided to tackle my sink full of dishes from the weekend. But instead, I found myself tackling the challenge of frozen pipes.

The first sign your pipes are frozen: only a trickle of water or no water at all. In my case, water wasn't coming out at all. Neither the hot nor the cold. Not even a drip. Thanks to being centrally located in the house I rent, my bathroom sink and tub worked just fine. But the kitchen sink water pipes are located in a stairwell leading up to my 2nd floor apartment. Since the stairwell gets chilly, I usually close the door at the top of the stairs to keep the cold out. Bad idea. The pipes might as well be outside. Those water pipes sat in arctic temps all day. I called my landlord right away, but he wasn't in too big of a hurry to call a plumber. So I was on my own. 

A few Google searches, some baking, and six hours later... my kitchen sink pipes thawed and I have running water. Here's how I got there:

Storm & Tornado Safety for Apartment Dwellers

Living in the Midwest, the threat of severe storms and tornadoes is all too real. Being an Iowa girl, I'm no stranger to the summertime storm sirens. Damaging winds, pummeling hail, flash floods, twisters, and fearsome lightning likely summer occurrences. Tragedies such as the recent devastation in Moore, Oklahoma hit close to home. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who lost their lives, loved ones, and homes.

Since the season for severe weather is upon us, I thought I'd round up a few safety tips for renters.  Tornadoes often come swiftly and without much warning, so take weather warnings and conditions seriously. Having a plan in place will better protect you in the event of a tornado.

Stalking: Know it. Name it. Stop it.

Each year, 3.4 million Americans over the age of 18 are stalked.  3 out of 4 stalking victims are stalked by someone they know.  30% of victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner.  10% are stalked by a stranger.  1 out of 4 victims report being stalked through the use of some form of technology, like email, instant messages, and text messages.

Persons 18-24 years experience the highest rate of stalking. 

18-24 years old?   That's us college students.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month.  So to promote the safety of lovely undergrads, here are some tips if you may be being stalked.

Increasing Security in Your Dorm or Apartment | Dorm Safe Dorm

Photo via UniversityResidence.com

It's so exciting to leave the nest and be out on your own!  Your first place, whether it be a dorm or apartment, comes with a whole new set of experiences, benefits, and challenges.  While decorating and entertaining may be the first thing on your mind, security and safety should be top priority.

Most people don't ever worry about the security of their homes until they're living on their own.  When we were children, our parents were generally in charge of keeping us safe and we little concern for the actual security systems in our homes. Of course, we learned the basics like keeping doors locked at night and never opening the door to strangers--but the specifics are often all but unknown to kids before they leave home. So it's important for us students and young adults to take note of some very significant security concerns, and to learn how to keep our dorms and apartments safe from intrusion. Let's brush up on some basic elements of residential security that you can find from a company like Home Security Family.

Fire Safety

I came across this nifty little image at a website called Safe On Campus. For college students living in dorms and apartments, it's important to be educated on fire safety... one of the most important things being prevention. The above picture illustrates fire hazards in dorm rooms/apartments. Many colleges take the initiative to outlaw things such as incense, candles, extension cords, hot plates, and irons in the dorms... but if the school doesn't or if you're living off campus, it's critical to be aware of fire hazards for the safety of everyone in the building including you!

My solutions to the above 6 fire hazards:

1. First of all, don't smoke! It's bad for you. If you're into burning incense because it makes the room smell good, try reed diffusers instead. Reed diffusers (which are flame-free) consist of a bottle of scented oil and several reeds that stick out the top. These things really do fill the room with fragrance! Reed diffusers can be found anywhere, including Wal-mart and Target. Check out these ones from the Yankee Candle Company:
2. Be selective with what you have plugged into an outlet. Did you know that if something is plugged in it is still taking up electricity... even if it's not turned on? To save energy, unplug things such as the tv or microwave when not in the room. To be safe and avoid fire hazards, only plug in what you need plugged in at the time. Your cell phone charger, computer charger, microwave, and desk lamp don't need to be plugged in 24/7. Save the outlets for things such as your refrigerator. Then, when you need to charge your phone or turn on the lamp... plug those things into a surge protector temporarily. Maybe one like this from Wal-Mart:
3. I'm not sure why anyone would want to cover the lights with curtains or tapestries, but my best guess would be to "add ambiance". I particularly despise fluorescent lighting. It's harsh, bright, and entirely unflattering. So in the day, let the sun shine in! And at night, use accent lighting. Replace your table lamp bulb with pink-tinted bulb, which gives off a softer glow. Colored lampshades cast nice colors on the wall. Or try a multi-headed floor lamp with different colors on the heads... like this one from Target:

4. Yes, candlelight is lovely. There's just something about a flickering flame and the golden glow it casts in the room. I love having candles lit in my room at night, but I won't be able to do that in a dorm room. And I'm okay with that. Because while I know that I always keep an eye on candle flames... not everyone does. I don't want to go to sleep wondering if someone forgot to snuff their candle. Still feel the need for a little flickering? Modern technology has made it possible with flame free candles. I haven't yet heard of one that puts off scent... but these "fake candles" do glow. And some even flicker! These flame free candles are from Bed Bath & Beyond and are operated by remote control:

5. The only cooking appliances most colleges allow in dorms are microwaves. Don't break that rule and insist on bringing along a hot plate. There's a reason they're not allowed. If you don't feel like trudging to the dining hall for supper, there are plenty of things you can whip up with the help of a trusty microwave. With my love for ooey-gooey chocolate, Betty Crocker Warm Delights might turn out to be a college staple:

6. You really don't need to bring an iron and ironing board to school. WikiHow has an article on "How to Remove Wrinkles from Clothes Without an Iron". There are several methods: tumbling the clothing in a dryer, letting the clothing hang in a bathroom made steamy by the shower, using a blow dryer, laying a damp towel over the clothing for a while, or spritzing with water. To read the full article, click here. Or try Downy's Wrinkle Releaser spray:
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