The 5 appliances to unplug before leaving on vacation
- 🔌 TV and Gaming Consoles Television, TV box, console, soundbar… all of these stay on standby, ready to restart. With multiple screens at home, energy consumption adds up fast. Practical tip: plug them into a power strip with a switch and turn everything off in a single click.
- 🔌 Kitchen Appliances Coffee maker, microwave, toaster, food processor, kettle… they stay plugged in all year long, but are completely useless while you’re away. An espresso machine left plugged in costs an extra €3 to €4 per year. Multiply that by ten appliances, and the cost starts to sting.
- 🔌 Electric Blanket If you use one during the winter, never leave it plugged in before departing. Even when not in use, it remains connected to the grid. Unplug it completely and store it flat, taking care not to bend the cord too much. Simple, quick, and useful.
- 🔌 Bluetooth and Smart Speakers Small, discreet, and often forgotten. Yet, they consume energy just to remain on standby or reconnect to Wi-Fi. Also remember chargers and docking stations: unplugging them further reduces invisible background consumption.
- 🔌 Bathroom Appliances Hairdryer, straightener, curling iron, heated brush… These devices have no business staying plugged in inside an empty bathroom for days. Unplug them once they have cooled down, then store them in a drawer.
The switched power strip: your smartest travel ally
Unplugging twelve cords behind a TV unit can quickly become discouraging. The smartest solution? A power strip with a master switch. You group your devices together, and a single click shuts everything down. Ideal for the TV corner, home office, or small kitchen appliances.
However, be careful not to overload it with high-power appliances. And if you want even better protection, opt for a surge-protected model: it minimizes damage in case of a power spike while you’re away.
One single button, and you can truly leave with total peace of mind.
