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H O M E B A S I C S
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the things you look up in a hurry
JUMP TO
shut🔑 S H U T I T O F F
FIND THESE BEFORE YOU NEED THEM
walk around once, today, and
put a tag on each one
WATER · MAIN
usually where the supply enters
the house, or at the street in
a covered box. turn clockwise.
a stiff old valve may need a
wrench - keep one beside it
WATER · ONE FIXTURE
small valve under the sink or
behind the toilet. fixes most
leaks without killing the house
ELECTRICITY
the big breaker at the top of
the panel kills everything.
label the panel while it is
calm and daylight
GAS
only if you SMELL gas or HEAR
hissing. quarter turn so the
bar sits across the pipe.
once off, only the utility
should turn it back on
food🧊 F O O D & C O L D
TEMPERATURES
fridge 40F or below
freezer 0F or below
40F to 140F is the DANGER ZONE
THE TWO HOUR RULE
perishable food left out more
than 2 hours goes in the bin.
1 hour if it is over 90F out.
this is not about smell - it
will smell fine
COOLING LEFTOVERS
shallow containers, into the
fridge within 2 hours. a deep
pot stays warm for hours in
the middle
POWER CUT
fridge holds about 4 hours if
you keep it SHUT
a full freezer holds about 48
when in doubt, throw it out
wallet💳 W A L L E T S T O L E N
1. FREEZE YOUR CREDIT
free, and the single most
useful thing you can do.
you must do all THREE:
Equifax · Experian · TransUnion
online or phone takes effect
within one business day
2. CANCEL THE CARDS
keep one card and its number
written somewhere that is not
your wallet
3. REPORT IT
identitytheft.gov walks you
through it and writes the
letters for you
A FREEZE IS NOT A FRAUD ALERT
a freeze blocks new credit
entirely. an alert only asks
lenders to check. freeze.
you can lift it any time, free
USDA and FTC, verified Aug 2026