When placing furniture in front of an electrical outlet, always plug in an extension cord into the outlet. You can hide the cord then when you need the outlet it is in easy reach. Extension cords are $1 at Dollar stores so you can have one in every blocked outlet.
By Connie Kaercher from Evansville, IN
Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
This is an excellent idea but I would go a step further and get extension cords that have surge protection. I saw first had a great big fireball in my own home through an outlet that didn't have it. Now all my outlets are protected.
I love this idea. Now will you help me move that giant chest?!
Check where it is made. I bought a multi-plug from the dollar store, and one day we noticed a burnt smell in the living room & found the multi-outlet smoking and burnt, so grateful we were home to notice!
Not a good idea. This could actually be as dangerous as leaving the toaster on under the couch. Extension cords can develop a variety of problems, but should a person have a pet in the house, including a white rat, but a dog or cat will often chew on cords, shoes or other objects. It only takes once. The idea of adding a surge protector is good and you can also buy cords with a GFI circuit breaker built in. (GFI ground fault interrupt) I use that type on my shop equipment.
There are a lot of good rules for using any extension cord and you can usually get a list from your local electric company. Keep in mind, that an extension cord laying loose and hidden behind some object is charged all the way to the end. Children will often be curious as I was when I was very young. I was almost electrocuted by my dad's hidden cord, I got the shock of my life. The easiest way is not always the safest.
This is such a great idea! It is so hard to 'plug-in' something behind a big piece of furniture. This makes it so easy!
Get the best quality extension cord you can afford, because you never know what you're going to be plugging into it.
I use power strips in my outlets. The only outlets in my apartment that don't have to have large pieces of furniture in front of them are the ones above the kitchen counters and by the bathroom vanity. Some rooms there is no other solution. If I wanted to replace the strips and/or extension cords, I wouldn't be able to move the furniture to get to the outlets.
My father was an electrician and one of the first things he taught us was NOT to leave extension cords plugged in without anything plugged in to the other end. Very dangerous.
This is a VERY DANGEROUS Suggestion on so many levels. Pets, children, and fire hazards. An extension cord is not made to be used on a permanent basis, it is a temporary solution.
I second the motion to use surge-protected extension cords. One of our outlets is behind an antique kitchen cabinet that's nearly impossible for two strong men to move, let alone my 75-year-old hubby and me. Our coffee maker is plugged in to this - and we only make coffee every other day, usually. I can turn off the toggle by reaching under the kitchen table, so for the 47.5 hours or so it isn't needed, this particular surge suppressor is off.
Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
