Daylight Savings: reminders and tips for a clock change

With our phones, cars and computers updating automatically, daylight savings might seem like any other day of the year, so it’s easy for the clock change to slip your mind. But there are still objects around your house that might need to be updated manually.  

Remembering to change some of these can easily slip your mind, so to help make a smooth daylight savings transition, we’ve created a list of things around your house to make sure you don’t forget, along with a list of biannual chores to do at the beginning and end of daylight savings to keep your family safe.  

Daylight savings checklist 

There are objects around our homes we use every day that do not change automatically. Don’t forget to double check your kids’ rooms for these things as well as the rest of your house. Some of these may have a “DST” setting you can switch on that will allow it to update on their own.  

• Alarm clocks 
• Stoves 
• Microwaves 
• Coffee machines 
• Cars 
• Televisions 
• Wall clocks 
• Wrist watches 
• Gaming consoles 
• Smart lights 
• Tablets/Kindles 
• Answering machine  
• Pet feeder 
• Medication reminder/automatic pill dispenser 
• Sprinkler system 
• Thermostats 
• Home security system 

Biannual Chores 

There are chores that are done every day, once a week,  once a month, every other month and more. We’ve created a list of those biannual chores that would benefit your family to do at the beginning and end of every daylight savings.  

• Change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Changing the batteries in these around your home every daylight savings will help keep your family safe and save the headache that comes with having to change them when they start beeping.  

• Clean your dryer vent. Buildup in your dryer vent can cause your dryer to work harder to get clothes dry, or just not dry them at all. It can also potentially cause a fire. Daylight savings is the perfect time to clean this out to keep your appliances working and your family safe.  

• Go through your first aid kits and medicine cabinets. Make sure none of the medicine you have has expired. Also check that bandages and other first aid supplies aren’t running low. 

• Go over your emergency preparedness plan with your family. You may have gone over this plan with your family at some point, but making sure they remember is essential. Reviewing it will keep your family prepared and safe. 

• Change filters. Whether it’s your vacuum, HVAC or dishwasher filter, changing filters twice a year will keep your appliances running and save you money in the long run.  

Staying on top of these different chores and commonly missed objects will keep your family prepared and safe!