The past few months have been very challenging for the residents of Esplanade Gardens to say the least. The inconsistent heat and hot water in all six buildings along with no gas for cooking and drying clothes in building 6, have made our everyday lives more demanding. To overcome and adapt to these arduous conditions, I have found a few items that have helped my family and wanted to share with you, my friends, neighbors and community.
For no hot water to take a shower, getting a 5-gallon bucket from your local hardware store (or two if you like long showers) along with Innhom Portable Shower Camping Shower Outdoor Camp Shower Pump, Electric Rechargeable Portable Camping Shower, Powered by Rechargeable Battery, currently $39.99 at Amazon, has been a lifesaver. Yes, you still have to boil water on the stove, but once you pour the hot water in the bucket in your bathtub, just add enough cold water to make it suitable to your desired temperature, you will no longer suffer taking cold showers.
For those in building 6 without gas for cooking, we found, as a family, the hotplate provided was inadequate. Because I have cookware that can work on induction cooktops, I purchased a few items. Admittedly, these items are not cheap, however, the time, functionality and ease of use has made the following items a game changer:
Portable Induction hot plates. These are not cheap but they do heat and boil water much faster and are much more efficient. I purchased two different kinds, one is a double hot plate that included a griddle and cover. This is great for smaller pots, making pancakes, eggs, hamburgers, etc. I found the best deal was at Target for $159.99, Cooktron Portable Induction Cooktop.
Large Wood Cutting Board that fits over the footprint of your stovetop. There are multiple stores you can get this from. Due to the large size of 30” by 28”, I purchased mine from Amazon. Not only does it “extend” your counterspace, but it can be used after the gas is restored.
Honestly, this is limited for larger pots, so because of my “additional counter space” with the large wood cutting board, I purchased a large single induction hotplate. This not only accommodates your larger pots and pans, but it also allows you to cook multiple items at once. The Avanti Induction Cooktop was the perfect find for $69.99 at PC Richard.
For baking, I already had in my possession the Gourmia 43L XL Digital Countertop Oven. This is a very dynamic kitchen tool as it bakes, air-fry’s, broils, warms and it can hold a large chicken or small turkey. This is used everyday, multiple times throughout the day, by each member of my family. I purchased mine at Costco on sale for $129.99 ($149.99 regular price).
Even though only building 6 cannot dry their clothes in their building, this next item could benefit all as you may prefer to line dry some of your clothes to prevent damage or shrinkage. The Stainless Steel Drying Rack can expand up to 79” and hold a ton of clothing or large blankets. The best part is it folds down to a nominal footprint for easy storage. This can be purchased on Amazon for $49.99.
I understand that some of these items may be pricey, but I cannot stress enough how these items have enormously helped me and my family.
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