# Leaving the house checklist

> Before leaving the house, check the stove and oven, any heat appliances like irons or straighteners, running water, windows, the back door and the front door. Do it in the same order every time and pause for a second on each item, so you remember doing it later.

Most people don't forget to lock up. They forget whether they locked up. You pull the door shut on autopilot, and ten minutes later at the bus stop the memory is gone, replaced by a vague picture of every other morning you've left the house.

This checklist is short on purpose. It covers the things that cause real damage or real worry if they're left on or open, in an order that follows a normal walk through a home: kitchen, bathroom, the rest of the house, then out the door.

## Kitchen

- [ ] Stove burners off (Look at each knob up close. From across the room, 'low' and 'off' look the same.) [worth a photo]
- [ ] Oven off [worth a photo]
- [ ] Coffee maker or kettle off (Many switch off on their own, but older machines keep the hot plate on.) [worth a photo]
- [ ] Toaster and air fryer unplugged or switched off
- [ ] Kitchen faucet off [worth a photo]
- [ ] Fridge and freezer doors fully closed

## Bathroom and bedroom

- [ ] Hair straightener, curling iron or dryer unplugged [worth a photo]
- [ ] Clothes iron off and unplugged [worth a photo]
- [ ] Sink and shower taps off [worth a photo]
- [ ] Candles blown out (Never leave a candle burning in an empty home.) [worth a photo]
- [ ] Space heater off [worth a photo]

## Around the house

- [ ] Windows closed and latched, especially ground floor [worth a photo]
- [ ] Back door and patio door locked [worth a photo]
- [ ] Pets fed, with fresh water
- [ ] Lights off in rooms you won't need when you get home
- [ ] Thermostat or AC set for an empty home

## On your way out

- [ ] Keys, phone and wallet in hand before you open the door
- [ ] Anything you need today by the door: bag, lunch, umbrella
- [ ] Front door locked (Turn the key, then push on the door once.) [worth a photo]
- [ ] Garage door closed [worth a photo]

## Tips

- Walk the same route through your home every time. A fixed order means a skipped step feels wrong, which is how you notice it.
- Say each item out loud as you check it: "Stove off." Hearing your own voice gives the memory something to hold on to.
- Keep keys, wallet and phone in one spot by the door so the last step doesn't turn into a search.
- If you're someone who turns back halfway down the street, take one photo of the stove knobs and the locked door. Then trust it and don't go back.

## Questions people ask

### Is it normal to forget if I locked the door?

Yes, very. Locking a door is so automatic that your brain barely records it, and today's memory blends into every other day's. It says nothing bad about your memory.

### What should I check before leaving the house?

The stove and oven, heat appliances like irons and straighteners, running water, candles, windows, and every door that leads outside. Those cover most of the real risks.

### How do I stop going back to check the stove?

Check it once with full attention: look at each knob and say "off" out loud. A photo of the knobs helps too, as long as you look at it once and then stop.

### Should I unplug appliances when I leave?

Unplug anything that heats up, like irons, straighteners and older coffee makers. Fridges, routers and other always-on devices are designed to stay plugged in.

---

Source: https://getoneloop.app/checklists/leaving-the-house
One Loop for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/one-loop-proof-you-did-it/id6802970270