Essential Gear: Practical Must-Have Items

You’ve moved to India, settled into your new role, and found the perfect long-term home. Congratulations!

Now comes the next step: getting everything set up so you can enjoy a smooth, comfortable transition into life here.  We learned, through trial and error over several months, about a few things we didn’t initially think we needed—but now, we can’t live without them. Let’s make sure you have them on hand from day one!

Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS)

One thing to prepare for in India is the occasional power outage. If you live in a community with backup power, it’s likely that the electricity will only be out for a few seconds, but that brief interruption can still cause inconveniences. In our case, living in Bangalore, these power “blips” happen almost daily. Although the outages are brief, they can be incredibly disruptive when they hit at just the wrong time, like when:

• You’re on a Teams or Zoom call and your router needs five minutes to restart.
• You’re in the middle of a workout on your Peloton and the screen goes black.
• Ireland create a line break in the Six Nations Rugby, they are charging towards the try line, and… the TV resets!

A simple solution? Install a set of Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS). Think of these as battery backups that keep key devices running during outages. The ones we’ve been using can provide 3 or 4 hours of back up.

Additionally, keep some candles and torches handy for those rare times when the power stays out longer!

Water Filter

Do not drink water directly from the tap. All the water you use for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, or rinsing vegetables should come from a water filter. Even if your community provides treated water, there’s still the risk of contamination before it reaches your home. Unfortunately, water-borne contamination is one of the most common causes of upset stomachs, and you definitely don’t want that to happen in your own home!

When we first arrived, we weren’t familiar with water filter technologies, but we’ve learned a lot since then. Here’s what you need to know:

What Type of Water Filter Should You Get?

Go for the best you can – this is not an area to gamble on. The ideal filter will be “RO + UV”. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is essential, as it removes harmful contaminants, while UV adds an extra layer of protection by eliminating any microorganisms that may be in the water storage within the filter system.

If possible, choose a machine with a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) indicator, which shows you how effective your filter is. If the TDS reading starts increasing, it’s a sign something may need attention.

You might also come across “RO + UV + UF” filters. While Ultrafiltration (UF) can serve as a backup if the RO function fails, it doesn’t add much extra value beyond that. If the RO does fail, it’s best to stop using the machine until it’s fixed.

Understanding Water Filter Terminology

• RO (Reverse Osmosis):
  RO is the most effective water purification technology available. It works by using a high-pressure pump to push water through an ultra-fine membrane, which removes contaminants like TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses.
  • Limitations: RO removes essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, but there are plenty of other ways to get those into your diet. Also, RO systems waste more water as part of the filtration process, which is something to keep in mind.
• UV (Ultraviolet):
  UV technology uses light to kill bacteria and viruses in the water.
  • Limitations: UV doesn’t remove sediment, TDS, or chemical contaminants; it only deals with microorganisms.
• UF (Ultrafiltration):
  UF uses a membrane similar to RO, but with larger pores, so it’s less effective at removing smaller particles like dissolved solids or organic material. It also requires less water pressure and produces minimal wastewater.
  • Limitations: While UF can filter out larger particles, it doesn’t remove TDS or smaller contaminants.
• TDS (Total Dissolved Solids):
  TDS is a measure of all dissolved substances in your water, both good (like minerals) and bad (like metals and salts). According to the World Health Organization, the ideal level of TDS for drinking water is below 300.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

We didn’t use a VPN before moving to India, but now it’s essential! Not only does it help with online security, but some websites in your home country (like banks) will block access from foreign IP addresses. Plus, if you want to watch streaming services from your home country, a VPN is a must, as the likes of Prime Video and Netflix will restrict what is available from India.

We’ve been using ExpressVPN on all our devices (laptops, phones, TV), and it’s been incredibly easy to set up and use. Some of our friends swear by NordVPN, which works just as well—so keep an eye out for whichever has the best deal.

Amazon Prime

It pains me to recommend this!  Wherever possible, please do support your local vendors. 

Small hardware shops tend to be incredibly well stocked with all sorts of useful, standard things (tools, screws, light bulbs etc).  Please use them.

However, Amazon Prime is just too convenient for those hard-to-find items.

If you’re used to Prime back home, be aware that you’ll need to also get an Indian subscription. Out of principle, initially I didn’t want to do that, but I quickly gave in and it pays for itself in delivery savings and speed. Sign up here.

Keeping Mosquitoes at bay

In Bangalore, and many other parts of India, mosquitoes are a common problem, especially in the evenings. If you’re lucky enough to have a nice outdoor space like we do, you’ll find that dusk is prime mosquito time—just when you want to be outside relaxing.

There are plenty of chemical solutions available, but we weren’t entirely comfortable with the potential health risks of using harsh chemicals. So, we tried out a few other options. Here’s what we found effective—and what didn’t work so well.

What Didn’t Work

When we first arrived, we invested in UV and CO2 mosquito traps, which are supposed to attract and trap mosquitoes. However, after weeks of use, we found these devices pretty ineffective. They didn’t catch enough mosquitoes to make a noticeable difference, and it felt like we were just wasting time and money.

What Worked Well Outside

We eventually discovered that a combination of cold fogging and citronella incense worked best for us, especially for outdoor areas.

Cold Fogging

Citronella Incense Sticks

Once you’ve fogged the area, light 4 or 5 citronella incense sticks and place them around your seating area. They create a protective barrier, keeping most of the mosquitoes at bay.

There are lots of incense sticks that you can buy in supermarkets. For outside, we’ve found these to be the best option because they produce more smoke and last for longer: Amogha Citronella

This combination worked much better than any traps or sprays we tried before.

What Worked Well Indoors

We’ve had great success with All Out vaporizer machines. These are small devices that plug into the wall and release a steady stream of mosquito repellent into the air. We’ve installed one in each bedroom, bathroom, and a few common spaces. Once you’ve set them up, all you need to do is replace the refills every few weeks. It’s a low-maintenance solution that keeps mosquitoes at bay without any noticeable odor or chemicals in the air.

• Vaporizer Machine
• Refill Pack

Don’t Forget the Basics

Along with using these products, it’s important to follow basic mosquito prevention tips to keep your home mosquito-free:

• Eliminate stagnant water: Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so check your garden or outdoor areas regularly and get rid of any pooled water.
• Trim overgrown vegetation: Mosquitoes love to hide in dense foliage, so keep your plants trimmed and your yard tidy.
• Use mosquito screens: Make sure your mosquito screens are in good condition and keep them closed, especially during dusk and nighttime when mosquitoes are most active.

Shower Head Hard Water Filter

If you live in an area like Whitefield, Bangalore, you might notice that the water is quite hard, meaning it’s packed with dissolved minerals. The first clue is usually limescale build-up around your faucets and showerheads. After a few months, we also noticed another unwelcome effect: our hair was getting weaker, and yes, even starting to fall out.

Since we’re in a rented place, installing an expensive water softener wasn’t an option. But we found a simple, cost-effective solution—a shower head filter. I didn’t even know these existed before, but they’ve made a world of difference!

Deal with high humidity and damp

Ah, humidity—the unwelcome guest that never leaves, especially during the monsoon season! The humidity levels here can feel like a whole new ballgame compared to what you might be used to back home.

We learned this the hard way during the seemingly endless 2022 monsoon. Here’s a quick peek at some of the battles we fought (and sometimes lost) with the damp:

• Clothes with a not-so-pleasant “damp smell” that just wouldn’t go away.
• Tiny, mysterious holes appearing in shirts, courtesy of moths enjoying the humidity way too much.
• Paint peeling off walls, especially in rooms with poor ventilation.

What Worked for Us

If you have a dehumidifier, bring it along. But fair warning—you’ll probably need more than one. We didn’t, and after plenty of trial and error, we stumbled upon a lifesaver: Absorbia.

• Absorbia Absorber
• Absorbia Classic Refill
• Absorbia Hanging Pouch
• Absorbia Sachet (for drawers)

Top Tips:

• Don’t skimp on the number of pouches or dehumidifiers—India’s humidity doesn’t hold back, and neither should you. From time to time Amazon offers discounts and hence we bulk buy.
• We’ve found the Absorbia Absorber and Hanging Pouches the most useful. Once you’ve got the Absorbia Absorber frames you only need to get the refills
• Keep an eye on refills during the monsoon; they fill up quicker than you’d expect!

Step Ladder

In India, if you hire a tradesman for any job that requires work above head height, don’t expect them to bring their own ladder.  Whether it’s fixing your air conditioning, changing a ceiling pendant or trimming that overhanging branch, they’ll likely expect you to provide a ladder. If you don’t have one, they might balance precariously on chairs, or more likely, they’ll leave and promise to come back in “some time”—and we all know how that can go.

To avoid this hassle, it’s best to just invest in a simple, sturdy step ladder. This one has served us well and didn’t break the bank.

WhatsApp

If you’ve somehow avoided WhatsApp up until now, that’s about to change. In India, everyone uses WhatsApp for everything. 

Download it, embrace it, and prepare yourself for the flood of messages. Our top tip? Learn to mute the groups that seem active 24/7!

Delivery Apps

India has a thriving delivery ecosystem, and you’ll notice two-wheeler drivers zipping around everywhere. There are several delivery apps to choose from, and over time, we’ve settled on a few that work best for us.

• Zomato and Swiggy:
  Both apps essentially do the same thing—deliver food from restaurants to your door. I tend to use Zomato (probably because it was the first app I downloaded), but either works well. Just remember: the app doesn’t guarantee food quality, so it’s best to order from restaurants you already know and love.
• Big Basket:
  This is a solid option for grocery delivery. The delivery is usually very quick, though availability can be hit or miss.   One Sunday morning I got really excited but the thought of a bacon and egg sandwich… 15 minutes later Big Basket was at my door, but with only bread!
• Porter:
  This app is less well-known, but it’s incredibly useful for arranging deliveries of almost anything—whether it’s a small package or something large that requires a truck. I’ve used Porter to schedule everything from a scooter delivery to an 8-foot truck, and the prices have always been reasonable.