Surprised to read you shouldn't leave the washing-machine on in an empty house

[aliasjoey]

AIBU to be surprised to read on another thread about a washing-machine being used when no-one was home, and so many replies were that you should not leave it on!

We work full-time, if it wasn't switched on until I got home, then I would be hanging up wet washing really late at night.

Is it so different to other electrical items left on? The slow-cooker? The boiler might switch on in the winter, that's electricity and water combined. I think

I used to be paranoid about the washing machine and never left it on unattended but since my DD started preschool I do, I'll put it on before I go out to do the school run and then the washing can go out when I get back, otherwise I'd never get time to peg it out before having to go back for preschool pick up. I wouldn't do it with a dryer though, an ex colleague had her house burn down when her DH put the dryer on and went out.

It is definitely not a mumsnet thing!
I have treated 2 patients badly burnt by fires that was started by their washing machines. Both where in the house at the time the washing machines went on fire one set where sleeping upstairs it happened in the middle of the night, the other was simply in another room when it happened.

DD(5) reliably informs that 'you must turn of every plug in the house before going out, except the fridge/freezer, and never ever never leave anything switched on, not even a night light, because anything can catch fire and the neighbours won't know to call 999 til the fires got really big'

She also says that 'you must have a fire exit plan that everyone knows and has practiced, walking out the front door is a good start, or you could jump out a window, there should be a copy of the plan in every room and all visitors need to know the plan and if you catch fire you should drop and roll, you need to practice that too'

Apparently when she grows up she is going to be a fire engine (she doesn't mean a fire engine driver, she means an actual red lorry like thing, I checked)

also 'when the fireman visits, if you practice dropping and rolling and draw a really good exit plan the nice big fireman will let you play with his hose' she got a bit cross with me and told me to stop being silly after that because i got the giggles.

When our local fire station has an open day, there is always a display trailer on site showing the various appliances that can and have burst into flame. A washing machine is one of them. It isn't recommended to leave it on when no-one is in, because there is a risk of it catching fire, as with all electrical items.

However, it's completely impractical to only ever put a wash on when you're in, so most people just carry on and let the washing machine run whilst they're at work. I include myself in 'most people'!

Um, completely impractical if you're not home an awful lot, I mean!

So what difference will it make if I am home when the machine catches fire? I realise the damage may be less, bit I'm hardly going to put it out am I?!! Working 60hr weeks means that I have to put the washing machine on when I'm at work, although will now not put washer:dishwasher on at night :(

No,but you can isolate the fire e.g shut the door,and call the Fire Brigade who will put it out,and perhaps before the damage spreads beyond the kitchen/utility room.

if you are home you can call the fire brigade before it spreads, so they can get the fire under control quickly, so less damage, less risk to neighbours and less risk to the fire brigade (a small fire being far less dangerous for them to put out than an entire house on fire) where as if there's no one home the first anyone knows could be when it spreads and your whole kitchen is on fire.

So what difference will it make if I am home when the machine catches fire?

It's the difference between a wrecked kitchen and a completely gutted house.

Also, if you are in bed and the washing machine catches fire, your life is in serious danger, especially if you don't have smoke alarms.

Statistically, washing machines are the biggest appliance fire risk, by a long way. Most people assume it's irons but they are so simple, there's comparatively little scope for them to go wrong.

Surely a wash only takes 45-60 mins or so... Unless you are getting home from work and going straight to bed it shouldn't be a problem.

The point of a washing machine is that you don't have to do the washing, not that it happens while you're out the house

I know a family whose house was badly damaged by a dishwasher left running while they were out. I wouldn't do it.

I wonder how much of an overlap there is between people who leave appliances running when they're out, flush tampons, have looped blind cords and use socket covers

Even if I'm in, I'm not going to go out into the extention every 10 minutes to baby sit the washer. If I'm in the garden or upstairs I'm not going to hear the down stairs fire alarm. Everyone else would, but my hearings pants.

Even if I'm in, I'm not going to go out into the extention every 10 minutes to baby sit the washer. If I'm in the garden or upstairs I'm not going to hear the down stairs fire alarm. Everyone else would, but my hearings pants.

Neighbours house was badly damaged when her tenants left the dishwasher on while they went out.

there should be a smoke alarm in range of any appliance that runs unattended; freezer, dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine. That way they can run overnight and you will know if there is a problem.

if you can't hear a downstairs alarm when you are upstairs, you need to arrange for interconnected alarms. 'my hearing is pants' is not a good phrase for the gravestone.

Nocomet if you have a hearing problem is there some form of adapted smoke alarm available? It's not safe if you can't hear the smoke alarm when you're in bed at night.

Even with a Smoke alarm,I still don't think it's a good idea to run a washing machine or dryer at night. Fire can spread so quickly,and it'll likely take longer to respond appropriately to the alarm when you're still half asleep,than during the day.

X-post specialsubject

I actually know of three people who have had washing machine fires. Two were at home, so caught it, not much damage, one very minimal the other had to get their kitchen redone.

The third family were out and had to get their house rebuilt.

I don't risk it now.

F that, in my view. no washing would get done in these circs.

My dishwasher caught fire one day. Thankfully was working from home so could turn off electrics and water when I saw the smoke. My uncles kitchen was destroyed by a dishwasher fire one night as well.

Electrics and water are a risky mix!

I put all of them on before I go out - dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer.

It's been 20 years, I'll take the risk. I'm insured and the dog is always with me.

My DP's grandparents are always telling us off for leaving our appliances on while we're out. I can kind of see their point as it could cause a fire or flood the flat below but it's just so much easier to get home and have the washing ready to hang out. My DP regularly checks the hoses and the wiring so it should be safe.

Also aren't mobile phone chargers a big cause of house fires today. people forget to unplug them. In fact I'm sure I read of a whole family being killed recently, possibly in Sheffield after a fire caused by one.

We have had two tumble driers catch fire over the years.. I would NEVER leave one on when I went out / overnight any more.

The washing machine, I haven't given that a thought - ours is always on whenever - however I have a got a friend who's machine pumped water all over the floor when she had it on (she was upstairs though).