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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

168 replies

aliasjoey · 13/06/2014 09:54

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

OP posts:

Nanny0gg · 14/06/2014 11:59

Slow cookers don't have motors to overheat.

I do hope all you blasé people who are 'happy to take the risk' (even with tumble driers - madness!) live in detached houses at some distance from your neighbours.

It's not only your house that will burn down. And insurance doesn't cover everything. Have you ever really costed the items in your house? Not to mention the fact that sentimental items can't be valued?

If your house burns down, unless you have extensive insurance your local council will put you up in temporary accommodation (poss a B&B) until a longer term house can be found. This may be nowhere near where you actually live.
And you have nothing. Just imagine what that really means.

I know two people this happened to. Their lives were turned upside down. And can you imagine the distress to the children who lose everything that matters to them and then have to move away from their schools and their friends?

It's a real life-changing disaster in my view.

weatherall · 14/06/2014 12:02

The fire brigade came to our toddler group and told us not to have the washing machine on during the night or when no ones home.

They said the most common house fire they get called to is washing machine fires.

lljkk · 14/06/2014 12:16

meh, I'd still do leave 'em on.

PhaedraIsMyName · 14/06/2014 12:20

lljk unless you live in a detached house in the middle of nowhere that is really selfish.

Put your own property at risk if you want but it is stupidly irresponsible to put your neighbours' property and lives at risk.

Your flippancy is not impressive.

squirrel996 · 14/06/2014 12:22

we rent and it's in our agreement that we mustn't go out and leave the washing machine on. Just the washing machine is specifically mentioned. I just go out anyway!
I've often wondered if anyone actually does this, what if you worked full time?

Nanny0gg · 14/06/2014 12:28

Unless you get home at midnight, get up at 5 and rush out the door, and work all weekend there is always a time you are home that you can do the washing.

PhaedraIsMyName · 14/06/2014 12:35

squirrel yes you're right, I work full time so dies husband, we never have clean clothes, it's impossible.

Oh actually, we do as there are things called evenings and weekends.

Sorry, but I'll repeat what I said to lljk you are stupidly and selfishly irresponsible to do this unless of course you own the house and have ni neighbours in which case feel free. It will only be your loss.

Bassetfeet · 14/06/2014 18:28

Wonder if Mumsnet Towers could ask a Fire Safety Officer to do question and answer session for us? What do you think?

I am always being told it is ok to leave the router and telly on standby for example but would like an expert to tell me so . Then I can put my paranoia to bed along with me .

TheLastThneed · 14/06/2014 22:08

Nanny0gg I agree with every word above.

We lost nearly everything in a house fire. It was the most stressful period of my life. It's not just losing possessions either. Trying to stay strong in front of our DD, when I just wanted to sit in a corner and weep all day really took it out of me.

We had to move away from our local area for a few months. Luckily DD wasn't yet at school.

We went to an open day with the local fire brigade and I nearly had to leave when they were talking about house fires. I really felt like I would pass out. I probably sound deranged, but that's what the fire has done to me.

TheLastThneed · 14/06/2014 22:13

ALittleFaith I hope you and your family are well. You gave me loads of support when we had our fire. X

AmberLav · 14/06/2014 22:21

We all leave fridges on all the time, and they have been linked to a number of fires, so we do we suddenly worry about washing machines...

Devora · 14/06/2014 22:21

This happened to my neighbours - I was in the upstairs flat at the time, saw the smoke and dialled 999. The firefighters told us we must never, ever leave washing machines or driers on unattended.

Bizarrely, the neighbours (woman and adult daughter) got taken to hospital with smoke inhalation despite being fully aware of the fire. They rang the husband/father and he said, "I'm coming straight home. Wait there." SO THEY DID. He was an abusive bastard and clearly had them in such a state of subservience they would stay sitting in a burning building...

ALittleFaith · 14/06/2014 22:35

Amber I've had a chat with my fridge and freezer so they understand I'm putting my trust in them! seriously you can't turn everything off but we do whatever we can to minimise risk in our house.

Hello TheLastThneed! how nice to see you. Family are well. DD is 14 months now! Very adventurous and lively, keeps me on my toes! Did you move in the end?

TheLastThneed · 14/06/2014 22:49

I'm pleased your daughter is well. We're goo thanks. We moved up the road to a larger flat in a better location. I think DD has pretty much forgotten it all. She still gets upset about the cat though

LaurieFairyCake · 14/06/2014 23:23

Reminds me of the Michael Mcintyre sketch where we all trust the fridge and freezer to be on when we turn everything off

An electrical fire could start anywhere, no one says turn the fridge off.

SquirrelledAway · 14/06/2014 23:27

Actually ... We do turn the fridge freezer off when we go on holiday.

lbsjob87 · 14/06/2014 23:55

I was discussing this with my OH tonight, before he went to work.
Apparently, washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers are classed as "attended appliances" by insurers, meaning you are not supposed to leave them on when you go out/to bed.

Does anyone really have time to sit and wait for them to finish? I put mine one every night, or I would never get the time in the day to wash anything.

Maybe instead of warning people not to leave them manufacturers should make it so you can without any problems....

Nanny0gg · 15/06/2014 00:34

I put mine one every night, or I would never get the time in the day to wash anything.

Why can't you put it on when you get in from work so it finishes before you go to bed?

And I would think manufacturers do work to make them as safe as possible, but surely when you are dealing with motors and electricity, you can't do away with all hazards?

Any engineers out there who can explain?

HugoTheHippo · 15/06/2014 00:53

Well, this thread has terrified me. No washing on tonight, but I've just run round the flat unplugging everything...

HappydaysArehere · 15/06/2014 08:54

Don't. Don't. Don't. Never leave washing machine and especially dish washer. Our bosch dishwasher burst into flames. Only our fire alarm and our being in saved complete disaster. No warning, no funny smell, nothing. Know people who have come home to floods from washing machine. Latest is neighbour only last week. Don't put your dishwasher on when you go to bed. Family nearly lost their lives in local paper recently.

singersgirl · 15/06/2014 11:21

Apparently about 600 fires a year are caused by washing machines. How many washing machines are there in the UK? In 2010 96% of households had a washing machine, so that's over 25 million households carrying out an apparent average of 250 washes a year each ie around 6,250,000,000 washes.

It sounds as if it is a real but actually, percentage-wise, very small risk. Every time you get in a car there is a real, but, percentage-wise, very small risk. Now obviously if you can avoid the fire risk by being awake in the house whenever you're doing the washing, that's ideal. Just as if you can avoid the risk of being in a car crash by never going in a car, you might do that. But if you can't, many of us would consider it's a statistically very small risk and therefore a risk worth taking, even if the consequences might be catastrophic.

Ninetysixpercent · 15/06/2014 11:28

Definitely not just a MN thing. I know 2 people who's washing machines caught fire, one being my next door neighbour. It's enough to stop me doing it, just not worth the risk.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 15/06/2014 11:34

It's a very small risk but an extremely serious hazard. Worth avoiding if at all possible.

PhaedraIsMyName · 15/06/2014 15:35

It's a very small but very serious risk very easily avoided. I simply don't believe those of you who say you don't have the time to be in the house to allow a washing machine run. If that is true you need to sort out your work/life balance.

Lancashiregal10 · 15/06/2014 20:26

Yet we always trust the fridge, always leave it on when we go out and it never gets unplugged when you go on holiday though everything else does ;)

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