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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Toaster on or off?

118 replies

abacucat · 14/09/2018 14:15

My DP and I disagree about whether when the toaster is not being used, it should be switched off or on at the plug. I say it should be switched off. DP says it doesn't matter and usually leaves it on. So who is right?

OP posts:
viques · 14/09/2018 15:20

I turn my TV off at the mains at night, but all other appliances , apart from the iron and the hair straighteners which are physically unplugged after use , are left switched on .

DarlingNikita · 14/09/2018 15:22

would he leave the microwave , kettle and cooker switched on too when not in use?

My microwave , kettle and cooker are never OFF at the wall Confused. It wouldn't occur to me to switch them off at the wall. Or the toaster.

I feel like I've missed something massive...

viques · 14/09/2018 15:22

And actually the reason the straighteners and iron are physically unplugged, and actually moved, is to stop me having a " did I switch it off " moment and having to return home to check!

DPotter · 14/09/2018 15:23

I leave everything plugged in and switched on 'at the wall'.

Many things seem to be designed with this in mind - my oven will not work unless the clock is set and so turning it off when not in use, would mean having to re-set the clock each time as well.

TeenTimesTwo · 14/09/2018 15:23

It is a tad safer to switch off at the plug, but compared with the inconvenience of your toast not being ready at the same time as your fried bacon because the toaster was switched off and you didn't realise, the extra safety is trivial.

starcrossedseahorse · 14/09/2018 15:25

I had absolutely no idea that switching everything off at the plug was even a thing! Never ever do this - life is far too short to be that anally retentive. Everything is plugged in and on at the switch all the time.

JeremyCorbynsBeard · 14/09/2018 15:27

We don't switch off or unplug anything. Everything gets left on.

WiFi should never be turned off, as it takes a couple of days for your speed to level out again.

PlatypusPie · 14/09/2018 15:27

I don't switch anything off at the plug or unplug it in normal use, though do switch some things off if we are all away on holiday for a good length of time. The only exception to this is my food processor which, even if all the bowls are not engaged at all ( the on and pulse switches at the front wont work unless a bowl is clicked into pace) , there is still a very slight warmth to the casing if the socket switch is on so I'd rather not risk it. (Same for my previous one that lasted 20 years)

I assume that all the microwaves and cookers that are being switched off don't have clocks that you would have to manually reset all the time ?

Ohyesiam · 14/09/2018 15:28

Switched off, that's the case with all electrical equipment in my house.
Why waste or pay for electricity you're not using?
Things being on standby use a lot of electricity, but you’d have to have a very high tech toaster to have standby.

1tisILeClerc · 14/09/2018 15:30

It is safer and cheaper to leave all electrical appliances at the shops but that creates it's own problem.
Clocks in microwaves etc in appliances made in the last 10 years or so should cost LESS than about 20p to run if left on for 330 hours and that would be the very worst case. Assuming 1KWh is 20p and the clock takes 3 Watts.
Unless you vandalise your appliances or continually 'flex' the cables there is no particular reason for anything to be a significant hazard.
Repeatedly unplugging actually stresses the cable slightly so it will VERY GRADUALLY degrade so leaving it plugged in but switched off at the wall socket is safest. cables for irons for example are usually made to be more flexible as they expect to be moved. The cables on toasters etc do not expect regular flexing.

m0therofdragons · 14/09/2018 15:32

See page 16 for official fire safety guidance
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/564803/Fire-Safety-in-the-Home.pdf

I had a fire safety home check last month (local fire service does these) and the fireman said to switch off kettle etc overnight.

starcrossedseahorse · 14/09/2018 15:38

It's a risk I am prepared to take tbh.

AnnieAnoniMoose · 14/09/2018 15:42

I’m with the sane posters.

Nothing gets switched off ‘at the wall’

If you’re one of the ones worried about the cost, get a smart meter and watch it not shift a penny until you actually use the appliance.

When my friend stays she switches everything off at the wall through habit. Drives. Me. Nuts. But I love her, so I forgive her. Just.

ProfessorMoody · 14/09/2018 15:44

I leave everything on, TVs on standby too.

I've recently installed a smart meter and having everything on uses 0.7p electric a day, which I'm happy to use.

When I was experimenting with how much leaving plugs on cost, I turned the kettle off at the plug and carried on with my day. I then got shouted at my DH who had flicked the kettle switch and stood in the kitchen for ten minutes waiting for it to boil Grin Made me laugh for ages. sometimes I do it now just to annoy him and deny all knowledge

TheKitchenWitch · 14/09/2018 15:48

There is no "switch off at the wall" here (in Germany, and (I think?) the rest of Europe), so everything stays plugged in all the time.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 14/09/2018 15:50

Microwave gets switched off to save electricity, as I presume the display that lights up when it switches on is powered by electricity.

Yes, it does, but likely no more than 5-10p a year.

One of my relatives told us at great length once that he switched the pilot light off their boiler every night and worked out that it saved £1.62 a year. Ain't nobody got time for that!

RebeccaCloud9 · 14/09/2018 15:53

We turn everything off at the plug apart from the tv (plug behind the wall) when not in use. Some things use electricity e.g. chargers, when not in use. Others are a fire hazard. Takes 1 second and is a risk so why not?

Cornettoninja · 14/09/2018 15:55

We put our toaster away and turn the cooker off at the wall (switch addicted toddler).

I’m pretty paranoid about fire but don’t turn everything off even though I’m aware of the dangers.

I especially don’t trust the kettle but use it a lot during the day so don’t see the point. I do keep an eye on the fucker though. I know a couple of people whose kettles have malfunctioned, melted and set fire to their kitchens.

stargirl1701 · 14/09/2018 15:56

I love how the only trustworthy appliances in the unplugger households are the fridge & freezer! 😄

bumpsadaisy11 · 14/09/2018 16:02

We had a serious house fire 3 years ago & lost everything. My husband & one of our DC were hospitalised & two of our cats died.

After our house was rebuilt, we had the Fire Safety Officer round, to check the house over & put our mind at rest. He advised us to turn all switches off at night, as well as never having the dishwasher or washing machine on over night, or when you are not in the house.

It has become a habit now & even the children turn the plugs off when they have finished using them.

I wouldn't wish anyone going through what we went through & even if there is a very slight chance of a fire risk, surely for the sake of flicking a switch, it isn't worth chancing it.

Catsandbootsandbootsandcats · 14/09/2018 16:09

I leave everything plugged in and on. I didn't realise you were supposed to unplug toasters etc.

I don't leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher running when we go out though.

Betsy86 · 14/09/2018 16:21

Im also a normal person unplugger Grin

happymummy12345 · 14/09/2018 16:22

I never switch anything off at the plug. Haven't got time for that nonsense

pandarific · 14/09/2018 16:23

I never ever turn any plugs off unless we're going away on holiday and even if I forgot I wouldn't worry.

It's not usual or likely for non ancient working appliances to spontaneously combust, is it?

allysally · 14/09/2018 16:23

@bumpsadaisy11 I read every single comment on this thread and my response was 'nah, I'll chance it. I'll leave everything plugged in and switched on, kettles, toasters, chargers, etc. I'll put the dishwasher, washing machine and tumblr dryer on and in use over night, etc. For convenience.'

Then I read your comment and I'm not going to chance it anymore. No more using appliances over night or leaving things switched on.

I'm sorry you and your family went through that. Thanks Sorry you lost your cats. How awful. ThanksThanks

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