Leaving the tumble dryer/washing machine on when going out

[DustyLee123]

I came home the other day to find that DH had left the tumbler/washing machine on and gone out for 30 minutes or so.
It makes me so mad that the house could have burned down due to his laziness, yet I get looked at like I’m nagging.
And we both know a couple whose garage went on fire due to the tumbler being left on.

YABU - stop nagging and be grateful he did some washing.
YANBU - everyone knows you don’t go out and leave the tumble dryer on.

I would never leave the tumble dryer on while in bed or out. Washing machine and dishwasher might be on overnight, or while out, but not if the dogs are home alone. Don’t entirely trust them either.

@Dearg i read this as you not trusting your dogs not to catch fire if left unattended!

Really? It all depends where your anxiety lies and thank goodness for home insurance. If something is not covered by home insurance - then you definitely should not be doing it.

I absolutely put the washing/drying on, go out, go to bed.

I keep the oven on when cooking, even if I need to go collect children.

I don't unplug every plug in my home before going out/ going to bed.

But we all place different risks on different activities:

I probably wouldn't have an electric bike or car plugged in anywhere close.

Also:

We have a carbon monoxide monitor in our home.

Our smoke alarms are hard wired into our mains

We've always had an emergency evacuation plan in the event of a fire. (Well the eldest since age 6. Then she was proud to tell the next two.)

The children know to go with a current if you get sucked by a rip tide. (personal experience.)

But we pretty much all have a risk coping strategy depending on how/when we've been threatened or perceived a risk that resonates with us.

YANBU but the washing machine would have been fine.

The tumble dryer however, I would ensure there was someone in the house just in case of incident. I did have a dryer catch fire about 30 years ago and I don't take chances with dryers now.

I wish it had a breakdown of how many houses burnt down due to hair straighteners. That's where my paranoia lies!

Big no to leaving a tumble dryer on, the heat those things create and the incidents that have happened with them. We're always extra careful after ours got recalled as some had set on fire! Don't use it that much but when we do, we keep a check on it, unplug after and leave the door open. A washing machine or dishwasher I'll leave if only out for a short while, not if I'm out for hours. Xx

Actually I do know someone whose dishwasher caught fire after they'd all gone to bed. One of the young kids realised... I think the dog went into their room in a state

I always do this. I empty the lint catcher after every load. Lint is the fire hazard.

As a retired firefighter, I can assure you, you are not being unreasonable. I have been involved in too many fires involving washing machines and tumble driers, we never leave the house or go to bed leaving these appliances operating. Stay safe.

My other half is German and is obsessed with this. Very common belief there.

They are also terrified of gas ovens but that’s for a different thread…

It depends how old your tumble dryer is. Modern dryers have a cut out switch that kills the heat if the lint tray is too full.
I'm sure it was industry wide after the hotpoint models set on fire

No never do this. Years ago a colleague left a washing machine on and went out. It caught fire and the animals left in the house all died from smoke inhalation.

Grenfell Tower fire (and a fire in a neighbour's property when they were on holiday) was started by a fridge freezer - so never leave your fridge freezer switched on, when you are out of the house !

Years ago my washing machine caught fire in an outhouse. Was daytime and I smelt it.

I never leave the tumble on when I go out. The other one is the toaster. I unplug it from the wall. I know of 2 house fires caused by a toaster becoming faulty and the elements heating up inside just by having it plugged in with the switch on. It’s a scary thought.

Washing machine left on whilst out/or sleeping yes!
tumble drier - no!

I left my washing out tonight to be darked on.

I always turn mine off. I never leave any on overnight either, heard lots of horror stories about dishwashers in particular.

We're big fans of this!

Yanbu, a friend who’s a fireman has too many experiences of fire from this.

My washing machine went on fire last year fortunately I was in the next room so I would never leave either washing machine or drier u attended

In a friendly chat with an appliance repair man, he said he doesn’t run dishwasher/tumble drier/washing machine while he’s out. He’s seen too many fires and floods. Practical advice if you can manage it!

Leave WM and DW on when out would never get anything done otherwise. Tend to be in for TD never really thought about it before

New washing machine comes with an app which means you can switch it on remotely 🤷‍♀️

Not always. Mine caught fire whilst I was in the house and doing the last load before bed. Luckily I was awake and was able to run upstairs and get my sleeping baby as I never put things on overnight. It turned out to be the carbon brushes that had caught.

I've had so many arguments with my partner as he is adamant of leaving the machines running through the night! He keeps saying that they are completely safe. Thanks to this post, I won't ever let him again

I leave mine on overnight or when I leave otherwise I’d never get any done.
I did think put yabu but I disagree with the be grateful husband did a load. It’s his responsibility too not just yours. Don’t ever be grateful for another adult doing what an adult should do.