To remind you about leaving appliances on

[JustAMum31]

Not an AIBU - but posting for traffic.

Our washing machine almost caught fire yesterday. Luckily I was in the house and smelt it smouldering and managed to find where it was coming from. Had completely melted part of the electric cable and the plug socket & there was lots of smoke.

I dread to think what could have happened if I’d left it on and gone out 😳😥

Please remember to switch them off if you’re not in!

The problem with washing machines is the plug is often inaccessible. But this happened to our microwave, it went 'pop' and started smoking.

Same thing happened to our dishwasher!

A lot of heating appliances can go pop really badly.

Washing machines and tumble driers are common. I think this is because they both draw a lot of power but are also under a lot of mechanical stress. The vibrations from rotating washing around must be good for shaking wires loose etc.

I am surprised there is not a plug feed through socket available with a built in smoke alarm that switches off the appliance if it detects smoke. This might help stop a few house fires.

We're on holiday next week. I think I'll switch off the appliances circuit at the mains..!

Can I add to watch out for hot lightbulbs that are reachable by small children from their beds? (And can risk mattress fire as well as burning small hands - the first nearly happened at our house, the second did happen at a friend's house).

It's a good reminder. I don't leave major appliances on if I am going out.