6 household appliances you should never leave plugged in overnight

Make it a nightly habit.

Your bedtime routine may include sipping chamomile tea, letting the dogs out, locking the doors, and brushing your teeth, but you need to add one more thing to the list: Check the appliances in your home. Some items like heaters, toasters, and that electric kettle you used to make your tea shouldn’t be left plugged in overnight because they can overheat and pose a potential fire risk. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends unplugging any small appliance when you are not using it. Electronics should also be unplugged because they are sucking up energy while you sleep. Before you catch some Zzzs, make it your nightly habit to unplug these appliances to save energy and keep your home safe. 

Countertop Cooking Appliances

Toaster ovens, toasters, air fryers, slow cookers, Instant Pots, and any other small kitchen appliance that produces heat shouldn’t be left plugged in overnight. Besides wasting energy, keeping them plugged in could lead to overheating, damage, and possible fire. Even during the daytime, you should unplug these appliances after they cool down from cooking, even if they’re turned off. Accumulated crumbs and oily residues are highly flammable, and faulty heating elements can unexpectedly turn on, leading to fires.

Hair-Styling Tools

Turning your curling iron or hair dryer off after using it isn’t enough. Make sure to unplug it too. Many hair-styling tools have an automatic shut-off switch if they’re accidentally left on, but don’t rely on that daily because it can lead to dangerous overheating. These appliances can malfunction and overheat if left plugged in, igniting towels and other flammable items. Dust and lint can block a hair dryer’s vents if they’re not cleaned regularly, and hair straighteners and curling irons may be coated with hair products that ignite easily. And leaving these tools plugged in around sinks and water sources is also a dangerous idea.   

Electric Kettle And Coffee Maker

Once making coffee and tea is done for the day, unplug the appliance. The switch could accidentally activate or the machine could malfunction due to damaged cords or faulty heating elements. Clocks and timers are also wasting valuable energy when the appliance isn’t in use. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends only plugging in one heat-producing appliance into an outlet at one time, so make sure to unplug your coffee maker and other small appliances nearby before bed.

Space Heater

Heating equipment was the leading cause of home fires from 2016 to 2020 and space heaters were most often responsible, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Never leave space heaters plugged in when not in use, whether it’s bedtime or early in the day. Make it a practice to unplug your space heater after every use and never leave it unattended while it’s on.

Electric Blanket

Electric blankets are designed to keep you warm on cold nights, but make sure to unplug them before you drift off. They’re not meant to be on all night—you could end up pretty toasty—and keeping them plugged in can cause overheating and be a fire hazard. Think of electric blankets as a way to preheat your bed before you climb in. Turn the electric blanket on 30 to 60 minutes before bed, and turn it off and unplug it at bedtime. No cold sheets!

Electronics

TVs, DVD players, computers, gaming consoles, office printers, and other electronics draw energy as long as they’re plugged in, even when they’re not in use. Unplugging them at bedtime can help save energy. While they don’t pose as big of a safety threat as heat appliances, there is always a risk due to faulty or damaged wires and cords and power surges. Make it part of your routine to unplug these items before drifting off.

Read the original article on Southern Living