10 Home Appliance Hazards To Look Out For

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Today’s home appliances are much safer than appliances that existed 20 or 30 years ago. However, you still need to be careful as to how you use them. There are all kinds of unwanted accidents that can occur if you fail to maintain or operate appliances properly - this includes everything from food contamination to house fires. Below are just some of the biggest home appliance hazards to look out for.

Fridge filth

Failing to keep your fridge clean could lead to you getting very ill. Spillages, leakages and crumbs that aren’t cleaned away can often end up containing bacteria, which can breed over time. This bacteria can then end up contaminating other foods in your fridge. 

To avoid this, make sure to clean any spillages up straight away. On top of this, try to take the time to occasionally deep-clean the shelves of your fridge with a wet cloth. You can also prevent contamination by always sealing opened or unpackaged foods. It could also be worth keeping meats on the bottom shelf to prevent any juices dripping onto foods below. 

Dirty dryer ducts

Does your dryer have a duct vent? If so, when was the last time you cleaned it out? Over time, dryer ducts can collect build-ups of lint. This needs to be cleaned out, otherwise it will eventually cause a blockage. Heat then won’t be able to escape the dryer and this lint will likely catch fire. In fact, there are thousands of house fires every year caused by dirty dryer duct vents. 

You can clean this vent yourself or you can hire a professional company like DUCTZ to clean it out for you. Dirty dryer vents aren’t the only cause of dryer-related fires - make sure to also keep your dryer well-ventilated and don’t place any flammable items too close to it. 

Toaster crumbs

Another appliance that is responsible for many house fires is the toaster. Toasters can accumulate crumbs at the bottom over time. If you don’t clean out these crumbs, they end up being recooked every time you use your toaster. Eventually, they could catch fire, at which point your toaster is likely to go up in flames.

If you use your toaster regularly, make sure to also regularly clean it out. Wait until it's cool, unplug it and then tip out any crumbs before cleaning out the inside with a cloth or a spare toothbrush. 

Stovetop clutter

Unsurprisingly, ovens are a major cause of home fires. One of the biggest dangers is kitchen clutter on or around the stove - items like letters, takeaway menus, recipe books or cereal packets could be at risk of catching alight. Even other countertop appliances can overheat and catch fire if you’re not careful. 

To be safe, keep the area around your oven clear of any items that could potentially be flammable. 

Unsupervised space heaters

Electric space heaters used to be a major source of house fires. This isn’t the case nowadays as fewer people own these appliances, plus many modern space heaters are a lot safer. However, they can still be dangerous if placed too close to a flammable item like a curtain or allowed to fall face-down onto a carpet or wooden floor.

The best way to avoid a space heater fire is to never leave these appliances unattended. You can then pick them up if they fall over and prevent a fire. As mentioned already, many modern space heaters are much safer and some even have automatic off switches that trigger if they fall over. 

Washer leaks

When it comes to washing machines, there are a few dangers to look out for. One of the biggest dangers is a leak. Water from a leaking washing machine can cause electrical fires, electric shocks and slip injuries. Damp caused by a water leak can also encourage mould growth, which could lead to unhealthy air quality. 

Leaks are more common with older washing machines. Once you notice a leak, get it repaired immediately. If leaks keep occurring, it could be time to get a new washing machine. 

Microwaved metals

There are a few things you should never put in your microwave. One material that you should definitely keep out of your microwave is metal. This includes tinfoil, metal bowls or a metal fork left on a plate. 

Metal reflects microwaves, which means that any food placed in a metal bowl will most likely not cook. However, the biggest danger is the risk of ‘arcing’ - jagged and uneven metal surfaces may cause sparks, which could lead to your microwave setting on fire. Try to stick glass or ceramic containers that are labelled as microwave-safe. 

Frayed cables

Over time, cables on appliances may get damaged. This can lead to wires being exposed, which could lead to a risk of electric shock or a fire. 

If appliances have frayed cables, consider getting them repaired or buy a new appliance. Cables are most likely to get damaged on older appliances, however a cable on a newer appliance can still get damaged if pests get hold of it or if it is yanked or bent too hard. 

Odd odours

Are your appliances creating an odd smell? There are a few smells that you should be wary of. Musty smells could be due to the presence of mould, while rotten smells could be due to spoiled food - this could be a sign that your appliances need to be thoroughly cleaned out. Burning smells are meanwhile never good - you should turn off any appliance if it is producing a burning smell, as it could mean it is overheating and a fire may already be imminent. A sweet chemical smell from a refrigerator could meanwhile be a freon leak,  which is toxic and should be repaired immediately. Gas smells from a gas oven meanwhile could be a sign of a gas leak - open the windows, get out of the house as soon as you can and call an emergency plumber to deal with the problem. 

This post at Domex lists a few of the smells to watch out for and how to get rid of them. In most cases, odd odours can be eliminated by simply cleaning your appliances. 

Wet hands

Handling electrical appliances when you have wet hands is an obvious but common mistake that many people make. You could get a nasty electrical shock, which in some cases could even be fatal. 

If you’ve just been doing the washing up or you’ve just cleaned your hands, make sure to dry them off before you start handling plugs and switches. 


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