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You might already know that it’s best practice to unplug major appliances when you leave for a long vacation, but there are also some items you should never leave plugged in if you leave the house — even if you’re only gone for an hour.

If you leave your toaster plugged in all the time — even when you’re not home—you might want to rethink your habits in order to avoid a potential hazard. While some appliances (like your television or refrigerator) can stay plugged in all the time, there are others you should be sure to unplug before you leave the house.

Read on to learn why you should always do a quick scan of your kitchen and bathroom appliances before heading out the door.

1. Toasters and air fryers

Because dry bread crumbs and drops of oil collect on top of their heating mechanisms, toasters and air fryers are one of the biggest fire hazards in a kitchen. One of the best ways to minimize risk is to frequently clean the toaster (including the crumb collector!) and the air fryer. Another smart idea is to get into the habit of unplugging the toaster as soon as you’re done using it, and add it to the items you double-check before you leave the house.

2. Hair heat tools

If you frequently use heated hair tools such as curling irons or straighteners, make a habit of doing a quick scan of the bathroom before you leave the house. Even if your device has an automatic shut-off, it’s a good idea to unplug it completely as soon as you’re done using it—and don’t leave the house until it’s cooled down. Because these tools are often used in the bathroom near water sources, they’re both a fire hazard and an electrocution risk.

3. Charging cords

Leaving cords plugged in unnecessarily (think: your phone charger plugged into the wall but not connected to your phone) can actually shorten the charger’s lifespan — leading to frequent and expensive replacements. Cords can also overheat when left plugged in for too long, though the more likely scenario is that they’ll die more quickly and need replacing more often.

4. Space heaters

Because their primary function is to create heat, space heaters should always be turned off as soon as you’re done using them and unplugged as soon as possible. Even if they aren’t actively running, leaving a space heater plugged into the wall can pose a fire risk, so it’s best to play it safe. Any time you aren’t using the space heater, it should be powered off and unplugged — not just when you leave the house!

5. Electric kettles

If you’re sensing a theme with this list, it’s because any appliance designed to create heat in a concentrated area (like curling irons and space heaters) can be a fire risk. Because electric kettles are made to bring water to a boil very quickly, there is a small risk of the appliance malfunctioning or overheating when you’re not home, leading to a kitchen fire.

(Better Homes and Gardens is a magazine and website devoted to ideas and improvement projects for your home and garden, plus recipes and entertaining ideas. Online at www.bhg.com.)

©2025 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.