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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallUnplug small appliances such as hair dryers, shavers, curling irons, clothes irons and toasters after use, and unplug portable space heaters when they are off and no longer needed. These are practical safety habits, not a rule to disconnect every appliance: follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and keep heaters plugged directly into a wall outlet while operating.
Eight appliances to unplug after use
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) advises unplugging small appliances when they are not in use. Its examples include several bathroom and personal-care appliances, irons and toasters. The list below makes eight practical examples by treating a toaster oven as a separate countertop appliance and including a portable space heater, which has its own handling rules. It is not an official or exhaustive safety taxonomy.
1. Toaster
Unplug a toaster after use. ESFI specifically includes toasters in its small-appliance advice and recommends unplugging toasters and other countertop appliances when not in use in its kitchen safety guidance.
2. Toaster oven
A toaster oven is another countertop appliance to unplug once it has finished operating. This is an application of ESFI’s guidance for toasters and other countertop appliances, rather than a separately named item in its list.
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3. Hair dryer
Unplug a hair dryer after use, and keep it away from sinks, tubs and other water. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that an appliance left plugged in may pose a shock hazard if it falls into water, even when switched off. A bathroom GFCI outlet can reduce shock risk, but it does not make placing an appliance near water safe.
4. Shaver
Unplug a shaver after use unless its manual specifies that it should remain connected for charging or another required function. ESFI names shavers among the small appliances to unplug when not in use; follow the device’s charging instructions.
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5. Curling iron
Switch off and unplug a curling iron after styling. Let it cool in a safe place, following its manual, rather than leaving a hot appliance unattended or where it could contact combustible materials.
6. Clothes iron
Switch off and unplug a clothes iron after ironing, then let it cool as its instructions specify. ESFI includes clothes irons in its unplugging advice for small appliances.
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7. Coffee maker
Unplug a coffee maker when you are finished if its manufacturer permits it. It is a countertop appliance, and NFPA advises using only one heat-producing appliance per outlet because these appliances draw substantial electricity and can overheat wiring. Do not run a coffee maker and another heat-producing appliance from the same outlet at once.
8. Portable space heater
Turn a portable space heater off whenever it is unattended. When it is no longer needed, unplug it and store it safely. While operating, plug it directly into a wall outlet—not a power strip, smart plug, or extension cord. ESFI’s home-safety guidance gives these heater-specific precautions.
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Why unplugging can matter
Reducing avoidable hazards
Disconnecting an appliance after use can help prevent an unused device from remaining energized, a relevant precaution for small appliances around water and devices that produce heat. Unplugging is not a replacement for switching the appliance off, using it as directed, or keeping cords and appliances in safe condition.
Limiting standby power
Standby power is electricity used while a device remains plugged in but is off or in a low-power state. The U.S. Department of Energy describes switched power strips and smart plugs as options for cutting power to compatible devices in its energy-saving guidance for renters. Check compatibility and the appliance manual; these controls are not appropriate for a space heater.
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Available figures should not be mistaken for household savings estimates. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative said plug and process loads accounted for 33% of U.S. commercial-building energy use and reported a General Services Administration estimate that vampire loads represented 25% of commercial plug-load electricity. Those figures describe commercial buildings, not the savings a household can expect from unplugging these appliances. See the initiative’s 2016 discussion of vampire loads.
Unplugging safely: practical checks
- Follow the appliance manual. Some devices need to stay connected for charging or another specified function.
- For bathroom appliances, unplug them after use and keep them well away from water. CPSC’s bathroom electrical safety checklist explains the shock hazard from plugged-in appliances that fall into water.
- Use a GFCI-protected outlet for countertop appliances where required or recommended; ESFI includes GFCI protection in its kitchen safety advice.
- Do not overload an outlet with heat-producing appliances. NFPA’s electrical safety checklist advises using only one such appliance per outlet.
- Stop using an appliance if its cord is damaged, it sparks or behaves irregularly, or it repeatedly trips a breaker or blows a fuse. Unplug it and arrange authorized repair or replacement, as ESFI advises in its appliance safety tips.
- For a portable space heater, use a direct wall outlet while it is operating, and unplug it for storage. Never substitute a power strip or extension cord.
When a switched strip or smart plug is an option
A compatible switched power strip or smart plug can disconnect a group of suitable devices that draw standby power, so you do not have to unplug each one individually. Confirm that the device is designed for the appliance and its electrical load, and follow manufacturer instructions. This is an optional convenience for compatible electronics—not a workaround for heater outlet rules or a reason to keep a bathroom appliance near water.
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