Do you let your washer/dryer run while you're not home?

[Kim&Chris]

I run appliances when I am not home, and am going to stop doing this! I used to work with a girl that had a horrible house fire start from her blow-dryer. She dried her hair and then went out to take the dog for a walk leaving the blow-dryer plugged in. She came home to firetrucks!

I have also heard how dangerous it is to use the plug-in airfreshners. They catch on fire a lot.

Oh my gosh, I haven't heard about the plug-ins. Yikes, I use them all the time, especially in the room where the kitty litter box is. Guess I'll toss them when I get home!

 

[onelilspark]

I always turn them off. My boyfriend thought I was crazy til I told him why I did it (heard that things like this happen.) He doesn't question me any more. Better safe than sorry!

 

[wall*e2008]

This is why when we installed our second story laundery room we put in a tiled shower floor with a drain. The drain is behind the washer and the entire floor slopes toward it. There is a shower membrane under the tiled floor. There is also a threashold at the door.

We never leave the dryer on, since a fire could start.

 

[phamton]

Oh my gosh, I haven't heard about the plug-ins. Yikes, I use them all the time, especially in the room where the kitty litter box is. Guess I'll toss them when I get home!

Your air fresheners should be fine.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/glade.asp

 

[wall*e2008]

Oh my gosh, I haven't heard about the plug-ins. Yikes, I use them all the time, especially in the room where the kitty litter box is. Guess I'll toss them when I get home!

I use to use them and then one day I saw a dark brown spot from one that had been empty. They do not shut off. Out they all went.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Well, I did until I read this thread. I'd never throw a load in before leaving for a long time (I'd worry they'd start getting icky sitting there in the dark, all damp and ready to mildew), but I've often put a load in and gone to the grocery store or to pick up a kid.

But not now.

My life was so much easier before I got on the internet and heard horror stories.

 

[TnTsParty]

I never leave the washer on (don't want the clothes to sit in the washer and get stinky) but I have left the dryer on when I leave for work. Funny story about the dishwasher - just about a week ago my DH loaded and started it for me before we went to my sister's house. When we got home my DH went into the kitchen and there is a big puddle and lots of bubbles. We couldn't figure it out until I realized that we didn't have any dishwasher soap and he had used regular dish soap. It wasn't so much water as it was bubbles - it was funny after we realized what it was but it was kind of scary at first not knowing what happened.

 

[HelenePA]

I use to use them and then one day I saw a dark brown spot from one that had been empty. They do not shut off. Out they all went.

that is just from them drying out. the newer ones are mostly fans that blow on the oil stuff..

 

[Becky2005]

I'm bad about this & it drives my mother insane! She can't stand to walk off and leave any appliance going but I do tend to turn the dishwasher on and then see no problem with leaving while it's on.

I also do it with the dryer UNLESS the kids are going to be home by themselves..then I turn it off.

I'm usually not gone all that long though but occassionally will be.

 

[kinntj]

No, I don't let either run while I'm away.

 

[aprilgail2]

I leave mine running all the time when I am not home, washer, dryer and dishwasher. I usually put a load in right before I leave for work.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We never leave the washer, dryer or dishwasher running when we're not home.

I also unplug the toaster when it's not in use. I'm weird that way.

 

[Plantlady]

Nope, never.

My dad was a claims adjuster. He drilled the fear of fires into my head. I'm very, very paranoid, and don't do many things that *might* start a fire. DH laughs at my paranoia.. but hey, our house hasn't caught fire.

 

[DebbieB]

The exact same thing happened to my aunt's washer last week but luckily she was in another part of the house and it only left about an inch of water on the floor when she discovered it.

 

[JessicaR]

Kim&Chris, excellent PSA announcement! What a nightmare. I am so sorry they have to deal with this. I can't even imagine.

Last week I walked into the kitchen and smelled BBQ cooking. I swear it smelled just like I was grilling ribs! It took a bit to register the smell was actually coming from my dishwasher. It was a wooden spoon that fell from the top shelf to the bottom drying element. It was charred through and looked like it could have easily caught on fire. It was a good lesson learned for me. I will never leave my washer/dryer dishwasher going when I leave the house again.

 

[Mermaid02]

Not anymore- my washer overflowed last week. It is in the bathroom on the 2nd floor. Luckily- my husband is Mr. Handy and has been working on the kitchen ceiling (in other words- there isn't one- I'm a patient woman) so nothing was ruined.

 

[Diznygrl]

My life was so much easier before I got on the internet and heard horror stories.

NOOOOO kidding! Aside from internet horror stories in general, there are so many things I've learned to FEAR ever since I started reading the CB.

 

[The Orchid]

I used to leave the washer and dryer on while I was gone, but not anymore. The house I nearly bought, which is about two blocks away from the one I DID buy, burnt to the ground because of a faulty wire on the dryer. Now I refuse to allow any appliance to run while I'm gone, and also when I'm asleep. That really scared me. If it had been any other house, I would have been freaked out, but I came so close to buying that house. That just terrified me.

 

[tiggerlover]

I never do because when I was growing up a neighbor left her washer and dryer running and ran a quick errand and the dryer caught on fire.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Nope, never ever. I went to too many house fires due to dryers running when no one was home. Most people don't clean or replace their vent pipes (I just replaced mine last week and it was 1/3 blocked with lint. It was only 3 years old.)

how do you clean them anyway? just unhook them & dig all the stuff out or do you wash them?