Parents in Staffordshire were shocked to find that their 11-year-old son’s tablet, left charging on a bed sheet overnight, had burned a hole through to the mattress. The local fire service has warned against charging devices on flammable surfaces, citing the risk of thermal runaway in batteries.
Paul Shaw, head of fire investigation at Staffordshire Fire Rescue, advises charging devices on hard surfaces like worktops or wooden side tables, as the battery will not output enough heat to cause a fire. He also stresses using the charger that came with the device. Phil Buckle, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, recommends not charging devices overnight at all: “When you go to bed, switch everything off.”
On other electrical safety questions, Shaw says it is safe to change a lightbulb even if you do not know whether the light was on, as long as you avoid touching the socket. Buckle turns off his toaster and kettle before leaving the house, while Shaw switches off everything without a timer, including tumble dryers, dishwashers, and washing machines, but leaves on the fridge freezer and digital clocks.
Regarding empty sockets, Buckle says leaving them on is safe, but plastic socket protectors should have three pins and be CE-certified. For stuck toast, they advise unplugging the toaster and using a broad-bladed plastic utensil. Buckle also warns against using electrical garden tools without a residual current device, as cutting the cable could be life-threatening.
Shaw recommends checking for appliance recalls at registermyappliance.org.uk and advises against leaving washing machines, tumble dryers, or dishwashers running overnight. If using a tumble dryer, stay on the same floor and consider fitting an additional smoke alarm.
