Ovens are just boxes designed to have a fire inside them - they must be the safest thing in the kitchen to leave unattended. Having said that, we never leave the house with any of the large power-consuming devices on.
I never leave the house when any of the appliances are on. Although I do set the washing machine to come on at 5am when I'm still asleep! But I wouldn't leave an oven or a tumble drier unattended.
Reading some of the answers here makes me wonder how we ever survived, in the old days.
//you may be only out for five minutes, but what if you have an accident while nipping out to the shops//
You may have a heart attack while you're in the house, while your oven is quietly and safely cooking away. How did we ever have roast turkey on Xmas Day after coming back from church??
I suppose that perhaps I am over-cautious. Dad, (the fireman) had us pulling out the tv plug, the kettle and toaster plug, etc every night.
I used to pack the iron in my suitcase every holiday whether I used it or not so that I knew I hadn't left it on. (Now I just don't iron anything.) I have four smoke alarms dotted round the house and test them regularly. I never leave my phone etc to charge overnight or if I am out of the house.
I suppose we are all different.
I have done over the years left tops of cookers unattended but no no more.
One time I had just run over to the neighbour for one minute - she kept me talking - I came back just in time to see a kitchen/cloth towel starting to smoulder.
Can't remember others but there were others and no - I turn cooker off and tumble dryer. I am usually in the house when I wash.
It is true if you leave any hot thing on and you go out you don't know what it is happening to you, anything. Oh yes I am forever forgetting to turn off tongs etc but I usually have. Turn everything off every time you go out and then you will be safe
Rest assured mamya, our neighbours are at the other end of the garden. Have you popped a polite note to yours to tell him that his machine is a little louder than he realises?
I've been thinking about this and I think things are very different today than in the days Jenny's dad was a fireman.
Everything is so much safer today with gas safety cut off devices, electricity breakers as well as safety features in individual appliances.
I've spoken to my insurer today and they assure me that I am still covered if I go out leaving appliances on as long as there is not a 'foreseen risk'. There's been a lot in the news lately about certain tumble dryers catching fire and if my dryer isn't one of those models it is fine. It's not meant to be stood over while it's being used. Today's tvs, sky boxes and pvrs etc are designed to be left on standby 24/7 and record when unattended.
Appliances that are meant to be used manually such as fryers, irons, hair dryers and tongs may not be covered if they cause a fire when unattended.
It's all down to common sense and of course what we feel comfortable with.
I remember years ago too I left my iron for a whole week while I went on holiday. Thank God it was on its stand but obviously had a switch-off-on button.
I do leave lots of plugs on ie TV on standby - lamps on standby etc. Would I too not be covered by my insurance. Really couldn't be bothered having to stretch around all this to get access to the switches.
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