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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Before leaving home, unplug small appliances you are not using and switch off space heaters. For heaters, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also advises unplugging them when you leave home or go to bed. These are useful precautions, not a guarantee against fire—and there is no official government list of exactly seven items. The examples below apply U.S. fire-safety guidance to common household situations.
What should you unplug before leaving the house?
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) advises: “Unplug small appliances when you are not using them.” That makes the following a practical checklist—not a claim that each item is inherently dangerous or that the agencies publish a canonical seven-item list. For any appliance-specific shutdown steps, follow its manufacturer’s instructions.
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- Space heaters: Turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed, as USFA advises. NFPA’s checklist goes further: shut off and unplug heaters when leaving the room or home, or going to bed. Plug a space heater directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip. [USFA heating safety; NFPA heating safety]
- Small kitchen appliances: Unplug small appliances when they are not in use, following USFA’s general advice. This is especially straightforward before a longer absence; use the appliance’s own instructions for any special shutdown requirements. [USFA electrical safety]
- Other countertop appliances you are not using: Apply the same USFA recommendation to small appliances such as countertop cooking or beverage appliances. Check the manual first if unplugging or cooling-down steps are specified. [USFA electrical safety]
- Charging appliances in a basement or garage: When charging an appliance in these areas, USFA says to plug only one charging appliance into an outlet and not to use an extension cord. Unplugging after charging is a sensible way to leave the charger unused, but the cited guidance specifically addresses how to charge. [USFA electrical safety]
- Small appliances connected through a power strip: Unplug an unused small appliance rather than leaving it powered through a strip. Avoid overloading outlets and power strips; a strip does not make an overloaded setup safe. [USFA electrical safety; NFPA heating safety]
- Appliances with damaged cords: Do not keep using an appliance with a damaged cord. Unplug it if it is safe to do so, and do not attempt a do-it-yourself cord repair. Replace worn, old, or damaged cords as appropriate; seek qualified help if the outlet or wiring may be the problem. [USFA electrical safety]
- Any unused small appliance on a crowded outlet: Unplugging an unused appliance can reduce clutter at an outlet, but also correct the underlying overload. Do not treat a power strip or extension cord as a way to add capacity. [USFA electrical safety]
What should stay plugged in?
Unplugging advice for small appliances does not mean disconnecting major appliances. USFA says refrigerators, stoves, washers, and dryers should be plugged directly into wall outlets, not extension cords. An extension cord used with a major appliance can overheat and start a fire. Follow the appliance manufacturer’s instructions and do not disrupt equipment that needs continuous power. [USFA electrical safety]
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Why take extra care with space heaters?
USFA estimates that 32,200 home heating fires occurred in the United States in 2021, resulting in 190 deaths, 625 injuries, and $442 million in property loss. In the United States during 2017–2019, portable heater fires accounted for 3% of home heating fires annually but 41% of fatal home heating fires in homes. Those figures describe reported fires and their outcomes; they do not measure the probability that an individual heater will cause a fire. [USFA heating safety]
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Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from a space heater and other heat sources. Do not leave a heater operating when you leave the room or go to bed. Follow the heater’s manual for additional placement and operation instructions. [USFA heating safety; NFPA heating safety]
Check outlets and cords before you go
- Avoid overloaded outlets and power strips.
- Do not use an extension cord or power strip for a space heater.
- Replace worn, old, or damaged cords; do not use appliances with damaged cords.
- If an outlet sparks, feels warm, looks discolored, or smells like burning—or a breaker trips repeatedly—contact a qualified electrician. Do not open the outlet or attempt electrical repairs yourself. [USFA electrical safety]
One more safety step: test smoke alarms
A smoke alarm will not stop a fire from starting, and it is not a substitute for safe appliance use. USFA advises installing a smoke alarm in the basement and testing alarms monthly. [USFA electrical safety]
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This guidance is from U.S. sources. Local requirements and household wiring conditions may differ; follow local fire-safety advice and appliance instructions where they apply.
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